Who doesn’t love lists? Noone! End of year wrap-up lists, particularly. Like this one, soon to run in the Brag’s bumper Xmas Spectacularly Spectacular Edition.

I had several surreal experiences this year, all of which will forever nestle in the warm, fuzzy folds of my memory. I don’t know which was weirder: walking into a room I thought was empty at Andy Summer’s photo exhibition only to find him standing in there on his own (lucky I had two drinks with me.) Maybe it was nearly treading on Patti Smith at her aftershow where we ate oysters after midnight while we gazed at Luna Park. I was proud to have pressed Henry Rollins on his hatred for Bono, not so proud to have incurred Gene Simmons’ wrath to the point where he spat water in my face. I think playfully, but maybe it wasn’t. Gene, I’m sorry I was unprepared. Anyway, maybe it was The Great Facebook Wars? That was pretty weird.

But that minor indignity aside, it was clearly the year of the Gene. Something happened there I can’t quite explain beyond the psychotic need I now feel to drag everyone I know with me to see KISS, should they ever return. Otherwise I’ll be real out of pocket flying to wherever it is in the world I have to go, to make sure that I see them again before I die.

2008, how I’ve loved you. Thankyou for stopping by, you spoiled me so.