Kiss of Life

Gene Simmons Is Star of Macy’s Parade

Protest fears prove unfounded.

There was no inflatable giant tongue, but Gene Simmons and his band KISS were the star attractions in the 88th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York on Thursday. The band, accompanied by a giant inflatable Spiderman balloon, Spongebob, and 600 cheerleaders from around the United States, performed a medley of their greatest hits to an estimated 3.5 million people who lined the streets of Manhattan to watch the parade, with another 50 million watching on TV. Police made several arrests, but fears of widespread disruption following recent rioting in Ferguson proved unfounded. Seven people were arrested, according to the NYPD, after they overturned a trash can and tried to run toward the floats.