Inside the home of the city’s most dedicated collector of Kiss memorabilia
Featuring roughly $60,000 worth of the iconic band’s records, concert posters, action figures, costume pieces and more
When a 15-year-old Eddy Teixeira heard the galvanizing thumps of Kiss blasting from the stereo of a friend’s car in 1975, he was stupefied. “My first love was the Beatles. Kiss was the Beatles on steroids.” Then, when he saw what the band looked like, he felt his brain liquefying. “They had so much theatrical appeal. Every member stood out; they each had their own look,” he says.
The first piece of memorabilia Teixeira bought, in 1978, was a pack of Kiss trading cards from a corner store. A collector by nature, he didn’t stop there. Over the years, Teixeira has seen Kiss in concert 22 times, collected thousands of pieces of memorabilia (spending about $60,000) and gotten several Kiss-themed tattoos.
Related: Inside the home of the city’s most dedicated Funko Pop collector
In 2000, when Teixeira moved into a new home in Vaughan with his wife, Christine, and daughter, Bianca, he decided to transform his basement into a shrine to the band. Collecting, he says, helped him get sober 10 years ago (he realized he could spend the money he saved on collectibles) and cope with the grief of losing his parents. “My collection is my sanctuary,” he adds. “I can just go downstairs and get lost. Any collector will tell you: the objects bring you back to a happy time.”
 and gotten several Kiss-themed tattoos.
Related: Inside the home of the city’s most dedicated Funko Pop collector
In 2000, when Teixeira moved into a new home in Vaughan with his wife, Christine, and daughter, Bianca, he decided to transform his basement into a shrine to the band. Collecting, he says, helped him get sober 10 years ago (he realized he could spend the money he saved on collectibles) and cope with the grief of losing his parents. “My collection is my sanctuary,” he adds. “I can just go downstairs and get lost. Any collector will tell you: the objects bring you back to a happy time.”
[caption id="attachment_645436" align="alignnone" width="2000"] The vinyl albums remind Teixeira of what’s most important about Kiss—the music. His favourite album is Dressed to Kill. “It brings me right back to when I was 15”[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_645437" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Teixeira’s daughter, Bianca, made this Father’s Day card. She interviewed Gene Simmons’s daughter, Sophie, for a magazine story and took a selfie with her. She juxtaposed it with a photo of her father and Simmons[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_645438" align="alignnone" width="2000"] These custom collector figures are Teixeira’s most treasured items. He paid $3,000 for the set. “The detail on these things is incredible—they’re carbon copies of the band”[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_645439" align="alignnone" width="1334"] Teixeira snagged these Ace Frehley–inspired boots online for $500[/caption]
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