Yoke’s manager and KISS superfan brings Gene Simmons’ soda to Washington, meets his idol in process

To say Dave Slackman is a die-hard KISS fan is an understatement. The assistant manager of Yoke’s Fresh Market in South Richland has loved the rock band since age 10. Slackman has seen KISS 10 times. He dresses up as KISS frontman Gene Simmons for Halloween – makeup, platform boots and all.

Because he was successful in getting Simmons’ MoneyBag Soda on Yoke’s shelves in Washington state, he was rewarded with lunch with Simmons in Spokane. Shortly afterward, he had the soda logo tattooed on his upper arm and was flown to a KISS concert – with his wife, a wine steward at another Yoke’s in Richland – where Simmons signed the tattoo.