If you were a teenager in the 1970s and 80s, then perhaps, you were a fan of the American rock band KISS, who were a pretty outrageous outfit, with their comic-like outfits and dramatic antics, like Gene Simmons trick of spitting "blood" (actually a mixture of raw egg whites, strawberry syrup and red food colour).
KISS were also right into merchandising and they have actually made more money from selling merchandise, than any other band in history. So diverse was the KISS range that it included condoms, lunch boxes and even custom-made coffins, complete with KISS decorations. One of their other more interesting offerings was a 1977 Marvel Comic, with blood from KISS band members mixed in with the red ink of the comic's pictures.
From Boys to Men
The Chambri people who come from Papua New Guinea, believe that humans evolved from Sepik River crocodiles. As part of their blood initiation ceremonies, to mark the transition of boys to men, they would cut slits which resemble the scales of a crocodile, into the boys' skin, then rub clay and tree oil into the cuts.
By George!
George III of Great Britain and Ireland (1738-1820), was deeply devout and spent hours in prayer. However, he is also remembered for losing the American colonies and going mad. Over the years, it has become a common story to claim that George was not suffering a mental illness, but that he was suffering from the genetic disease porphyria, which occurs when cells fail to change porphyrins and porphyrin precursors into heme, the substance that makes blood red. However, it is more likely that King George had bipolar disorder type 1.
Blood Justice
Books To Read
The Commonwealth of Thieves, by Tom Keneally. Transporting shiploads of prisoners to that “preposterously distant coast.”
