The film stars Edward Furlong, Giuseppe Andrews, James DeBello, Sam Huntington, the members of Kiss (Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss), Natasha Lyonne and Lin Shaye.

The film was primarily shot in Canada, such as at Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute in Toronto and Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, but also at Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, United States.

[2] In 1978 Cleveland, Ohio, four rebellious teenage boys – Hawk, Lex, Trip Verudie, and Jeremiah "Jam" Bruce – play in a Kiss cover band called "Mystery" and prepare to see their idols in concert in Detroit, Michigan the following night.

Upon arriving in Detroit, the boys discover that Trip did not stay on the phone long enough to give the radio station his information, resulting in the tickets being given to the next caller.

Trip goes to a local convenience store, hoping to mug a younger child for his ticket but the boy's older brother, Chongo, and his friends, confront and threaten him for $200.

He then plans to rob the store with a Stretch Armstrong doll disguised as a gun, but ends up receiving $150 after thwarting a genuine robbery attempt.

Jam encounters his mother at an anti-Kiss rally, who forcibly takes his drumsticks before dragging him to a nearby church for confessional with a perverted priest who is more interested in salacious conversation, rather than an actual confession.

Jam, imbued with new confidence, returns to the rally and criticizes his mother's domineering ways and hypocrisy, telling her that her extreme religious views and controlling attitude have only caused him to despise religion and rebel.

When the guards search them, they find Trip's wallet with his Kiss Army picture ID and money, then confiscate Chongo's tickets and give them to the boys before escorting him, his little brother, and his friends out of the concert.