KISS legend, Gene Simmons, guests on the latest edition of Rick Rubin’s Tetragrammaton podcast. Towards the end of the 3 1/2 hour conversation, the discussion turns to KISS’ final concert at NYC’s famed Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2023. The following is an excerpt:
Rick Rubin: “Did you feel any different on stage, knowing it was the last one?”
Gene Simmons: “Very emotional. Pride, but also a little sad because, people who have been married, I’m guessing, a few times, but remember when it was real love and that magic of the thing, if it doesn’t last, there’s a sadness there. Sometimes it’s drugs and alcohol, sometimes they just go apart. But when it was great, it’s sad because not everybody survives life.
“And I’m still sad about [original KISS members] Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss], who even today can’t enjoy the fruits of their labor. They were equally as important as Paul [Stanley] and myself in the formation of the band and those first few years, there’s no question about it, it was a four-wheel-drive vehicle. And then, the air started coming out of two of the wheels to the point where – as a matter of fact, when it was time for Peter to go, Ace voted, ‘No, he’s gotta go. He can’t play the drums anymore.’ And then Ace, using his words, walked out of KISS. Even though we said, ‘You can stay in KISS. Have a solo career. We don’t want a penny of it. Have your cake and eat it too.’ And he said to my face, ‘No, I can’t stay in the band.’ He said it in print, ‘If I do another tour, I’m gonna kill myself.’ That’s verbatim. And I didn’t understand what that meant. I didn’t wanna get into it. And then he said, ‘You watch. I’m gonna sell 10 million records.’ I can’t respond to that. I don’t know what that meant. Logically, stay in the band, have your cake and eat it too.”
Listen to the interview below, or stream it at Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Description: Gene Simmons is the co-founder, bassist, and co-lead singer of KISS. Best known for his on-stage persona as “The Demon,” he became synonymous with the band’s theatrical performances and signature makeup. Offstage, Simmons built KISS into a global brand, with over 30 distinct tours spanning from the 1970s to their more recent “End of the Road World Tour.” He has been recognized for his contributions to music, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
The post GENE SIMMONS Says ACE FREHLEY And PETER CRISS “Were Equally As Important” As PAUL STANLEY And Himself In The First Years Of KISS, “And Then The Air Started Coming Out Of Two Of The Wheels”; Audio appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Rick Rubin: “Did you feel any different on stage, knowing it was the last one?”
Gene Simmons: “Very emotional. Pride, but also a little sad because, people who have been married, I’m guessing, a few times, but remember when it was real love and that magic of the thing, if it doesn’t last, there’s a sadness there. Sometimes it’s drugs and alcohol, sometimes they just go apart. But when it was great, it’s sad because not everybody survives life.
“And I’m still sad about [original KISS members] Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss], who even today can’t enjoy the fruits of their labor. They were equally as important as Paul [Stanley] and myself in the formation of the band and those first few years, there’s no question about it, it was a four-wheel-drive vehicle. And then, the air started coming out of two of the wheels to the point where – as a matter of fact, when it was time for Peter to go, Ace voted, ‘No, he’s gotta go. He can’t play the drums anymore.’ And then Ace, using his words, walked out of KISS. Even though we said, ‘You can stay in KISS. Have a solo career. We don’t want a penny of it. Have your cake and eat it too.’ And he said to my face, ‘No, I can’t stay in the band.’ He said it in print, ‘If I do another tour, I’m gonna kill myself.’ That’s verbatim. And I didn’t understand what that meant. I didn’t wanna get into it. And then he said, ‘You watch. I’m gonna sell 10 million records.’ I can’t respond to that. I don’t know what that meant. Logically, stay in the band, have your cake and eat it too.”
Listen to the interview below, or stream it at Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Description: Gene Simmons is the co-founder, bassist, and co-lead singer of KISS. Best known for his on-stage persona as “The Demon,” he became synonymous with the band’s theatrical performances and signature makeup. Offstage, Simmons built KISS into a global brand, with over 30 distinct tours spanning from the 1970s to their more recent “End of the Road World Tour.” He has been recognized for his contributions to music, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
The post GENE SIMMONS Says ACE FREHLEY And PETER CRISS “Were Equally As Important” As PAUL STANLEY And Himself In The First Years Of KISS, “And Then The Air Started Coming Out Of Two Of The Wheels”; Audio appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
