Gene Simmons on KISS: 'We're the four most recognised faces on earth'
He insists it's not an overstatement
Gene Simmons says KISS are “the four most recognised faces on earth” and he has insisted that it’s not a statement of “self-aggrandisement.”
The Demon recently sat down for a wide-ranging chat with Rolling Stone to promote KISS’s upcoming 12-date Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino’s Zappos Theater which commences in December and runs through the February 2022.
During the interview, Gene was asked about the notion of KISS carrying on in the future without any of their original band members.
“You’re pretty smart, you’re pretty smart,” Gene said. “We are the four most recognised faces on earth. I know to nonbelievers out there it sounds a bit like self-aggrandisement, but I offer the following: we know that Sweden is a monarchy, which means there’s a king and often a queen.
“But you and I, despite the fact that we’re well-read, have no idea what their names are or what they look like. Which is curious because everybody in Sweden knows what KISS looks like.”
Questioned about whether Las Vegas could be the place for KISS to start their future transition, Gene replied: “(We’re) already talking about it.
“The idea would be more than just music. Like most stage productions, there’s a story. So the KISS show would certainly include a book, a story, a script.”
Gene added that the KISS story could be told “simultaneously around the world.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Gene Simmons confirmed that David Lee Roth is no longer supporting KISS on their End of the Road World Tour.
“It bears noting that during Dave’s heyday, nobody did what he did,” Gene commented. “He was the ultimate frontman. Not (Robert) Plant, not Rod Stewart, nobody. He took being a frontman way beyond anything.
“And then, I don’t know what happened to him… something. And you get modern-day Dave. I prefer to remember Elvis Presley in his prime. Sneering lips, back in Memphis, you know, doing all that. I don’t want to think of bloated naked Elvis on the bathroom floor.”
KISS headline Download Festival on Friday 10th June 2022 alongside Saturday headliners Iron Maiden and Sunday’s Biffy Clyro. Tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.
11 farewell tours that weren't real farewells:
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe were so adamant that their swansong Final Tour in 2014 and 2015 was definitely their farewell tour that all four members signed a cessation of touring agreement seemingly banning them from stepping on stage together again. The 'final' show took place at The Staples Centre in Mötley Crüe's native Los Angeles on 31st December 2015. Three years later, the band hit the studio to record four songs for their Netflix biopic The Dirt, but they still insisted they weren't touring. To no one's surprise, in November 2019 Mötley Crüe destroyed their cessation of touring agreement citing the "huge success of The Dirt", and they announced a North American stadium tour with Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett that finally happened in the summer of 2022. Mötley Crüe will hit the UK in 2023 for their co-headline tour with Def Leppard.
Status Quo
Blighted by inter-band tensions, Status Quo embarked on the 10-week swansong End of the Road tour in 1984 with the so-called Farewell Concert taking place at Milton Keynes Bowl on 21st July. Francis Rossi told Classic Rock years later: "Everybody was coked-up and hating each other and I'd started drinking tequila on that tour. I don't remember that show (in Milton Keynes) at all – the encores or anything; just falling flat on my back at one point." Continuing as a studio only band, Status Quo were coaxed into a live return by Bob Geldof when he asked them to open Live Aid at London's Wembley Stadium on 13th July 1985. Status Quo returned to live performances following that historic show, and, since Rick Parfitt's untimely passing in 2016, Francis Rossi has continued under the Status Quo moniker to this very day.
KISS
Following the emphatic success of their Alive/Worldwide Tour and Psycho Circus World Tour with original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, KISS embarked on The Farewell Tour taking in shows in North America, Japan and Australia in 2000 and early 2001. Explaining KISS wanted to go out on a high, Paul Stanley said at the time: "We're the champs again, let's retire on top and we felt there is nothing worse than having someone go away and you don't get to say goodbye so this tour really is for the fans and to celebrate the whole history of the band." KISS went on to perform at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and in 2003 they toured with Aerosmith with Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer added to their ranks. KISS are currently in the midst of their second farewell tour, The End of the Road World Tour. Despite playing UK arena tour in 2019 and a headline slot at Download Festival 2022, KISS have announced a 'FINAL' UK leg in 2023.
Ozzy Osbourne
In early 1992, the then 43-year-old Ozzy Osbourne said he was retiring from performing to spend more time with his family. He embarked on the 64-date No More Tours Tour in June 1992 and the trek concluded with two historic shows at Costa Mesa Pacific Ampitheatre on 14th and 15th November where Ozzy was joined by special guests Black Sabbath with Rob Halford on vocals. After Ozzy's set at the final concert, he reunited on stage with Black Sabbath to perform four songs – 'Black Sabbath', 'Fairies Wear Boots', 'Iron Man' and 'Paranoid.' What seemed like a fitting farewell for Ozzy ended just days later when he changed his mind and said he was "already bored with retirement." Ozzy headed out on the brilliantly titled Retirement Sucks Tour in 1995. Ozzy began his second farewell tour - No More Tours II - in 2018, which due to a litany of health problems and the covid-19 pandemic eventually ended up being rescheduled four times, ending up a whopping 5 years late. Unfortunately, by 2023 when the tour was meant to finally take place, Ozzy's health had still not improved, and the entire tour was cancelled, with Ozzy admitting defeat and stating he would not tour again.
The Who
The Who played a farewell tour in North America in late 1982, with Roger Daltrey saying of touring life during a press conference: "It's a nightmare. We can't get any bigger than we are… It's good to go out on top." John Entwistle was vehemently against The Who stopping touring, while Pete Townshend wanted The Who to become a studio band like The Beatles. The Who's 'last show' took place at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on 17th December, and their final USA gig at Richfield Coliseum in Cleveland, Ohio was immortalised with the 'Who's Last' live album. Just like Status Quo, The Who reformed for Live Aid in 1985 and four years later they reunited properly for a world tour.
Scorpions
Scorpions played a mammoth three-year farewell tour between 2010 and 2012 taking in more than 200 shows. However, Scorpions changed their mind about retiring from the road before the tour was even over. Singer Klaus Meine later explained the German hard rockers were having "way too much fun" to quit and said that playing for new generations of Scorpions fans was "motivating and inspiring." Guitarist Matthias Jabs later said the decision to announce a farewell tour was "stupid", adding "It's getting a bit ridiculous when you say (you're retiring from touring) and don't do it, so we won't do it again."
Judas Priest
In December 2010, Judas Priest announced that their upcoming farewell Epitaph World Tour would be their last. Rob Halford explained: "We're not the first band to say farewell, it's just the way everyone comes to at some point and we're gonna say a few more things early next year, so I think the main thing that we just want to ask everybody to consider is don't be sad about this, start celebrating and rejoicing over all the great things we've done in Judas Priest." K.K. Downing left Judas Priest before the start of the tour and their last concert took place at London's HMV Hammersmith Apollo on 26th May 2012. A year later, Halford said "it's turned out not to be the final world tour" and explained the band had "got into gear again" since they recruited Richie Faulkner. Judas Priest kicked off the Redeemer of Souls Tour in October 2014.
Nine Inch Nails
In 2009, Nine Inch Nails lynchpin Trent Reznor confirmed he's quitting touring. He told fans: "NIN as a touring live band or live band that's on the road all the time is stopping. I've just reached the point where it has invaded every other aspect of my life. I'd never want to be Gene Simmons, an old man who puts on makeup to entertain kids, like a clown going to work. In my paranoia, I fear that if I don't stop this, it could become that." The final gig took place at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on 10th September 2009. In 2013, Trent Reznor ended Nine Inch Nails' touring hiatus, saying: "I'll catch some flak for saying I wasn't going to (tour) again, but I changed my mind. I feel much more invigorated and inspired than I did when I said I didn't want do it anymore."
Meat Loaf
Back in 2013, the late-great Marvin Lee Aday – aka Meat Loaf – insisted that Last at Bat Tour in the UK and Europe would definitely be his swansong trek citing ill health. He told The Guardian: "I've had 18 concussions. My balance is off. I've had a knee replacement. I've got to have the other one replaced. Two weeks before the knee surgery, I literally couldn't walk from the bedroom to the kitchen. They took me to the hospital in an ambulance to get my knee replaced. And when they did, it was so damaged and torn up it's going to take a year to come back. It's just the travel. It takes it out of you. I want to concentrate more on acting. That's where I started and that's where I'll finish. This time, they're not going to rope me back in." Meat Loaf went on to play over 30 shows in North America in 2015 and 2016, however due to his deteriorating health he finally stepped back from live shows. His last live performance was on the Huckabee TV show in the US in September 2021, where he performed 3 songs in front of a live audience. Sadly he passed away just 4 months later.
Aerosmith
In late 2016, Aerosmith announced they were embarking on a trek the following year called the Aero-Vederci Baby! Tour – a play on the Italian word for goodbye, arrivederci. The tour took in 25 shows including a headline slot at Download Festival 2017. Prior to the tour's announcement, guitarist Brad Whitford told Billboard: "We keep talking about what we may call a farewell tour, but based on the Kiss approach, that could go on for three to five years. We are seriously looking at that, just based on our age and everything." The tour ultimately didn't go on for several years – instead, Aerosmith played the Deuces are Wild residency in Las Vegas, although many of their international dates have been cancelled.
Cream
Unlike a number of rock acts on this list who changed their minds about retiring from the road shortly after their 'final' concerts, we have to give credit to Cream as they left it 37 years before coming back. Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker played two farewell gigs at London's Royal Albert Hall on 25th and 26th November 1968 with the second show released as the live video 'Farewell Concert.' The trio performed again at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1993 before reuniting properly for four concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in May 2005. Buoyed by the success of the RAH gigs, Cream played a three-night residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City in October 2005, however old tensions between the band resurfaced and they went their separate ways for good. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker passed away in 2014 and 2019 respectively.
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