Is Gene Simmons’ hair real? Watch the KISS icon’s answer.
KISS co-founder Gene Simmons chats with USA TODAY’s Melissa Ruggieri about his decades of touring, the stunts he performed on stage and more.
Gene Simmons leans toward the camera and holds his hand sideways.
“You see my hand?” he asks. “It does not shake and I’m 75. Kids, don’t do drugs and booze, and stop smoking.”
This advice from the God of Thunder, a man who spent five decades encased in face paint, dragon boots and the battle armor of a rock star, might sound contradictory. But Simmons’ preaching has a point that proves his longevity.
Though KISS wrapped touring for good in December 2023, the band behind foot stompers “I Love It Loud,” “Lick It Up,” “Rock and Roll All Nite” and more than 50 other singles that inspired many an air guitarist, will live on. Because how can it not?
The 50th anniversary of KISS’ “Dressed to Kill” album will be celebrated March 22 with a free audio tour on kissonline.com of band-related landmarks in their New York City hometown (those in the city can visit a KISS pop-up store at Generation Records).
Simmons, meanwhile, is packing up his bass and returning to the road April 3 with his solo band comprised of Brent Woods on lead guitar, Jason Walker on guitar and Brian Tichy on drums, for more than a month of shows in theaters, clubs and casinos. The trio also shares lead vocals with Simmons, who crafted a set list stocked with KISS hits (“Cold Gin,” “Deuce,” “Calling Dr. Love”) and the original version of Van Halen’s “House of Pain,” which he produced for the band’s demo in 1976.
In between his tour planning, overseeing a chain of Rock & Brews restaurants, making movies with his Simmons/Hamilton Productions company and fielding “a lot of phone calls,” the ever-candid and interminably cheeky Simmons chatted from his Malibu home (one of six he owns) about his solo shows, his family and why “50 years was enough” for KISS.
Question: You went back on the road a few months after KISS’ last show. Apparently, you don’t like to rest.
Gene Simmons: When I was growing up, I always thought (success) was about money and chicks and fame. (Whispers conspiratorially) And I love it! I have more fun onstage than the pope. The magic of this band is, I just take the guitar and a guitar pick and that’s it. I can get up on stage like this (points to his denim shirt). I don’t have to walk around in dragon boots and wear more makeup and higher heels than you ever wore.
Do you ever miss the outfits and the makeup and the theater that accompanied KISS shows?
You have to have dignity and respect for the fans who made your life possible in the first place. If you’re a surfer and you’re blessed enough to ride this giant tsunami of a wave successfully, stop. You’ve reached it. Have a little self-respect and go out when you look good. And let’s be honest, 50 years is enough. The Beatles lasted seven – and we ain’t The Beatles – but the magic of them or Marilyn Monroe is they will be iconic forever. All respect to the rock god Elvis, but I don’t want to be fat and bloated and naked on the bathroom floor.
Do you still talk to (KISS mates) Paul (Stanley) and Tommy (Thayer) and Eric (Singer) on a regular basis?
Sure, of course. Paul is like the brother I never had. I’ve known him longer than anyone except my mother. It goes deeper than friendship. He and I don’t agree on lots of things, but it’s like going to a restaurant and ordering off a menu. We don’t have to order the same thing. It’s about having a work ethic, responsibility and respecting the person you’re with and realizing you don’t know it all. Without Paul, I’d be asking the next person in line, “Would you like fries with that?” ‒ and that’s an honorable job as well. And Paul says the same thing about me. If you get into the right company of people, one and one equals three.
At the end of the last KISS show, the band debuted avatars. What’s the status of that project?
A caterpillar goes into a cocoon and what looks like the casket of its life. And shortly after the casket opens up, this beautiful butterfly (comes out). That’s what’s about to happen with KISS. The avatars are just a placeholder. We’re working with the amazing company Pophouse and (what we’re doing) is closer to virtual reality. We’ve already been to George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic to do motion capture. We dressed up like X-Men and we had cameras all over.
What is the time frame to see the results?
Two years.
It must be gratifying for you and Paul to see your sons, Nick and Evan, collaborating on music.
Nick has his own band, Sym Fera, and Evan spent his life committed to songwriting and learning the craft and has his own band. They were always pals. If you look up their names (online), the first thing they did was strum guitar and sing “The Sound of Silence.” There was a look, a sound and it’s real.
Tell me about the dynamic among you and the guys in your solo band and the difference playing with them compared to decades with KISS.
With KISS, you have to be well-rehearsed because you have light cues and pyro. Here, there’s no Auto-Tune, no one backstage singing harmonies … If you’re in front of me in the audience, you bet your sweet bippy I’m gonna pull you up to sing “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.” And at the end, do I dare bring 20, 30, 50 people onstage to sing “Rock and Roll All Nite” with me? You betcha.
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