Blue Öyster Cult’s former drummer Albert Bouchard spoke with Classic Album Review and discussed why Gene Simmons might sue him over his KISS comments.
BÖC and KISS toured together in the 70s, and when the host asked Bouchard if he had any ‘fun’ stories to tell about the latter band, the drummer started his words by recalling a former interview. He said:
“I mean, I did tell the Rock History [Music] guy… I told him that I thought Gene Simmons was a jerk and in the course of a whole long story about hanging out with him one time.”
The drummer then delved into the full story of why he thought Gene was a ‘jerk:’
“I think it was Fayetteville, North Carolina. We’re waiting to get on the plane and I’m sitting between him and Paul Stanley, and they’re just telling me how great they are. [I thought] ‘Wow, what a jerk.'”
He then discussed how, after that interview, news headlines only fixated on his words regarding the KISS bassist, which led him to wonder if Gene would sue him:
“The clickbait is ‘Albert Bouchard says Gene Simmons is a jerk!’ And I said to Andy Shernoff, because I’m playing with the Dictators, and I said, ‘Andy… Do you think I’m gonna get sued?’ [He said] ‘What? Everyone knows how Gene Simmons is a jerk. What are you talking about?'”
Simmons had previously complained about how he had ‘no friends‘ in the industry. However, a former guitarist for Simmons’ solo live band also revealed a rare insight into how touring with the rocker really was, and broke, perhaps, more than a few prejudices about Gene being a ‘jerk.’
You can check out the interview below.
