In a fresh-off-the-press interview with The Sun, KISS frontman Gene Simmons dove into his band’s farewell and the legacy they leave behind. Amidst the reflection, Simmons also had a thing or two to say about Mick Jagger, U2, and Radiohead.
As the conversation was directed towards the decision to take their final bow, the bassist drew a parallel between their live performances and those of the Rolling Stones. He expressed admiration for the band and their vocalist yet believed that KISS’ shows packed a heavier punch.
The musician appreciated Jagger’s dedication but drew a stark contrast between his own on-stage appearance of armor and high heels and the latter’s laid-back ensemble of sneakers and a T-shirt. He claimed he couldn’t go on performing with the heavy costumes, unlike the Rolling Stones singer, who was ‘pushing the limits.’
Gene Simmons discussed the difference as follows:
“For 50 years, I’ve had the privilege of wearing more makeup and higher heels than your mommy ever did. It’s the end of the touring band because we have enough self-respect. We don’t want to be like boxers who stay in the ring too long.
If I was in the Rolling Stones, who are great, by the way, I could strum a guitar wearing sneakers and a T-shirt, and it would be fine. I admire Mick Jagger for pushing the limits, but I can’t keep doing it with 40lb of studs and armor and eight-inch heels.”
Never one to downplay KISS’ impact, Simmons highlighted how the band’s distinct style and costumes seeped into pop culture, even invoking the spirit of Halloween and carnival season. He used U2 and Radiohead as comparative reference points, suggesting that while they may have had musical influence, their visual impact was nowhere near that of his band.
Speaking on KISS’s impact, Gene said:
“I love U2 and Radiohead, but our imagery supersedes all that. We’ve become part of pop culture, for good or bad. People might hate us, but when Halloween comes by, you’ll see all the Kiss costumes at parties. There are huge Kiss floats at carnivals in Brazil — but nobody is dressed up like Thom Yorke!”
As the curtain is set to close on KISS’ journey, the band’s farewell tour is heading to Europe in June and is slated to conclude in New York in December 2023. Fans eager to witness the grand finale can secure their tickets from the band’s official website.
