Whitesnake and Dead Daisies guitarist Doug Aldrich recently clarified the circumstances behind Gene Simmons telling him to “lose his number.” He addressed misconceptions about their relationship in an interview with Classic Rock History.
The guitarist was asked about the incident and how it motivated him. This prompted him to share his perspective on what actually happened.
“Let me say this: I have the ultimate respect for Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley,” Aldrich said. “Gene is, in my mind, a great man, a musician, a father to his kids, and a person of the people. I very much respect him and his outlook on life, and I think he’s pretty much 99% right on everything he does.”
Aldrich explained the actual circumstances behind the phone call incident.
“So, the story is that down the road, when KISS was coming to Los Angeles, I still had Gene’s number, and I called it, and I thought it was funny because he was having a party at his house,” he continued. “He basically was like, ‘Please don’t call me again, just lose this number.’ And it was all good, but the press has blown that up into this big thing, but it’s not.”
The guitarist emphasized his continued respect for Simmons and shared examples of their positive interactions.
“I love Gene. I’ve known Gene and seen Gene in various situations, and he has always been super kind to me, including during my time with Whitesnake when he emailed me and asked me if I was happy,” Aldrich said. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’m very happy, Gene, thank you.’ Anyway, I think at that time, KISS was auditing a lot of people, and even Richie Sambora, apparently. I was just inspired by the whole situation. It made me want to work harder and get better.”
The incident occurred after Aldrich’s failed audition to join KISS as Ace Frehley’s replacement.
This phone call incident stems from a much deeper history between Aldrich and the KISS frontman that dates back to the early 1980s. Ultimate Guitar reported that Aldrich auditioned for KISS in 1982 at just 18 years old to replace Ace Frehley. The position ultimately went to Vinnie Vincent.
Despite not getting the gig, the audition experience proved to be a pivotal moment in Aldrich’s career. Doug Aldrich’s official biography noted that while he admits he was clearly too young and immature for the role at the time, the experience led to a lasting relationship with Gene Simmons that continues today.
The audition process itself was both intimidating and educational for the young guitarist. The Dead Daisies documented that the KISS members treated him well during the audition process. Aldrich has mentioned in interviews that he felt nervous and uncomfortable due to his youth and inexperience with the professional music industry at that level.
Rather than viewing the rejection as a setback, Aldrich used it as motivation to improve his craft and pursue his musical ambitions with greater determination. The experience taught him valuable lessons about professionalism in the music industry and helped shape his approach to future opportunities. This ultimately contributed to his successful career with bands like Dio, Whitesnake, and The Dead Daisies.
