John Corabi shared his ongoing interactions with Gene Simmons in a recent appearance on Hear 2 Zen Podcast.
“Trust me, Gene Simmons bust my balls every time he sees me,” Corabi said. “He’ll go, ‘John Corabi, Angora is the worst name in history.'”
“But he also loves this song that I had called ‘Hey Operator,'” he continued. “And he’s like, ‘That’s the best song you’ve ever written in your life.’ And I go, ‘Yeah, I noticed.'”
Corabi made these remarks when asked about his decision to maintain his band’s original name instead of signing with Gene Simmons.
The revelation adds another chapter to the long-standing relationship between the two musicians. Their history dates back to Corabi’s pre-Mötley Crüe days.
Ultimate Classic Rock revealed that Simmons admired Angora’s music. He suggested changing the band name to ‘Eight Ball.’ The negotiations ultimately failed due to management issues.
Simmons maintained his support for Corabi’s musical talents despite his criticism of the band name. Columbus Calling noted that the KISS bassist particularly praised ‘Hey Operator’ as one of Corabi’s best works.
Their professional relationship evolved significantly over time. Ultimate Guitar reported that Corabi felt intimidated by Simmons’ charismatic personality during their early meetings.
The musicians maintained their connection through various tours. Their characteristic backstage banter continued when The Dead Daisies opened for KISS.
