Why Gene Simmons Didn’t Want To Be KISS’ Lead Singer

In the world of rock bands, we often envision the magnetic lead singer dominating the stage with their powerful vocals. However, not every musician aspires to be in the spotlight. Case in point: the iconic rock band KISS, known for their theatrical performances and distinctive makeup.

It might come as a surprise that Gene Simmons, the band’s bassist and co-founder, never had the desire to be the lead vocalist. Despite playing a crucial role in the band’s formation and success, he felt most at ease behind his bass guitar. To understand better, let’s go all the way back to the beginning!

The band came to life in 1973 when Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley joined forces. They quickly gained fame for their elaborate live shows featuring dazzling pyrotechnics, blood-spitting, and extravagant costumes. But they also had wonderful songs that resonated with millions, partly thanks to a certain member.

Within KISS, Simmons played bass guitar and was a driving force in the band’s songwriting process. His innate ability to craft memorable melodies and catchy hooks contributed significantly to their commercial triumph. Well, the journey began earlier than that for him, though.

In a 2016 interview with Rock Cellar Magazine, the musician revealed how the turning point in his career is closely related to his observation that there was a lack of bass players. Thus, learning to play bass turned him into a sought-after musician for rock bands and opened the way of songwriting for him. As he joined various bands, he started composing songs—some of which would later be recorded for KISS albums and fuel their meteoric rise.

In the interview, Simmons reminisced:

“I mean, anybody can sing ‘Satisfaction.’ There’s no vocal histrionics on it, but I noticed everybody was looking for a bass player because there were plenty of guitar players and plenty of drummers. So I could play a little guitar. My mother bought me a Kent bass, a bass which looked like a Hofner, the one Paul McCartney played in the Beatles, but of course, it was a cheap version made in Japan.

Bands immediately wanted me to join their group because they didn’t have a bass player and because I knew chords; if someone said, ‘Play an A or B or G,’ I knew where they were on the fretboard.”

Then, he went on to say:

“So, I immediately joined bands. The first band I joined might have been the Missing Lynx, and then I really hit my stride with a group called the Long Island Sounds, and then after that, we had a group called Cathedral which had a Hammond B-3 organ. By that time, I’d been starting to write my own songs or co-writing songs. One of the early ones was a song called ‘She,’ which KISS later recorded for the ‘Dressed to Kill’ album.

I wrote that with the guitar player in one of my bands, Stephen Coronel; I used to go to school with him. That song and a few others, including ‘Goin’ Blind,’ which was initially titled ‘Little Lady,’ wound up being recorded by KISS.”

Despite his accomplishments as a songwriter and bassist, Simmons never aspired to be KISS’s lead singer. Although he later settled for becoming the co-lead singer in addition to his original position, he felt that his size and appearance made him an unlikely candidate for the role of main vocalist.

He clarified his point in the same 2016 interview by saying:

“The irony was that I noticed if I was gonna be in a band, I didn’t see myself as a lead singer. Physically I was too big, and I didn’t see guys my size doing that. I was also heavier as a kid, so I didn’t see guys my size fronting bands. I could sing well enough, I guess, at least as good as Eric Burdon and Mick Jagger, those guys who sing pretty straight ahead.”

Gene Simmons’ decision not to pursue the role of main lead vocalist for KISS ultimately allowed him to focus on his strengths as a bassist and songwriter. His contributions to the band’s music, combined with the talents of his fellow band members, helped propel the band to legendary status in the rock world.

His story highlights the importance of recognizing one’s strengths and passions in the pursuit of success. While he could have tried to fit the mold of a traditional rock frontman, he chose instead to embrace a different role as a bassist and composer. In doing so, the bassist played a vital part in shaping the distinctive sound and style that has made KISS one of the most influential and enduring rock bands in history.