As previously reported, in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, KISS frontman Gene Simmons, explained why Van Halen frontman, David Lee Roth, is not opening for KISS’ recently announced new Las Vegas residency dates.
Simmons said, “…it bears noting that during Dave’s heyday, nobody did what he did. He was the ultimate frontman. Not Plant, not Rod Stewart, nobody. He took being a frontman way beyond anything. And then, I don’t know what happened to him… something. And you get modern-day Dave. I prefer to remember Elvis Presley in his prime. Sneering lips, back in Memphis, you know, doing all that. I don’t want to think of bloated naked Elvis on the bathroom floor.”
Earlier today (August 20th), Roth posted his response to Simmons on his Facebook page, via picture (see below).
Simmons has repeatedly taken credit for “discovering” Van Halen and flying the band to New York to record a 15-song demo at Electric Lady Studios, with him as producer. But, he ended up not working with the band after his KISS bandmates and manager, Bill Aucoin, expressed little interest in his demos. “I gave the demo back to the band, told them I had a tour to go on and afterward I would try to get them a record deal, but until then, I tore up our contract and set them free,” he said. “It didn’t take them long to get on Warner Bros.“
14 Responses
Well Gene, it’s so sad. I prefer to remember kiss in their heyday. I liked the 80s stuff and saw them twice on the ’96 reunion and the 2000 farewell tour (which is where I kinda started to back away). I have the last two albums, but I rather see a band play to promote their new album not some nostalgia. If there is a fat Elvis in the room, it would have to be KI$$, which is probably gonna end up as a Vegas lounge act, just like Elvis Then, we’ll have Kiss impersonators, as well
Dave should get the old band back together and we’ll see who’s the Fat Elvis is…Thank you… thank you very much.
(Apology’s to any Elvis fans for the fat Elvis comments).
Charles,
Some may argue that KISS is already an impersonation band.
You’re right, Dana. And I’m one of them who would argue that today’s KI$$ has indeed been an impersonation band for about 20 years.
I know, Rattle,
I was thinking of you when I wrote it.
D 🙂
Las Vegas has always been full of impersonators, and KI⚡⚡ fits right in! And they have plenty of experience, they’ve been doing it for almost 2 decades now! Even perfecting the art of lip syncing! You Wanted The Best…
Gene and Paul have been “Partners In Crime” for 50 years now, and that will never change.
Has Gene looked in the mirror recently? He IS “Bloated Elvis”!
Peeeeoooooppplllle whoooo!!!! Aw hey, wowwwaaahhh!! Lemme hear ya!!! How u doin?!?!?! Alright lithen. Ya know, you just know eww ohhh Gene really tried to bend me over on this one cuz he just know ewww ohhhs that I like that kind of thang. ANYWAYS! Ya know us lead singers, I said US LEAD SINGERS gotta stick together lemme hear ya!!! Diamond Dave was just about to blow up the end of the road tour when Gene ran his mouth. You see people, Diamond Dave knows all about the end of the road tour and the shenanigans that we pull on our fans whoooaaahhhhhh lemme hear ya!! LOUDER!!! So I had to do some damage control (Fake Catman plays a catchy drum groove as Paul prances left, then right as he takes his shirt off)!!! That’s right people Say Yeah!! Say Yeah!! Boom! Bewm bewm! Say bewm bewm bewm!! Bewm bewm bewm bewm bewm! Ya know I was talking to somebody backstage and they said Paul? I said yeah? They said Paul, when are you gonna tour for the soul station album? You know, the one you promoted for six months 10 times per day until it was released and then not a peep when it didn’t sell? I said lithen! The day time is a fine time, but the night time is the right time lemme hear ya!!! Speaking of lead singers, Smokey and I go way back whoah!!! So I had to do some damage control people and send out an ass kissing tweet to Diamond Dave so that he wouldn’t break his signed agreement to not ever discuss the lip syncin’ that I’m doing as we rob you of your hard earned money! This next one…I said this next one comes off an album called Rock N Roll Over whaaaoah!!! This ones called HOTTER THAN HELL!!! TOMMY, Eric, 1-2-3-4 HIT IT!
Kiss should charge 150 bucks a ticket…fill the theater…put on the Kiss Alive! record and just sit around a table and have dinner in front of the audience.
I have always loved DLR! He is always funny and entertaining. Everyone knows that Ace Frehley is the heart of KISS. He is still putting out great releases. Vol 1 is all songs Aceified!!