During an appearance on the latest episode of Steve-O’s Wild Ride! podcast, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons was asked if he now tours and performs with his solo band. He responded (as transcribed by blabbermouth.net), “Yes. Gene Simmons Band already headlined — oh, goodness. We were in South America, São Paulo [in April]… So we’re going to Europe [this summer] to headline festivals and other stuff. And [we’re] just having a lot of fun.”
He continued, “By the way, I designed a business model that is just semi-genius. I show up with my guitar pick. That’s it. There’s no manager, no roadies, no trucks, no equipment. Everything is provided by the promoter. The flights, the hotels, all the amplifiers, the drums, everything is rented locally. That’s the promoter’s cost, and whatever six-figure or more amount there is, I pocket. And I literally make more money per gig being Gene Simmons and the Gene Simmons Band than I did in KISS — not counting the ancillaries and all that — because you don’t have a 60-man crew, three double deckers, private jet that’s on call seven days a week and 20 to 24 tractor trailers.”
In addition to Simmons, the Gene Simmons members include guitarists Brent Woods (Wildside, Sebastian Bach, Vince Neil) and Jason Walker alongside drummer Brian Tichy (Lynch Mob, The Dead Daisies, Whitesnake, Billy Idol, Foreigner, Pride & Glory, Slash’s Snakepit).
9 Responses
is that picture from the J. Peterman Catalog?
hahahahhaa!!….please take a bow Real Paul…..and we still believe you when you say the only tracks used at the show were the fire engine siren during Firehouse……and Genes setlist is available online ….all of the same tunes KISS played……nothing deep
Gene wearing a black toilet seat on his head