During a recent appearance on producer Rick Rubin‘s Tetragrammaton podcast, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons reflected on the band’s final performance, which took place on December 2nd, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Simmons recounted, (as transcribed by blabbermouth.net), “We took a look at this idea of we were born in New York City, 10 East 23rd Street, 10 blocks down — 10 — from 33rd Street, Madison Square Garden. So we decided, ‘Let’s finish off Christmas’ or Kissmass, ’50 years after the birth of the band 10 blocks down. Let’s do it at New York and only do one show and film it and all that stuff, and invite our friends. It’ll be like a celebration.’ And then the film crew and everybody in [our management] convinced us to do two shows. We could have been there for a week or 10 days… So we did December 1st, December 2nd in New York…”
When asked ifhe felt any differently on stage, knowing it was the last band’s concert, he said, “Very emotional. Pride, but also a little sad because… People who have been married, I’m guessing, a few times, but remember when it was real love and that magic of the thing, if it doesn’t last, there’s a sadness there. Sometimes, it’s drugs and alcohol, sometimes, they just go apart. But when it was great, it’s sad because not everybody survives life. And I’m still sad about [original KISS guitarist] Ace [Frehley] and [original KISS drummer] Peter [Criss], who even today can’t enjoy the fruits of their labor. They were equally as important as [KISS vocalist] Paul [Stanley] and myself in the formation of the band and those first few years — there’s no question about it. It was a four-wheel-drive vehicle. And then the air started coming out of two of the wheels to the point where — as a matter of fact, when it was time for Peter to go, Ace voted, ‘No, he’s gotta go. He can’t play the drums anymore.’ And then Ace, using his words, walked out of KISS. Even though we said, ‘You can stay in KISS. Have a solo career. We don’t want a penny of it. Have your cake and eat it too.’ And he said to my face, ‘No, I can’t stay in the band. He said it in print, ‘If I do another tour, I’m gonna kill myself.’ That’s verbatim. And I didn’t understand what that meant. I didn’t wanna get into it. And then he said, ‘You watch. I’m gonna sell 10 million records.’ I can’t respond to that. I don’t know what that meant. Logically — stay in the band, have your cake and eat it too.”
In recent Simmons news, the bassist has postponed 17 dates from his solo tour, and defended charging $12, 000 for a fan experience, to be his personal assistant.
33 Responses
Huge Ego’s in that band. Sheesh
My wife loves to give me sh*t everytime we hear ” I was made for Loving you” on the radio or at a bar or restaurant…..she does not like KISS and knows I’m a huge fan…..she says ” Hey, there is your favorite band…..what a great song….hahahahhaa”….embarrasing
Ramithard,
I hear you, Judas Priest is my favorite band, and I feel the same way, every time I hear Turbo Lover.
Quite frankly, I don’t know which song is worse?
Hey Dana,
I don’t remember listening to the Turbo album more than 5 times…..total let down after Defenders of the Faith….Priest got back on track though….unfortunately KISS was sad for many many years…..
Ramithard,
LOL!!! Many Priest fans, also did not like, Ram It Down, however, the tour, which I saw, was amazing!
Funny thing about Turbo, all these decades later, I have made my peace with that record. But, the same songs, that I liked back in ’86, when I bought the album (Private Property and Wild Nights Hot & Crazy Days) are the same two, that I still like today-LOL!
Turbo Lover maybe a good pop/electronica song, but as someone who loves Bloodstone, Victims of Changes, You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise, Desert Plains, etc., Turbo Lover, is very difficult to reconcile. It’s like that old kids song, “One thing is not like the other…” LOL!
Finally, you mean you don’t like “Let’s Put The X In Sex..You’re looking like a muscle and you make me want to flex?” LOL!!!!
Actually, the correct lyric is – “Love’s like a muscle and you make me wanna flex…”
Which makes alot more sense. I actually like that song! It’s not 1 of my faves, but I’ve heard alot worse!
Thank you for the correction, Doug R.,
I am so happy, that I did not know, the correct lyrics. While I agree, it’s a bit better than what I thought they were, it still causes major douche chills-LOL!!
I like turbo lover…Then again, I like Kiss “Unmasked”
That’s okay, maybe it’s an acquired taste? 😉
I have said this before. Point of Entry is their peak of creativity! Don’t go!! On 1000 watt speakers will annoy your neighbors. Haha! Hot Rocking and Head out to the Highway! I did like Turbo. Firepower just amazes me that they can still write great music. We need a deluxe version of point of entry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
George,
I agree, Point Of Entry is a very overlooked, and underappreciated, album. But, as Eddie always points out (no pun intended), it is because, it is sandwiched between British Steel and Screaming For Vengeance.
Screaming For Vengeance, is hands down, my favorite. Additionally, it was the very first Priest album, I ever bought, as it was the most current, at the time. That record is what made Judas Priest become my all time favorite band, prior to Priest, it was Def Leppard.
I like KI$$ “Unmasked”, too! I don’t care if it is a pop album, I still really enjoy it! The KI$$ album I don’t like is “The Elder.”
C’mon, Dana. Turbo Lover is not a “good pop/electronica song” either! (laughs)
As for “Let’s Put the X in Sex,” (and I say this as a diehard KISS fan), it is the single most compelling reason for the advent of Grunge! (even bigger laughs!)
LOL!! I was trying to be polite.