Famous Musicians That Surprisingly Can’t Stand KISS

KISS sang about being made for loving you, but that doesn’t mean everyone loves them back. The iconic New York City band rocked stages for five decades, achieving chart-topping success and expanding their empire into film, merchandising, and comic books. Masterminded by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, KISS is more than music — it’s a global business powerhouse. According to the BBC, the band sold its back catalog for a reported $300 million to Swedish enterprise Pophouse Entertainment, which also acquired their intellectual property rights.

Despite their success, Simmons and Stanley often fight back against their critics. But who wins from the constant back-and-forth? The fans, who enjoy reading about the explosive drama in the press.

Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend of The Who, a band known for its enduring legacy, sees KISS quite differently. Speaking to Hazy Rock in Something Else!, Townshend described KISS as “a very American phenomenon” that he found difficult to embrace due to their theatrical style, which he viewed as a parody of rock. He felt their disguises and early years required academic study to understand. Despite Townshend’s reservations, Gene Simmons acknowledged The Who’s profound influence on KISS, both musically and visually. On MSNBC’s Morning Joe in December 2020, Simmons praised The Who’s live performances, admiring Townshend’s guitar-smashing antics and lamenting the perceived decline of theatrical rock in modern music.

Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, while sharing a similar rock ‘n’ roll spirit with KISS, has been openly critical. On WHPT Tampa’s The Cowhead Show (via The Hollywood Reporter) in 2012, Tyler labeled KISS a “comic book rock band.” He cited a contentious incident between an Aerosmith roadie and KISS’ crew in the ’70s as a reason for his skepticism. Despite maintaining a cordial relationship with Simmons and Stanley, Tyler has never been a fan of KISS’ music, contrasting their theatrical approach with Aerosmith’s earnest musicality. Reflecting on Tyler’s remarks on Rockline, Stanley suggested that Tyler’s criticism might have been influenced by promotional activities, recalling a tour where Tyler insisted on Aerosmith performing last, only to witness audience departures.

Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana, a Grammy-winning legend, has strong opinions about KISS. In 2005, he criticized Gene Simmons, claiming Simmons is more of an entertainer than a musician. Santana argued that real artists like Bob Marley and John Coltrane don’t need masks and makeup. Simmons, often the least popular KISS member, didn’t let this slide. In a 2009 interview on FOX5 News: Live in Las Vegas, he suggested Santana’s performances were dull and declared that KISS was ready to show how the “big boys” do it.

Slash
Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, known for his iconic top hat and sunglasses, has never been a fan of KISS. In a 1990 interview with Musician, Slash recalled hating KISS’ music despite his bandmate Steven Adler’s enthusiasm. Paul Stanley, in his autobiography, Face the Music: A Life Exposed, mentioned meeting Slash before Guns N’ Roses’ fame and expressed disappointment at Slash’s negative remarks. Stanley recounted how Slash once asked for help acquiring guitars, but he declined. Despite their rocky history, they were on better terms by 2006.

John Lydon
Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd vocalist John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten, is punk rock to the core. Despite his distaste for KISS’ music, he has personal friendships with band members like Gene Simmons. In a 1996 interview with Jam! (via JohnLydon.com), Lydon explained that he can separate the music from the people and maintain personal relationships despite differing musical tastes. He reiterated this sentiment in a 2023 interview with Spin, criticizing bands for selling false images and specifically mentioning KISS.

Ace Frehley
Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has had a complicated history with the band. In a 2024 interview with Chaoszine, Frehley expressed confusion about not being part of KISS’ farewell tour despite positive comments from Simmons and Stanley. He was annoyed by Stanley’s derogatory remarks on The Howard Stern Show and declared he wouldn’t have appeared at the final show even if invited. Despite the tensions, Frehley still believes he’s a superior musician to Stanley, though he remains on good terms with Simmons.

Tony Iommi
In a 2020 interview with Gibson TV, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi recounted touring with KISS and the groups not getting along. Iommi found it amusing that they couldn’t distinguish KISS members from their road crew without makeup. Despite the tension, Iommi laughed about the incidents, highlighting the humorous aspects of their interactions.

Albert Bouchard
Former Blue Öyster Cult drummer Albert Bouchard toured with KISS in the ’70s and had several memorable experiences. In a podcast interview with Full in Bloom, Bouchard described how Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons acted superior on tour. Bouchard laughed about an incident where a roadie called Simmons by his real name, Chaim Witz, and Simmons chased the roadie in anger. Despite Simmons’ attitude, Bouchard found humor in the situation, even calling Simmons “a jerk.”

Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner, known for his work with Rainbow and Deep Purple, is against the use of backing tracks in live performances. Speaking to Metal Castle, Turner criticized bands like KISS for relying on backing tracks, arguing that live music should be authentic. He suggested that KISS should retire if they can’t perform without backing tracks, as it damages their legacy. While sympathetic to the demands of touring, Turner believes bands should either perform fewer dates or stop entirely if they can’t deliver live performances without assistance.