Gene Simmons Gives Insight On How Much You Need To Live

Gene Simmons and Peter Criss recently appeared on the Morning X for an interview about their End of the Road World Tour, which began in 2019.

During the conversation, they also discussed the Rolling Stones and their enduring career. The host asked if the Rolling Stones were motivated solely by money after being in the music scene for so long. In response, Simmons, the bassist of KISS, said:

“I don’t buy the money issue. Once you get enough money that buys you the comforts of life, the rest is – I mean, the difference between 10 million and 100 million is just sort of conceptual because when you have enough money, you can buy anything you want. So, let’s just call it for what it is.”

Simmons praised the Rolling Stones, who have been one of KISS’s favorite bands, as they have defied conventional expectations and proved that age should not limit one’s success. He mentioned a phrase he and Criss grew up with, “Don’t trust anybody over 30,” which suggested that older people couldn’t understand the younger generation’s perspective. However, he acknowledged that the Rolling Stones’ longevity shattered that belief.

Speaking about KISS, Simmons emphasized their commitment to breaking the rules and not being confined to a specific musical genre. He pointed out that they have explored different styles beyond heavy metal, such as ballads and collaborations with symphony orchestras. He continued to explain his point:

“The idea being that you should never be tied into a genre and simply just do what you want to do. That way, you’re always around because when thrash dies, or punk dies, or metal dies, or rap dies, all the bands that align themselves with a certain genre of music will be dead. RIP. See you! [I] wouldn’t wanna be you. KISS has always marched to the beat of its own heart, basically.”

Despite KISS’s creative independence, they haven’t always been satisfied with their projects. They sometimes referred to their 1998 album Psycho Circus as a disappointment or a fiasco because it didn’t feel like a true KISS album, especially after the reunion of the original lineup.

Simmons reflected on the period in 2009, as reported by Rolling Stone:

“We tried to do a KISS album, and it was an ill-fated attempt because there was no real band. For a band to make a great album, it has to share a common purpose, and we didn’t have it.”

After the release of Psycho Circus, Ace Frehley and Criss left the band once again, while KISS continued with Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer, who are still part of the lineup for the upcoming farewell tour.