Gene Simmons makes no bones about the fact that the Kiss' stage show changed everything that came after it. The band is currently on its extended “End Of The Road” farewell tour and chatted with Classic Rock. Simmons explained, “We wanted to put the band together that we wanted to see on stage. One that had no rules, and a visual element like no one else, and where you could combine Fourth Of July into the show. Why? Because this thing called rock has no rules. So when you go to a wrestling match and you see fireworks shows, or you see Sir Paul McCartney –and I adore the ground he walks on, remember — and you see fireworks and pyro, where do you think he got that from, the Carpenters?”
When pressed as to what emotions he'll feel stepping off the stage after the tour's absolute final gig, Paul Stanley admitted, “What won't I feel? It’s monumental. It’s overwhelming. It will be incredibly emotional, trying to absorb the enormity of what we’ve done, and I’m quite certain, besides the laughter, there’s going to be enough tears to go around.”
Gene Simmons told us that a Kiss concert provides everything that good entertainment should: “It’s uplifting, there’s nothing negative — we don’t do political commentary. There are enough problems in the world without guys that wear more makeup and higher heels than your mom waxing poetic and prolific on all sorts of issues. They shouldn’t. We make you forget about the traffic jam, and the fight you had with your girlfriend, and, like all the other things, just 'magic time' — 'electric church.'”
Kiss performs on August 20th in Melbourne, Australia at Rod Laver Arena.
The band's next U.S. show is set for September 21st at West Palm Beach's IThink Financial Amphitheare.