You can see Gene's desire for control in how he gets annoyed by the way Ace (Who has probably been drinking) becomes the center of attention when they appeared on Tom Snyder's Tomorrow show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jzve-Tmd70
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvFNs3_uaUg

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It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.

A classic example of how he hates to share the limelight, that is a great interview too.

WOW WI KissFan, that's a trip thru memory lane...lots of those posters were hanging in my bedroom (and I kinda miss them).

IMHO, Gene certainly goes way over the top with the merchandising and all, but I give him credit. His knack for promotion (self-promotion included) annoys people, but he is incredibly good at it. I wish I was a bit as good at it as he is. And he's got an amazing work ethic.

What bugs me more than anything is when Kiss let their quality control slip in favor of their marketing and promotion. But again, I give them credit. Gene has built up a brand that has had exceptional longevity.

Gene doesn't seem that smart and he isn't that good looking, but he has sure done well in the business world and done well with the ladies.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

his wife or girlfriend or whatever the hell he considers her looks fake because she got a facelift lol... i know about that because my dad watches his show....

but regarding the band... hate em. IMO no truly great songs (although detroit rock city is decent) and usually very cheesy, stereotypical 70s rock lyrics... to me they just seem like more a novelty act. just my honest opinon

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Favorite bands:

Melvins
The Jesus Lizard
Cows
Big Business
R***man
Minutemen
Flight
Minor Threat
Big Black
Shellac
Karp
Scratch Acid
Wipers
Pixies

And that's exactly how it turned out.

I went through a three or four-month or so Kiss phase when I was about 11 or 12 ('76). Very odd how it transpired: I went from Deep Purple to Kiss to the Beatles in the span of about a year and a half. Some 35 years on, and I've recently been collecting Deep Purple reissues and live shows from '69-'72 as well as the Beatles mono and stereo reissues.

There was never anything very musical about Kiss; it just took me a couple of months to figure that out. The average consumer remains duped, and that's just what the record companies like. The more "artists" focus on extraneous crap, the less people can tell that the music is half-baked.

Golly Fretless, I wish you could have pointed this out to me back in '78, I would have been saved from having so much fun over the years by being a KISS fan.

The conversation was about Gene, yep, he's an A-hole. But Fretless' comments seem a bit pompous when going off to state how he knows the rest of us nameless rabble have been "duped" by any band selling a Tshirt or poster.

I can certainly understand if you aren't a KISS fan, no worries, there's many things I don't like either. But that certainly doesn't make me a "duped" member of the general public. What's wrong with having some fun? How about keeping the comments more "neutral" and less accusatory in nature? If we all liked the same stuff this world would be pretty boring.

Whatever, I probably shouldn't open this can of worms but it struck me the wrong way.

There's nothing wrong with fun; knock yourself out. My idea of fun is clearly different from yours, so there's your diversity.

As for a lack of neutrality, my comments reflect my position on Gene Simmons and Kiss in general, which is hardly neutral. The general public tends to prefer theatrics and showmanship over true musical creativity; so be it. I don't have to agree with it.

Well anyone that saw KISS back in the 70s cannot say they did not get there moneys worth as it was a concert, the circus and theatre all rolled into one wild ride.. I can still put on Alive and enjoy a really good double live album. After Destroyer though is when I grew out of the phase as the songs really started getting ridicules with all the sexual references like Meet( Meat ) You in the Ladies Room.lol But I believe KISS Fan said it all and though Paul is more low key he makes the same buck on anything sold with the KISS logo. I always thought Paul was a pretty good rhythm player though who also had a good rock voice. As anything Gene does today I really do not believe it , as I have stated on here before my Brother in Law is a semi regular on his show and 80% of it is all scripted.

yeah its not that hard to see how scripted it is lol

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Favorite bands:

Melvins
The Jesus Lizard
Cows
Big Business
R***man
Minutemen
Flight
Minor Threat
Big Black
Shellac
Karp
Scratch Acid
Wipers
Pixies

Gene just doesn't car who likes him or not. He has his close circle of friends and family who he probably treats well and then anyone else either pays for his time or gets out of his way.

After so many years of being hassled by the media and fans, im sure he has grown used to being egocentric.

By the way, great basement collection of kiss memorabilia