The Onion

AKRON, OH—Citing growing tensions between bandmates, Harvey Shapiro—aka “VeeVee,” the guitarist for KISS cover band Destroyer—left the group Monday to create VeeVee’s Occupying Force, a Vinnie Vincent Invasion tribute band. “I felt I had hit a creative ceiling with the cover-band experience and was ready for the challenges of a tribute band,” Shapiro said. “VeeVee’s Occupying Force will debut Dec. 3 at Rubber City Lanes. We’re opening for Second Sighting, my brother’s Frehley’s Comet cover band.” As a part of his new band’s act, Shapiro said he is contemplating suing Destroyer for $6 million over damage to his reputation following some badmouthing at the Rock ‘N’ Bowl.

Ultimate Classic Rock

Gene Simmons is battling kidney stones, which may explain why Kiss were forced to end their most recent tour leg a little early last month.

According to TMZ, the bassist was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Hospital this morning and had a stent inserted during a noninvasive, hour-long procedure.

Kidney stones are small pebbles of salt and minerals that can build up when a person doesn’t have enough liquid in their system. They make urinating very painful. The stent is designed to help Simmons expel the stones more easily on his own. The report notes that the device will be removed, along with any remaining stones, in about a week.

On Sept. 13, Simmons tweeted that the band was postponing the last three dates of the most recent leg of its farewell End of the Road tour so that he could “do a medical procedure.” He assured fans the issue was “nothing serious,” but it needed to be attended to promptly.

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Jody Havenot