Gene Simmons of Legendary Rock Band KISS: “When I’m in Hungary, I feel like I’m coming home”

Fanni Kaszas | Hungary Today

Gene Simmons,  musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, actor and television personality, guitarist and co-lead singer of the legendary rock band Kiss, whose turning 70 this month, talked to Hungarian daily Magyar Nemzet about the band’s three-year-long farewell tour, where they also say goodbye to Hungarian fans. Simmons, who has been with Kiss for almost half a century, was born in Israel but actually has Hungarian origins.

In the interview with Magyar Nemzet, in addition to the planned Hungarian concert, Simmons talked about his Hungarian roots as well:

When I was little, I knew a lot of Hungarian songs. My mother used to sing Hungarian songs to me every day. One of my favorites was one that starts with Van nekem az égen egy kis csillagom (I have a little star in the sky)…

He added that sometimes he comes on business tours to Hungary and he always feels like he is back home, and usually try to speak as much Hungarian as he can. He added that he also loves Hungarian cuisine, such as pancakes, goulash soup – and he used to eat pancakes almost every day at home in his youth. Simmons said that the country should be respected as

Hungary was the only state in the communist bloc that rebelled against the Russians in 1956. 

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Gene Simmons Brutally Attacked After KISS Show, revealed in Sammy Hagar new book

Brett Buchanan | Alternative Nation

KISS was starting a tour, and it was their first headlining show in New York, their hometown. They sold out Madison Square Garden, and they asked me at the last minute to be the opening act for the ten-show, East Coast run. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were both fans of Montrose, and they liked my first solo record. I go on stage to open Madison Square Garden, but nobody knew who I was, or even that I was on the bill, because I was added last minute. I didn’t even have any fans yet anyway.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sammy Hagar!” The place immediately starts fucking booing. I was still green from Montrose, and I didn’t feel like I was anywhere near famous, so I just tried kicking as much ass as I could. During the third song, which was a Donovan-balled cover called Catch The Wind, people started flipping me off and really losing their shit. I was looking out at the crowd, and I stopped the song. I yelled, “You fucking assholes! You didn’t even give me a chance. You started booing me before hearing the music. Fuck you!”

Everybody in the audience was dressed up like KISS. As far as I could see, they had all the makeup on too. Since it was New York, I said, “I see they’ve flown in an audience from Los Angeles for this show.” That really pissed them off, and they started throw- ing cups at me. I pulled down my pants, dropped my drawers, and pulled out my dick. I shook it at the crowd, then smashed my 1961 Stratocaster to pieces, and walked offstage.

 

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PAUL STANLEY TALKS ON FUTURE PLANS OF KISS: “THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES”

Metalhead Zone

KISS’ iconic singer and guitarist Paul Stanley had a recent interview with Finnish Kaoos TV and revealed what he thinks about his future music career.

Paul Stanley asked what he thinks his next move will be. Paul said that he believed that there are lots of opportunities for everyone and when the time comes, he will decide what to do.

Here is his statement:

“I believe that more will come along that I don’t even know about yet. That’s what makes life fabulous. It’s like when you read a book or when you watch a TV series — you don’t know what the next episode is; you don’t know what the next chapter is. That’s what my life is like. Twenty years ago, did I think I would paint? No. Twenty-five years ago, did I think I would star in ‘Phantom Of The Opera’? No.”

He continued:

“Ten years ago, did I think I would write a book? No, but opportunities come up, and then you decide whether they’re interesting to you. We all have so many opportunities that we either don’t take a minute to consider or we think we’re too busy, but there are opportunities all around us.”

You can watch the whole interview right below.

GENE SIMMONS LEAKED HIS UNSEEN LETTER TO STAN LEE AFTER 36 YEARS

Metal Head Zone

KISS legend Gene Simmons shared a new tweet and showed his followers the letter that he sent to Stan Lee in 1982.

Here is what Gene wrote:

“Here’s my 1982 letter to Stan Lee, regarding wanting to be cast as THE THING in the Fantastic Four movie.”

Here is Genes’ letter to Stan Lee:

“Dear Stan,

Everybody’s telling me about plans for a “Fantastic Four” movie. To make a long story short. I want to be the “Thing.”

Here are some scenes from “KISS – Attack Of The Phantom” which was a KISS co-production for television, and an Avco Embassy worldwide feature.

Either way, all the best of luck with the movie. I have been a fan since the beginning, and still, am.

Best of luck,
Gene Simmons.”

You can see the tweet below.

Gene Simmons

@genesimmons

Here’s my 1982 letter to Stan Lee, regarding wanting to be cast as THE THING in the Fantastic Four movie.

View image on Twitter

 

Gene Simmons interview: ‘Drink and drugs? No, I relax with cake and Game of Thrones’

ES

He may be a rock god, famous for his menacing “Demon” stage persona, an opulent lifestyle and Olympic-level womanising, but even Gene Simmonshas his limits. The Kiss bassist is turning 70 in August and his band’s current tour, which arrives at the O2 on July 11, will be its last.

“It’s time,” he says. “This tour will take three years and I’ll be 72 when it finishes. That’s a good point to get off the stage.

“We’re the hardest-working band in showbusiness, and that’s exhausting,” he adds in his New York tones. “I’m up there every night in 8in platform boots and 40lbs of armour. I did five-mile walks almost every day for a year to get in shape.”

Over the years Kiss have set a high bar for onstage theatrics with their hugely energetic performances, elaborate costumes and fireworks. Simmons believes that the current tour, which began in January in the US, is the best they’ve done.

“I don’t want to say what’s in it — that would be like telling people what their Christmas present is in July. But it shames past shows. We’ve ramped things right up. If you’re running a race and see the finish line, do you speed up or slow down? When I was a kid, bands often disappointed me live. I saw The Byrds and thought, ‘I really like that song, but maybe I could close my eyes and like it even more.’ There was nothing going on onstage. They were just standing in front of their microphones. We’ve always wanted to be the band we never saw perform. To work our asses off and give the fans bang for their buck. Ed Sheeran is terrific and can sell out Wembley with just a guitar. But I don’t want to do that. I have too much energy inside of me. I want to blow up the sky.”

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