The Legacy of Black Music

What was meant to be an hour-long interview with Gene Simmons turned into one of the stranger conversations we’ve had on Broken Record.

As co-founder, bassist, and co-frontman of KISS alongside Paul Stanley, Simmons created one of the most outrageous personas in rock history: The Demon. On stage, he breathed fire, spit blood, and wagged his famously long tongue. Off stage, he and KISS became merchandising pioneers, selling everything from comic books and lunchboxes to KISS-branded coffins.

Now 76, Simmons remains as enigmatic as ever. This November, he’ll headline KISS Kruise XII: Landlocked in Vegas, a three-day fan gathering at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. In the lead-up, he joined Justin Richmond to talk about the Beatles’ unmatched songwriting, why KISS never chased radio singles, and to deliver a few of his trademark off-color remarks.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite songs from KISS and Gene Simmons HERE.

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