Gene Simmons spoke to ET‘s Kevin Frazier about KISS‘s “End Of The Road” farewell tour, which launched in 2019 and is scheduled to end sometime in 2023, 50 years after the band’s formation.
“We start playing the outdoor stadiums of South America, literally within two weeks, and continue on to Europe and Australia and eventually North America, Japan, all that stuff. Mexico,” Simmons said. “And this is going to be the last tour. We’re done.”
“We’re approaching 50 years of doing this, which is unbelievable because we never thought we’d last more than a few years,” he added.
Gene went on to say that he and fellow KISS co-founder Paul Stanley are in agreement that it’s time to retire from the road.
“The last thing that you want to do is be a guy that stays in the ring too long and gets his ass beat,” Simmons said. “Get out of the ring when you’re a champion.
“You got to understand — we love [Mick] Jagger and Bruno Mars and Bono and anybody else, they’re all great, but if you put those guys — Beyoncé, put Beyoncé in my outfit with seven-to-eight-inch platform heels, dragon boots that each weigh as much as a bowling ball, the entire outfit, studs, leather and armor is about 40 pounds,” he explained. “The guitar and the studs is 12 pounds by itself. Then, you got to spit fire, fly through the air and do that for two hours. They would pass out within a half hour.”
“We are the hardest-working band out there and take pride in it,” Gene added. “And not every band should be out there too long. You’ve got to have some pride and not stay too long. Always keep them wanting. I’m the most blessed and grateful guy in the world to be able to be in a band where I can wear more makeup and higher heels than your girlfriend.”
KISS launched was forced to put its farewell trek on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last October, Stanley said that the final concert of the “End Of The Road” tour will likely happen by early 2023.
“End Of The Road” was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but has since been extended. The trek was announced in September 2018 following a KISS performance of the band’s classic song “Detroit Rock City” on “America’s Got Talent”.
KISS‘s current lineup consists of original members Stanley and Simmons, alongside later band additions, guitarist Tommy Thayer (since 2002) and drummer Eric Singer (on and off since 1991).
Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley, KISS‘s first “farewell” tour in 2000 was the last to feature the group’s original lineup.
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