Gene Simmons has stirred the pot by claiming that being in bands like the Ramones or The Rolling Stones is “easier” than being part of Kiss. In a recent appearance on The Adam Carolla Show, he argued that those groups benefit from not having to commit to the extravagant costumes and theatrical elements that Kiss is famous for.
“It’s a significant commitment. You have to invest a lot more money,” Simmons explained. “Honestly, it’s easier to be in the Ramones or, God bless them, The Stones. I mean, Mick [Jagger], bless him, is 80 years old, still running around on stage. But he’s always just worn sneakers and a t-shirt.”
He continued, “He doesn’t have to deal with seven-inch dragon boots, spit fire, fly through the air, or wear 40 pounds of studs and armor. So, in that sense, it’s a lot tougher to be in Kiss than in the Ramones. But on the flip side, we were significantly bigger.”
Simmons also highlighted Kiss’s monumental success in the late ’70s, stating that they were voted the most popular rock band in the U.S. for three consecutive years by the Gallup Poll—outpacing legendary acts like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin during their peak.
“For three straight years, we topped the Gallup Poll,” he noted. “Of course, 20-year-olds today probably don’t know what Gallup means, except that it sounds like riding a horse. But we were a bigger popular vote than The Beatles and Zeppelin during that time.”
