WHAT Made KISS the MOST Iconic Rock Band of All Time? | Gene Simmons Insights

[@ryant3600]

Kiss was my introduction to Rock N Roll in the 70's. I was 5, a family with kids from our church invited all the kids from church to their house for a BBQ and pool party. This was in 77/78' and i remember after eating all the older kids went to that family room cause Kiss was going to be on tv. I don't remember why or what show etc. I didn't know anything about Kiss or rock n roll my parents during that time played a lot of R&B and disco records in the house. But I wanted to hang with the big kids and I remember seeing Kiss on TV all the lights, the makeup, the costumes and I was all in on Rock n Roll from that day forward. Matter of fact by the time I got to 5th grade band patches on jean jackets were popular and I bought a Kiss Destroyer backpatch for my jean jacket and my mom was cool enough to sew it on.

[@EdmundShern]

Had the pleasure of spending time with Gene Simmons - he’s really smart but also a gentleman and very generous in spirit - and funny! Love him!

[@maloupenalosa7483]

Kiss has their own market

[@Stuey8Paint]

Great interview!

[@dannybam1]

Great story KISS was huge I wanna rock n roll was all over the radio mid 70s I remember

[@steamengine4719]

Gene Simmons on Michael Franzese's interview, very unexpected but damn awesome to see this!

[@JohnDoe-zo5tu]

The real reason KISS has been successful is because of their songwriting. Yes, there's a "wow" factor with makeup, costumes, and a larger-than-life stage presence, but if the music isn't there, they wouldn't have lasted. Stanley/Simmons is a lot like Lennon/McCartney or Henley/Frey. Any one of these people would readily admit that they aren't the best guitar, bass, or drum players ever, but all of them knew how to write good songs with wide appeal. KISS has sold in excess of 100,000,000 records. That wouldn't be possible if the songwriting / music wasn't there. It was.

[@clintbronson5]

100,000 Y E A R S

[@sword-and-shield]

The Music and The Show

[@johnweiss816]

You don't know me, but we went to Church together way back early 90's I'll give you a hint (El reno) I pray Gene gets saved. Have a Blessed New Year Mike!!!!

[@ducklamb1]

in 1978 i was a 16 year old punk from Detroit and lot of people loved kiss,I always thought the music sucked,still does,this guy knows how to market himself.not about the music.at 16 from Detroit made me a music critic.

[@sakathaatthetombofthelizar7311]

The music that sold 100 million albums and sold out arenas for fifty years...? That is a lot of marketing... I am sure Gene lies awake at night tossing and turning in despair at your reviews that his music sucked in some shitty punk fanzine no-one ever read.

[@KISSFAN1970]

KISS #1

[@parallelpost]

Some said Disco Sucked. 😉

[@danhogue7902]

A jealous much?😅

[@MichaelBice-x9v]

Gene Simmons to me, is like every kid’s superhero.. I will always love the man.. Always will back Kiss…

[@Unknwn733]

“Well get u cumming, we’ll get u going” 😂

[@MICKEY4356]

Remember Hit Parader magazine? ⚡

[@SonyaSwann-xm9xd]

Ahhh the 70s what an awesome time it was to be a teenager loved every minute of it ✝️🧂🪖🇺🇸

[@danweston7876]

What a wonderful guest to have on the channel! Love to see you branch out this way

[@billycain9890]

The makeup and outfits is what kind of Kiss noticed and talked about but if the music wasn't any good they couldn't have lasted 50 years no matter what they look like.

[@752brickie]

I was so impressed by Gene being so forthright about his mother in another video. How he never went wild with alcohol and drugs because of what his mother went through in Concentration Camp and how she did everything to make sure he was a success. People have no idea how intelligent this man is ?? I have gained so so much respect for Gene .

[@mrb706]

Excellent interview

[@stankormy5717]

KISS had amazing production value to it!!!

[@21stcenturyparagraphs]

Part of it was capturing an audience of small children back in the 70's who would grow up and later buy the nostalgia of it in the 1990's when Kiss reunited themselves with the make up and merchandising.

[@Coho52]

Kiss were influenced and inspired by Alice Cooper- Gene fails to mention that here. -_-

[@funkster007]

Gene being Gene. He loves to take credit for everything. Just the audacity to think he can brand a hand sign 🤘 says it all. lol

[@Coho52]

@funkster007 haha, piece of work for sure.

[@clintbronson5]

Alice Cooper was influenced by Arthur Brown

[@jasonf3128]

I dig Kiss, but they are not the most iconic rock band of all time.

[@farsideoutdoors2023]

Michael I would really like you to sit down with Ace Frehley or Peter i love Gene but not his view on the story of KISS

[@steverollins4690]

Great interview Michael!

[@carnakthemagnificent336]

They weren't a band, they were an act. A combination of the Munsters and Partridge Family, assembled for 13 yo boys.

[@VespasianJudea]

Haha, try playing the solo to I Want You while singing like Paul Stanley. Go on, it’s just an act right?

[@sakathaatthetombofthelizar7311]

So 13 year old boys bought 100 million records and have been attending stadiums and arenas for fifty years...? I don't think the Munsters or the Partridge family did either.

[@carnakthemagnificent336]

@VespasianJudea I'd just like to see him do it without the clown costume.

[@robertw31968]

​@@carnakthemagnificent336the did in the 80's.

[@tt55899]

Gene and paul have told their origin story more than any other music artists in history and it isn't close. Also they didnt fire the wicked lester guys they left

[@MetalHeart8787]

liked the interview, of course heard these stories & his Jokes many times. I still think it is Stupid to have sold out and Not do another Album again. NO shows / concerts? OK Fine, But it would have been Good to hear 1 more Album from them ps. why did you Dummies put the 1994 version of the Little rascals in the video? you should have used the 1930's era, that's what They were referring to.

[@kennymik1509]

Life imitates art and vice versa. The squeaky clean way of life was changing. Things all over were getting dirtier, abrasive, degerate, etc. Elvis/Beatles were shaking up culture (good and exciting to youth but opposite affect on older generation). Rolling Stones in the wings. How to top the Stones...? Alice Cooper. When Cooper camp was falling apart...multiply by 4...KISS. The trend has continued. KISS was the next logical step, the right fit, at the right time.

[@kathikay8942]

Wow. Great interview. I saw kiss on their first major tour in Buffalo ny I think it was 76 ish. It was a wild show and exciting and I remember thinking the band was a bit novelty and maybe wouldn’t last too long How wrong I was lol. then that Halloween one of the guys in our crowd dressed like Paul Stanley and looked just like him It was an epic moment

[@lylewollenhaupt7424]

Smarter than you think! Great interview

[@Lacey_Face]

Marketing. Plain & simple.

[@GhastlyCretin]

Gene has a terrible reputation. By all accounts, he's a very unpleasant person to average people. Total ego maniac.

[@TG-oo9se]

Was he a due then

[@HumbleStudent-pt2qy]

"Marketing means manipulation ..?" Can't you let people know what you're about without trying to manipulate them ..?

[@Ndrangheta.M5]

What a great interview. I love how he brought me back to the past

[@bretmavrick-ph2ip]

Two great personalities ❤️😎❤️😎👍👍😎😎

[@Zeppelin927]

Most iconic rock band of all time????? Hardly

[@JaLa248]

You guys were Mysterious with the makeup and that’s what brought people to see Kiss. Actually THE WHO Was Thee Best Band in those days. And Daltrey is Still Out There, Pete, sometimes. For them it’s been 65 years Now!

[@mikeywid4954]

Thank you Michael Franzese for this fascinating interview. Btw I'm 75 yo and I watched the Little Rascals all the time. Better simpler times back then.

[@cstomp1]

Gene forgets Paul wore Lone Ranger style makeup for a couple shows before switching to the star.

[@princevultan6589]

And he forgets that Ace suggested the Star to Paul.

[@captjimmescall7090]

Never had a hit song. His wife, Shannon, was the best thing that happened to him. 😊

[@sakathaatthetombofthelizar7311]

You don't need a hit single when you have sold 100 million albums.

[@KISSFAN1970]

Never had a hit song? Lol ok

[@JimRoseCircus1]

That headline is getting a lot of laughs and fewer views. Gene probably forced it to do the interview. He mentally strong armed Franzese.🤣

[@petersanmiguel1468]

Seek salvation - look up: John 1:1-14 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 John 3:1-8 John 3:16 Romans 10:8,9

[@keithrichardsom1898]

What a character

[@phenomenol91]

WHAT Made KISS the MOST Iconic Rock Band of All Time? ................... lol. They are nowhere near that mountaintop, but they delivered a good product and made $$$$$$$$$$$$ in the process. Kudos to them.

[@TheWanderingOne.]

Besides the make up and way they dressed for the time. The music is pretty rocking too😎

[@SuedeStonn]

Let me start by saying that when I was 2-4 years old I remember my brother buying packs of KISS cards/gum, and trying to put together the "poster"... and also seeing one of the album covers. (I was 2-4 years and didn't know what to think of it, but it stuck in my head to this day, and I'm 50 now, lol.) I didn't really start listening to KISS until I was in my early 20's, and loved the music, and the costumes were really cool... Gene didn't say it, but imo it was another "gimmick" to get people to notice KISS, Gene is a master entertainer and promoter. When I practice darts one of my favorite songs to put on is "Cold Gin" live, I think its the '96 version, the one where Ace sings a part and Gene, Ace, and Paul do a 3-man high-five in the middle of the song, great stuff. What I really came on to comment about though... the most iconic band of all time? Yeah, that's not a stretch, that's crazy talk. Was KISS huge in the 70's? Absolutely! But it definitely petered out in the 80's and 90's. Not saying they weren't still rockin' in those years, and even the 2000's, but it wasn't like the 70's. Would I say KISS is a top-10 band? No, you've got Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Queen, RUSH, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and others that would vie for those spots. Would they make the top-25? If KISS didn't I would be highly amazed, and making the top-25 would be putting you in LEGENDARY status. Now to put on "I Love It Loud", because that's the only way to listen to rock 'n roll! ;}

[@Ashleykeithdavidharper]

I hope your not putting pink floyd down because I am a huge fan

[@gangstacaller]

Good interview Micheal, Gene is a legend

[@kromedome0101]

I was sitting upfront at the Beacon Theater show mentioned here, blew my teenage mind!

[@davidjohannesmarker8835]

Its teamwork we all work together❤️😇😎

[@channelsurfer3710]

Gene on his death bed: "Peter can't cut it...he doesn't have the stamina..." ..lol...

[@dougwilson6778]

I don't care what anyone says Gene Simmons is a legend and a American treasure! Love ya gene!!

[@truescotsman4103]

I find it fascinating that Gene has an amazing legacy and gets tons of respect for just being a founding member of Kiss and a great musician he has to do everything he can to come off like a complete douchebag that deserves no respect. I can't stand his personality. He just sucks!

[@DarrenShaw-ev5tb]

Myself being older than dirt ! - Never drank the Kiss Kool-Aid unlike sum folk I knew ( lol ) No Hate just did not Blow my ears back !! - Detroit Rock City being a exception ( Freakin Killer Lick ) Imo

[@111RAMONES]

Of course it is. They have some great songs but the Makeup is iconic.

[@97warlock]

i Wish Gene would relize MOST people know about whicked lester, MOST people know about Lydia, Most people know what theyre charachtors are, most people know about the loft etc etc etc ....

[@SteveWhite-wv2wk]

I don't believe that the interviewer does, though. Gene enjoys trips down memory lane.

[@97warlock]

@@SteveWhite-wv2wk I guess. I am thanful of the halloween makeup part of it though

[@christopherschlacter4953]

Saw them in 76, it was quite an experience, not a musical one, but a weird out of control mess of sound of theatrics....

[@UrbanLegend9669]

I mean Kiss Is an iconic Band , Visually . Having Visuall Art Characters of the Band Member's Personalities on their Faces was Genius . BUT .. out of about 150 of their Songs overall in the last 50 Years they have maybe 10 Good to Great Songs . Beth Rock N Roll All Night Shout It Out loud 2000 Man Detroit Rock City I Was Made For Loving You Lick It Up Heavens On Fire Forever Reason to live Other than that alot of their Songs are Forgettable . Gene is Right , Kiss didn't really have or need alot of Top Hits to be Successful in the Music Business . Their Fans came to Halloween Dress up like the Kiss Members at Kiss Concerts and See a Visually Entertaining Show for most part . The Music wasn't always that important .

[@tbone7679]

And then there is me - I don’t think another band has 150 songs that even touch their top 150. Black Diamond, Firehouse. Unholy, War Machine, say Yeah, Crazy Nights, Shock Me, Tears are Falling, cold gin, and psycho circus for a quick 10 more songs I rate right up there with your 10

[@classicalmusic1175]

I am sorry, but KISS is not even close to being the most iconic rock band of all time.

[@VespasianJudea]

They were huge bro. You can’t deny that.

[@KISSFAN1970]

Wrong

[@speedracer2336]

Most iconic? I have watched many bands who are much better. I am a fan, but they are not iconic.

[@Luis-g1h]

Peter and paul.

[@greenbeagle13]

Never into KISS, but I absolutely love Gene Simmons....

[@JaysonSherlock]

No money bag hat and no dark glasses, WHO IS THIS?? 😂

[@Rick-q4p]

Generally I have a bad impression of Gene Simmons.

[@Hamzah_zz]

How come?

[@Rick-q4p]

@Hamzah_zz I've seen videos of him where he was pushy

[@BBaldwin]

Kiss, the most iconic rock band of all time? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 “Hold my beer”- Led Zeppelin and the Beatles

[@truescotsman4103]

Fawning over rockstars is disgusting. People like Simmons are just gross individuals. Get ahold of yourselves people.

[@BigP1967]

I’d like to see Michael do a sit down with George Christie of the Hell’s Angels. I think that would be massive.

[@tonyallen975]

He did an interview with George Christie a little while back. I think of you search his channel, it should pop up

[@BigP1967]

@@tonyallen975 Thank you, I found it. It first aired 9 months ago, so no wonder I missed it. 3/20/2024 I was airlifted & spent a month in hospital with an aortic dissection and the rest of the summer recuperating. Thanks, again!

[@peterkaufmann8579]

Kiss doesn't even come close to the most iconic. Too funny 😅😅😅

[@jameswitt645]

Kiss is the most overrated rock band ever. They've got about six to seven songs that are played regularly on radio stations. They don't even have enough good songs to make a ten song greatest hits album.

[@sakathaatthetombofthelizar7311]

100 million records sold says that had a few more than ten good songs.

[@jameswitt645]

@sakathaatthetombofthelizar7311 There are lots of people who support crappy bands. Means nothing. That's why I said they're overrated. List me 10 of their songs that are regularly played on the radio. You've got seven or eight at the most. They are the REO Speedwagon of rock bands: have about seven or eight good songs, but are treated like they have a plethora of good songs.

[@sakathaatthetombofthelizar7311]

@@jameswitt645 Name me another crappy band that has sold 100 millions albums....? REO sold less than half that. Name me another crappy band that has sold out arenas and stadiums for fifty years straight. If it's good it sells. If it's crap it doesn't. KISS' own career highs and lows are testement to that. I guess you are a jealous failed musician who 'kept it real'...? Which is a euphemism for 'wrote shit songs'.

[@jameswitt645]

@sakathaatthetombofthelizar7311 I'm not a musician lol. I just look at the facts. Again, name me ten (10) Kiss songs that are regularly played on the radio that could be put on a greatest hits CD. Kiss is like Pat Benatar...she has about eight good songs. Her greatest hits album has those on it, and two to three other songs that aren't great at all. Kiss can't even produce a 10 song greatest hits album/CD. They're a gimmick band. Gimmick sells. Gene Simmons knew how to use gimmick to sell albums.

[@sakathaatthetombofthelizar7311]

@@jameswitt645 That's a great deal of gimmicks... Gimmicks don't sell 100 million records or arenas for fifty years. Ask GWAR, Manowar and WASP. You should probably look up the record sales and track listings for the ten 'Greatest Hits' albums KISS have released. Pat Benetar sold less than a third of KISS' record sales despite a plethora of radio hits.

[@BillMcGrogan]

Kiss was not a rock to me,they were theatre group.

[@muzikblu]

I was the Kiss generation, but Gene is not who you think he is, very shocked he would interview him.

[@shinji1991]

Like two strong powers sitting in front of each other way?

[@channelsurfer3710]

Kiss used every single show business cliche in the book ..that's their brilliance...they didn't use some of them, they used all of them..

[@channelsurfer3710]

I bet Paul isn't too happy with how Gene just spilled how he got his makeup...lol

[@seriousmonkey5654]

What he says is actually bullshit.

[@ohyeah2068]

WOOLWORTHS was the place to go in the UK

[@velvetjones1856]

Sam Walton's first store was a Ben Franklin, similar to Woolworth "dime" stores.

[@nathanoriley2997]

I don't know but it certainly wasn't the music.

[@satjinder]

Most iconic? I think you'll find that's a British group called The Beatles

[@Kong_80]

Answer to the title: The devil

[@misty4483]

Gene simmons lost any respect I would have had, when he went and yapped off about ppl that didnt take the poke, and that they were the “enemy”.

[@mikeyates7931]

Absolutely right 👍 And now I've lost all respect for , Franzese for giving him this platform - I just unsubscribed

[@VespasianJudea]

@@mikeyates7931 That’s so stupid. What a liberal take.

[@mikeyates7931]

@@VespasianJudea interesting opinion , considering I'm a Proud lifelong Republican 🤣

[@Hash1Suspect]

@@VespasianJudeayeah so we should just support a platform hosting liberal guests then???

[@crystalz-h1d]

It's strange because he hates wokeness and political correctness (he said that on Bill Maher's show).

[@sharonmchugh8294]

Wish music biz would return once again to what he is talking about. " Ground swell" would change this stagnant music industry.

[@claytondoan5712]

I got to watch a cover band Mr. Speed and they were spot on to the original.

[@kittykay8015]

Kiss is NOT iconic! Moronic YES! Sure they have a bunch of albums. But they only have 2 hit songs. One that was sung by their drummer which they don't even play live anymore.

[@michaelorleans5396]

Kiss were always s...t musicians..never liked them

[@ianthomas4568]

Well it wasn’t the music 🤣🤣🤣

[@RFG1TmobileSAMsung1]

U know the drilly 👍💯🤌🌐✔️👌

[@VincentVader]

KISS was a gimmick band. The music is elementary at best. None were great players. It was a smoke & mirror show.

[@mikewalsh5631]

Merry Christmas to you, too!

[@VibeMusicAiRecords]

Love gun is a great song

[@CS-iv6hp]

That “gimmick” recently sold their catalog and NIL for over $300 million.

[@JoeyP322]

There are tons of bands out there that are “elementary” at best. You don’t have to be a musical virtuoso to be a good band. They have some great songs and albums. I saw bands in the 70’s and 80’s that just stood there and played, as if they were doing you a favor.

[@jameswitt645]

They don't even have enough good songs to make a greatest hits album. Even one of their most popular songs, "Rock And Roll All Nite," is only about 3 minutes long, and the chorus is repeated for about 2 minutes of the 3.

[@DK01157]

Wow the leader of woke

[@VincentSerna-r2e]

Most iconic? LOL THEIR MUSIC IS ASS

[@victoriamayo5774]

Good evening ❤

[@RobSneiderr]

Didn’t Gene Simmons go too Epstein Island?

[@Nick-AngelpeodSeaxisc]

Most Iconic rock band? They would not even get into the top ten.

[@SonyaSwann-xm9xd]

Thank you Micheal I enjoyed this video with Gene , how about Uncle Ted Nugent next ✝️🧂🧂🪖🇺🇸

[@soulcontractor1641]

Yah! That was pretty good! Dean( Soul)Toronto P.S. 1976 Grade#8 Kiss, Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Doors, they were my staples!

[@jeffros6739]

A distant memory, but still a good one

[@raphaelnavarro1392]

I don't think kiss would have been as successful and famous if it had not been for the make up and the shows, Iam mean average musicianship and songs what can I say plus Iam surprised Michael is interviewing this guy, what a disappointment.

[@hypatos671]

I wonder if he had any elvis stories?

[@MICKEY4356]

I've heard Gene talk about Elvis. His fame and charisma.

[@keithwhitlock726]

Couldn't be that they mixed their blood with the ink used for their album cover.

[@TwinMillMC]

Musically, KISS sucks. Below average playing skills, singing, song writing, etc. No musical creativity or originality. They needed outrageous costumes to get noticed. Useless band IMHO.

[@kevinkaatz883]

Let’s hear what u got, which life’s experience tells me U DONT HAVE. It’s always the non-players who’re the first to critique

[@TwinMillMC]

@kevinkaatz883 Bro, you specialize in prejudice. You have no clue who I am or what I've done in the music industry that qualifies me to judge other performances. I'm sure this KISS clown 🤡 in the video agrees with me. He's laughing all the way to the bank at phoolz like you who buy KISS BS. So, GTF off my thread!

[@locochang6533]

@@kevinkaatz883ridiculous argument. You don’t have to be good at something to know it sucks. RayGunn is a horrible break dancer, and I can’t break dance for shit. Use your brain.

[@locochang6533]

It’s the same logic with Lars Ulrich from Metallica. He is the best WORST drummer of all time

[@joeatlas9863]

Kiss has great music

[@kevinkaatz883]

The one’s who DONT will always tear down those who DO. The guys in KISS DID

[@locochang6533]

No one is saying they didn’t, clown. That doesn’t change the fact that their music is mediocre and I personally know musicians that will obliterate these guys… Musically, not gimmickally….

[@Dillan3]

Its called synchronicity’s….

[@Roberta_Esposito]

First of all KISS is second only to God in my life… But let’s just say dressing up different people as Ace and Peter is utter blasphemy. You wouldn’t put a schoolboy uniform on somebody else instead of Angus Young and say this is AC/DC.

[@Martin.Szorad]

I cant stand Gene Simmons

[@screwyou341]

❤gene Simmons

[@OrthodoxJourney359]

I think it’s important to say that no one should become unteachable. You may not like someone but that doesn’t mean you won’t learn something from them.

[@danhogue7902]

Good he can't stand you either... Please send 5 bucks😅😅😅😅😅