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Gene Simmons: KISS quit touring at the right time

Gene Simmons is certain that KISS called time on touring at exactly the right moment.

Speaking on NewsNation's The Hill with Blake Burman on Wednesday, the rock veteran looked back on the band's End of the Road World Tour, which stretched from 2019 to 2023. Fans may keep hoping the remaining members will head back out on the road, but Simmons believes the group managed to leave the stage with dignity.

He explained that a performer has to recognise the moment to walk away proudly, adding that KISS was, and still is, the only band of its kind. The physical demands of each show were considerable, he noted: spitting fire, flying through the air, keeping his tongue out, and wearing anywhere from 50 to 70 pounds (22 to 31 kilograms) of armour, studs and guitars – all while standing on seven-inch platform boots for two hours. It was, in his words, exhausting.

Simmons also joked that he looks better at 77 than he did while travelling the world. Still, he stressed the importance of respecting the audience enough to know when it is time to step off that stage.

The conversation wasn't only about the past. Simmons pointed to several projects in the works for KISS, among them an avatar show and a documentary covering their last tour. That film is due to arrive on the band's website on 19 November.

According to a press release, the documentary offers unprecedented access to the historic End of the Road World Tour and follows the final live chapter of one of rock's most legendary acts. It captures the camaraderie, conflicts, challenges and emotion on the road to one last performance at Madison Square Garden, and also looks at how the band intends to carry its legacy forward in the years to come.

Photo: Cover Media
Source: Muzland
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