Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images Nine days after the deadly tornado that touched…
Simmons Says Kiss Are 'Bigger Than Mickey Mouse'
- Posted on Apr 30th 2010 8:15AM by Chris Mugan
Gene Simmons is claiming Kiss are more famous than Mickey Mouse, with the long-tongued bassist saying his bandmates' painted faces are the most famous "pop culture image" in history. "You don't know how big the image is," Simmons told the Daily Telegraph. "By some experts, it is believed to be the most recognised pop culture image on Earth -- even above Mickey Mouse."
He was unrepentant about how much emphasis Kiss had placed on product endorsement to promote their image too. "You know, there's no U2 comic book, there's no Mick Jagger action figure," the 60-year-old rocker said. "We have our own Visa card. You can go into Wal-Mart and get M&Ms with our faces on [them]. We have a Dr. Pepper soft drink campaign now. It's unbelievable!"
Paul Stanley emphasised the group's anti-drugs stance. "When everyone started talking about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, I was saying, 'You keep the drugs, and I'll take the sex and the rock 'n' roll.'"
Kiss are in the UK to hit the nation's arena circuit, with Simmons, Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer due to start their tour at Sheffield Arena on Saturday, May 1. The glam metal outfit returned in 2009 with 'Sonic Boom,' their first studio album in 11 years.
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mousenhowz
honestly, i think this has been taken way too far. he was probably making a "joke" about the mickey thing in comparison to what Lennon said about the "Beatles being bigger that Jesus". give Gene a break. anyway, this is a "captialist" country and a person that works the system and excels should be commended, not condemned. i grew up buying Kiss "albums" back in the day. regardless of what people say here, Kiss does have good stuff. it all depends on perspective,to each their own and all that. like someone hinted at here, even though the merchandising has made them money and the gimmick is part of the act, they would be nowhere without musicianship and talent. plain and simple.
May 30 2010 at 11:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
David S.
Gene Simmons is a douchebag...so are his fake wife and idiotic kids too.
May 02 2010 at 3:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Richard Ott
You won't catch The Disney Channel or Disney XD
airing a lame music video for KISS' "Rock N Roll
All Nite And Party Every Day" on their "Remics"
series. Radio Disney doesn't play any KISS music,
mostly teeny bopper songs. At least they didn't
say KISS was bigger than Jesus.
Todd
In all seriousness, Kiss appears to have their career back on track to the point of where you would think they would create new characters & makeup for Tommy Thayer & Eric Singer. They're both fine musicians, but rolling them out in the spaceman & catman gear is a major "F.U." to the original true Kiss fans. Ace Frehley's new cd "Anomaly" is much better than "Sonic Boom" anyway. The music on Sonic Boom is ok, but honestly it sounds like they wrote all the lyrics in about 20 minutes at 8th grade lunch period.
April 30 2010 at 4:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
cindi
Any things bigger than gay boy mickey, and i don't like kiss, the only song i ever liked by them was BETH, loved and still love that song..
April 30 2010 at 4:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Todd
Gene was misquoted. He actually said Kiss were bigger than Donny Most.
April 30 2010 at 4:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Ed
Map your ae the Idiot of the YEAR
April 30 2010 at 3:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
james
I am a KISS fan for sure . However , there is no KISSLAND I can take my kids to. And taking into consideration that Mickey is fictional , the true testament will be after the members pass away. I will bet the marketing will stop. After Walt Disney died , Mickey has continued to grow. Absolutely no comparison.
And rather egotistical if you ask me. However i remain a true fan.
alsxe
1 reply to alsxe's comment
kiss never made any claims to be a great band as far as i can remember. Gene always spoke about how Kiss was a business. They made many millions of dollars from everything "Kiss". Good for them. I dont think they hurt anyone in their drive for wealth. He never claimed to be another John Entwistle on the bass also. Kiss is what it is...a business w/some good fun music.
April 30 2010 at 3:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
charlie
mick and the stones are pretty good businessmen and they also produced some pretty good music. kiss has made a lot of $$$ selling rubbish not music.
April 30 2010 at 3:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Antipro
kiss is NOTHING but a long, slow flash in a pan. a bunch of weirdos dressed-up like japanese comic freaks,that know about four and a half chords between them.
the Grateful Dead have sold way more albums and over 40 years of totally sold-out shows ! PLUS, they are Real musicians..
kiss my ass !!
75 Comments