Kiss Admit 'We Wanted to Be in the Beatles'

Kiss have revealed their love for the Beatles and Arctic Monkeys as they near the end of their UK leg of their 2010 Sonic Boom Over Europe tour.

Paul Stanley told the BBC, "Growing up, we wanted to be in the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Kinks, the Yardbirds, the Pretty Things," adding, "we are dyed-in-the-wool Anglophiles."

Gene Simmons also admitted the UK is still producing great talent, "Song writing is alive and well over here. Keane write terrific songs, Arctic Monkeys are great."

Stanley added, "For a small country, there must be something in the water. It's frightening how many great acts come out of the UK."

Touring to promote the release of Kiss's 19th studio album 'Sonic Boom', the band's current tour of the UK -- which started on May 1 -- is their first British arena tour in just over a decade. They round it off with a two-night stand at Wembley Arena on May 12 and May 13.

Simmons launched his own record label, Simmons Records -- in conjunction with Universal Canada two years ago. But in his role as the label's chief talent scout, he said, "We're waiting for stars. We want to see the new Marc Bolan, the new David Bowie before he went all disco -- when he was Ziggy, he ruled the world. We're looking for people like a rock 'n' roll Lady Gaga; get out there and make a spectacle of yourself!"