“I take the blame for it, because it was my idea”: Gene Simmons on unpopular Kiss album
When you’ve been in the game for decades and released enough albums, one of them is bound to be a stinker. And when you’re on a tight touring schedule, a record might not receive the attention it deserves in the studio.
In a recent interview with Classic Rock, Gene Simmons has admitted that Kiss often neglected the recording side of things. When asked what the best Kiss record was, Simmons seems uninspired by most of the band’s catalogue. “In hindsight, Kiss never really spent enough time in the studio,” he admits.
READ MORE: People who think Kiss’s music is simple are “idiots”, says Bruce Kulick: “Gene never wants to brag about how good he is on bass”
“Destroyer is okay, and I like Revenge,” he continues. “But Kiss was always more about the live experience.”
If you were fortunate enough to catch Kiss in their fifty years of rocking and rolling, you’ll understand. From fire-breathing to zip lining over the crowd, the suited and booted glam metallers truly put everything into their live show. The band were lost in the whirlwind of touring – recording, unfortunately, often took a back seat.
Simmons is quick to provide an answer for Kiss’s WORST record, however. “Music From ‘The Elder’,” he answers.
It’s not a shocking answer – the 1981 release was panned across the board, with fans deeming it a bizarre diversion from Kiss’s usual sound. The record sold so badly that Kiss even decided not to tour it, instead getting their heads down and working on 1982 follow-up, Creatures of the Night.
Simmons also admits that crafting the concept-heavy record was his decision. “I take the blame for it, because it was my idea,” he explains.
“I remember telling [producer] Bob Ezrin that I was writing a movie script, we were making a concept album based on that, and he said: ‘Let’s do our own Tommy!’” he recalls. “I said: ‘Yeah. If The Who can do it, why can’t we?’”
“Well, the straight answer is because we’re not The Who,” he laughs. “There are some fans who love that record. To me it was dishonest.”
He also mentions one other Kiss album that didn’t quite work. “The most dishonest record we ever made was Carnival Of Souls, when we were trying to follow a trend instead of just being ourselves,” he insists.
While Simmons seems uninspired by Music From ‘The Elder’, there’s certainly some interesting moments nestled in. We’re sure the art rock, prog-infused pretension will continue to divide listeners until the end of days. But, hey – at least there are 23 other Kiss records to choose from.
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