Gene Simmons Says KISS Can't Continue Touring For Too Much Longer
By Andrew Magnotta @AndrewMagnotta
April 13, 2022
Gene Simmons isn't wavering in his insistence that the 'End of the Road' tour will be his last with KISS.
Speaking recently with Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier, Simmons reiterated that nearly 50 years into a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career with Kiss, he and Paul Stanley are aligned: "This is going to be the last tour. We're done."
"The last thing that you want to do is be a guy that stays in the ring too long and gets his ass beat," Simmons said. "Get out of the ring when you're a champion.
Continuing in perpetuity like The Rolling Stones isn't an option, given the physicality of Kiss's live performances, Simmons added. The heavy leather gear, the fire breathing, the highwire act, it's a lot for a young person, let alone a 72-year-old.
The band doesn't mind the work, but it's apparent that there's an expiration date. Simmons and Stanley would prefer to expire offstage rather than onstage.
"We are the hardest-working band out there and take pride in it," Gene added. "And not every band should be out there too long. You've got to have some pride and not stay too long. Always keep them wanting. I'm the most blessed and grateful guy in the world to be able to be in a band where I can wear more makeup and higher heels than your girlfriend."
Indeed, if it weren't for the coronavirus pandemic, Kiss would have taken its final bows last July. Instead, the band plans to continue making up postponed or canceled tour dates through the end of the year.
The band has billed its 11th annual Kiss Kruise this fall as its final performance at sea. Stanley said last October that the band is determined to "go out smiling" by early-2023 at the latest.
Kiss is also working on a band biopic, focusing on its early years. The film will get a theatrical release and then head to Netflix, hopefully before the 'End of the Road' tour concludes.
Get all of Kiss's tour dates here.