GENE SIMMONS Says TOMMY THAYER And ERIC SINGER Are 'Appreciative' And 'Professional' When It Comes To Playing In KISS

During a brand new appearance on "The Adam Carolla Show", KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons discussed some of his fellow popular musicians who are not appreciative of their success and position. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's not fair to point a finger, because everybody's got their own dynamics with life and living experiences. But anybody who is lucky enough, on the face of a planet of seven and a half billion people, to have more money than you could ever spend in your life, have more chicks run after you that you don't deserve 'cause you're not that good looking. I'm talking about myself. Glory, fame — all that stuff. I don't have to do a goddamn thing and people will give me free stuff. Where were they when I couldn't afford to get on a bus? That you wouldn't see how blessed you are is delusional; it's criminal. Because there are millions of people who would kiss the ground you walk on just to be given the chance. So, for instance, we have Tommy Thayer [KISS guitarist] and Eric Singer [KISS drummer] who've been with us 20 years; we've been around almost half a century. And we are quitting very soon. But Tommy and Eric show up on time; they're appreciative, professional — no drugs, no booze; nothing. And I can't say the same thing about — I always wanna shut my mouth — Ace [Frehley, original KISS guitarist], who I love to this day, and Peter [Criss, original KISS drummer]. They were every bit as important as Paul [Stanley, KISS frontman] and I in forming the band, but not everybody has the DNA to run a marathon. Some people are shooting stars; they look great for a short time, and then bye-bye."

When Carolla asked Simmons why he thinks so many people engage in such seemingly professionally self-destructive behaviors, Gene replied: "I believe a lot of it has to do with insecurities, self-esteem issues and a survival method. It's like mom likes you best. It's just, like, who cares? So mom likes that one better. You'll still get fed just as much food and you'll go to the same college and all that stuff. No, no — mom likes you best, so you're always in competition.

"We have four dogs — [my wife] Shannon and I — and we put some food down and they'll kill each other to get at the food," he explained. "And yet when the other dogs aren't around, [they act like] 'I'm not hungry right now.' It's just because there are other ones. And at the end of the day, we're still animals. We have not evolved. When you really think about it, what are we complaining about? You're never always gonna be the center of attention. Not everybody likes Jesus either. You need [somebody] to bitchslap you and say, 'Get over it.' But why do people do that? Even without drugs and alcohol, I see bad decisions all the time. I've made a few, and so has everybody. But when you continue to make lots of bad decisions, [there will be] hell to pay. And that's not hairpiece that the devil wears."

KISS launched its farewell trek in January 2019 but was forced to put it on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last October, Stanley said that the final concert of the "End Of The Road" tour will likely happen by early 2023.

"End Of The Road" was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but has since been extended to at least the end of 2022. The trek was announced in September 2018 following a KISS performance of the band's classic song "Detroit Rock City" on "America's Got Talent".

KISS's current lineup consists of original members Stanley and Simmons, alongside later band additions, Thayer (since 2002) and Singer (on and off since 1991).

Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, Criss and Frehley, KISS's first "farewell" tour in 2000 was the last to feature the group's original lineup.