STEVEN TYLER Calls KISS 'A Comic-Book Rock Band' (Audio)

On October 10, AEROSMITH singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry were interviewed on "The Cowhead Show", the American radio program hosted by Mike "Cowhead" Calta and broadcast live Monday through Friday on 102.5 The Bone (WHPT) in Tampa Bay, Florida.

When Calta told the AEROSMITH guys how seeing their band take the stage after KISS during the two groups' joint tour in 2003 was "like you were watching a different level of concert," Tyler said, "KISS is a comic-book rock band. They've got a couple of hits, but they're more, they're comic book — you see them in their spackled faces."

He continued, "We were always a band that had something to prove. We always wanted to blow off whatever band it was. And I remember when we went out with KISS in '76 or something, one of our roadies got into a knife fight with their guys. And I hated them ever since. But, you know, since then I've gotten to know Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley], and they're beautiful people.

"But it is different. A KISS lick and a Joe Perry lick — two different worlds, and I, sometimes — depending on the time of day — get offended. I hear that and go, 'It's alright. But do they really mean it?' And, 'What's this all about?' And that's why I think AEROSMITH has been around forever. We really do take ourseleves seriously. And I feel like you do. We would come on stage [after KISS] and I would think it was a little 'comic book.'"

Added Perry: "It's two different animals. They [KISS] went the theatrical way and used rock and roll, kind of, as their soundtrack. And for AEROSMITH, the music is our show. And from that point of view, it's apples and oranges."

You can listen to the entire interview using the SoundCloud player below.