Since then, the North Americans with hits such as “Rock And Roll All Nite” and “Detroit Rock City” have animated several Brazilian capitals over the last 30 years. “You can’t understand Brazil by going to just one city and then returning home. The cultures are different, the people, the taste of the food, the accents, the appearance of the cities”, explains the musician, who said he liked Sepultura.
During the End Of The Road farewell tour, a show in the intense heat of Manaus almost knocked the rock star down — dressed from head to toe in typical attire. “What happened was I didn’t drink enough water. We were close to the Amazon jungle. I started to pass out on stage, I couldn’t breathe, but I refused to leave, I won’t stop. Then they pulled out a chair for me during the song ‘Makin’ Love’, which Paul [Stanley] sang. And I asked the band to continue while I caught my breath. Never surrender!”
But the days of pyrotechnics, costumes, fire and fake blood are over. In December 2023, Kiss said goodbye to the stage at Madison Square Garden, in New York, the city where the group was formed. “We were very proud because few bands last 50 years and also for stopping while we were at our best, without having to leave in a wheelchair. But there is also sadness, due to a series of factors. I cried on stage”, reveals Simmons.
“It’s the end of Kiss, but it’s also the beginning of Kiss. It’s like a caterpillar: when it seems like it’s dead, it resurfaces and turns into a butterfly”, compares Gene, without revealing details of Netflix’s future biopic about the quartet. “I can’t say much, but it’s on the way. We’ll also have a Broadway show, an animation and more.”
Nobody disputes that Kiss is also a business reference in showbusiness. The band became immensely rich and enhanced its brand by licensing thousands of advertising products, from video games and dolls to coffins and condoms – suffering criticism for this to this day.
When asked about the band’s new avatar show project, created with artificial intelligence under an investment of R$200 million, and why people would leave their homes to watch a digital show, Gene just replied: “Wait and see “.
