KISS star Gene Simmons talks ahead of Birmingham gig

Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer are returning for the first time since 2015’s series of sold-out festival and arena shows across Europe. The band has released 44 albums and are consummate live performers.

But despite that success, Gene says the band don’t get ideas above their station.

“You know, you do the best you can and its clear we’re not Lennon and McCartney, I don’t think anybody is. That’s a level of songwriting that just hasn’t been equaled. I think there are some tunes which have stood the test of time, but where it stands in history . . . eh . . . I don’t care. It doesn’t matter to me.

“We happen to be America’s number one gold record group champions. No other North American or South American band has more gold records.”

Their forthcoming shows will be about one thing above all: fun.

Gene adds: “Tommy and Eric have brought a new honesty to the band where we don’t have to pretend to be anything else, or look over our shoulders. KISS has always been at its best when we have never bothered with what’s going on, you know, what fashion or style is happening.

“But every once in awhile we have gone over and done stuff we didn’t totally believe in and just said oh maybe this is what’s happening, maybe we should be doing this. But at the end of the day the great bands, and the great actors, and politicians, whoever; really have stood true to who and what they are. To thine own self be true. That’s when KISS is at its best, when we just do what we do the best we can.”

Remarkably, the band have avoided the excesses that some bands have enjoyed – refusing to stumble into addiction or excess.

Gene adds: “I don’t (party) at all. I have never knowingly been high or drunk in my life. I’ve never smoked cigarettes. You’ve gotta go to the dentist and every once in a while they knock you out, but other than that, the lifestyle just doesn’t appeal to me. It doesn’t work. I can understand if it makes you smarter, or faster, or it makes you run, but no . . . no, it doesn’t have any of that. In fact, you’ll be stupid. If you get drunk you’ll probably throw up on the brand new shoes your girlfriend just bought. You’re not going to say anything witty. It simply doesn’t work. And it’s not just with rock.”