A small band from Whistler, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, had to pinch themselves to make sure they weren’t dreaming when Gene Simmons, frontman of superstar band Kiss, joined them for a jam session on stage at a local café.
Taking their chances after spotting him in the crowd, the group of young musicians asked him to join them and couldn’t believe their luck when his response was to ask them if he could borrow a bass guitar.
“We went through the whole night until the very end where I finally get to tell Gene Simmons, ‘Hey, you’re cut, buddy. Take a seat,’” said local musician Kostas Lymbertos, who clearly got a kick out of being able to dismiss Simmons off stage. “It was just an incredible night. It was a love fest, pretty much.”
Simmons has gone beyond the usual status of a celebrity. The work he has done, especially with Kiss, has led him to become a household name even among people who don’t like or listen to hard rock. It almost impossible to find an industry that hasn’t tried to ride on the coattails of Simmons and Kiss, and there are more than 3000 licensed merchandise items to prove it. From comic books to lunch boxes and credit cards, Kiss and Simmons are everywhere, despite the fact he celebrated his 71st birthday this year and the band being nearly 50 years old.
In the gaming industry, Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child was the first games inspired by the band and was based on Todd McFarlane’s series of comic books, and there have been others like Kiss Rock City mobile adventure game, that was created in close collaboration with the band.
What is more, there is even an official Kiss slot game, which is one of the rocking titles in the iGaming industry featured on established brands like 888. Even though 888casino has a lot of slots to choose from, nothing beats the excitement, the joy and the energy that one finds at a rock and roll concert that can also be felt when playing the game.
Believe it or not, there is even a Kiss-themed mini-golf course in Las Vegas at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. The course initially opened at another venue, but its popularity meant the owners needed a bigger, safer venue so they could accommodate more people and show off more of the band’s memorabilia safely.
Simmons’ popularity was no fluke, he is an incredibly hard worker, and that has shone through in the years after he achieved global superstardom with Kiss. The temptation to sit back and enjoy the dollars rolling in must have been strong, but he wasted neither time nor money.
Being in a successful band has its advantages in business, besides finance, and outside of the music industry. Still, not every musician has gone on to create a successful clothing line and restaurant chain. He and his family are set for a long time because of his smart business acumen, and it all serves to increase the respect Simmons commands, not just in music circles.
Whether you like hard rock, are a fan of Kiss, or neither of those things, looking at the journey Gene Simmons has taken and the success he has enjoyed both inside the music industry and out, it’s impossible not to develop respect for the man. Love ’em or hate ’em, Gene Simmons and Kiss aren’t planning on dropping out of the limelight any time soon.
