BASSIST Gene Simmons has confirmed KISS cannot perform without the permission of Pophouse, which now owns the band.
Simmons was discussing upcoming solo shows on Detroit radio station 94.7 WCSX when he explained some of the legalities around the sale of their catalogue, likeness and IP to the Swedish company for US$30 million.
“You know, KISS was actually sold — the makeup and the tunes and the publishing and all that,” Simmons, 77, said.
“And a great company called Pophouse is our partner. We’re involved together in the future, so there’s gonna be a motion picture, which is being cast now, and there’s gonna be — I don’t know — cartoon shows, theme park, you name it, it’s all coming up.
“So it’s gonna be bigger and better than you’ve ever heard, including the avatar show.
“But that also means that KISS can’t play live without Pophouse’s permission, ’cause they own the makeup and everything.”
He went on to explain why he still plays solo shows.
“I didn’t wanna stay away from the stage. It’s the most fun. Being up on that stage and rocking out is the most fun I can imagine with my pants on. And there’s a magic that happens there
“We can sit here and kind of glibly talk about it, but imagine being a painter, and you paint something, and you’re really proud of it, and it just stays in your living room, and nobody sees it.
“Or if you write a song, and you really like it, you go, ‘Whoa, this thing rocks,’ but you’re the only one who hears it. No, no, no. Whether you write a book, you don’t wanna be the only one that reads your own book. No, you wanna share it with people.
“Or if you’re gonna throw a party and you’re the only one in the room eating potato chips and drinking Coca-Cola, that’s not much of a party. I need you to be in the party. What’s a party without you?
“So I can’t stay off the stage. I love it too much.”
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