KISS bassist Gene Simmons says he doesn’t have any friends as he doesn’t need them.
73-year-old Simmons spoke about his preferences of solitude in a recent interview with Goldmine Magazine and explained he doesn’t even hang out with Paul Stanley unless its band-related.
“Even today as I sit here, other than Paul (Stanley), and we only get together when we do stuff for the band… How do I say this without sounding inhuman? I don't have friends,” Simmons said.
“Yeah, if friends means, 'Gee, I don't know what I'm going to do this afternoon. Hey, you want to come over and hang out?' I'm more interested in what I want to do, and I don't want to pretend that I'm interested in what you want to do because I am not.”
In a 2006 chat with Kiss online, Simmons reflected upon his relationship with Paul Stanley: "Quite honestly, Paul and I don't always agree on musical changes, or choice of songs, but intrinsically and at the heart of it, Paul is simply the brother I never had.
“I feel closer to Paul than anyone I know. I have almost no friends. On purpose. I prefer acquaintances. I don't expect anything from anyone and I don't want anyone coming to me with their problems. Everyone is a grown up.
“But I digress. Paul and I live very close to each other and we don't see each other often. But at the end, he knows I will always be in his corner, simply because I respect him."
As part of KISS THIS!, our month-long celebration of KISS on Planet Rock, Gene Simmons told Ian Danter on My Planet Rocks he’d like KISS to play their last ever show at Liverpool’s Cavern Club in homage to his heroes The Beatles.
You can find out more about Planet Rock’s KISS THIS! schedule RIGHT HERE.
66 photos of the legendary Monsters of Rock festival, including KISS: