Gene Simmons (Kiss) says he has no friends and reveals what he prioritizes in life

Although I have traveled the world several times and been in contact with countless people, Gene Simmons states that he did not make any friends throughout his life. Not even Paul Stanleyhis great partner during the five decades in which the two led the Kissis classified this way.

In 2023, the vocalist and bassist was asked by Classic Rock about the nature of their friendships. Simmons stated that he simply doesn’t see much point in activities like spending time with another person.

The musician stated:

Even today, as I sit here, besides Paul – and we just get together when we do things with the band… well, how do I say this without sounding inhumane? I don’t have friends. Yes, if friends mean, ‘wow, I don’t know what I’m going to do this afternoon… hey, want to come over and hang out?’. I don’t ‘spend time’. I never did that. I’m more interested in what I want to do, and I don’t want to pretend like I’m interested in what you want to do, because I’m not.”

The man who for years embodied the character “The Demon” in Kiss he says that even in his youth, his vision of a possible friendship was not very different from his current one. Pragmatic, Gene always considered himself different from most people.

The vocalist and bassist says:

I’m an ugly duckling. I practically never had friends. I’ve never been one to go out. I never drank, so that didn’t count. I didn’t hang out on street corners smoking cigarettes and all that stuff. I was busy doing what I wanted to do and chasing girls. That left no time for friends. I didn’t go to baseball games. They said that friends spent time with each other and called each other: ‘hey, I need a favor’. I never had that.”

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley

Not having a friendship doesn’t mean an inability to get along with each other. More than Kiss’ vocals, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley shared command of the band over the years. They were also the only two members who participated in all formations, from start to finish.

In an interview with Piers Morgan Tonight (via website Igor Miranda), Simmons spoke about his relationship with Stanley and what sets her apart from other dynamic rock duos: the sincerity that has always existed between them. Despite the differences, the loudmouth guarantees that the two Kiss bosses never “aired dirty laundry” in the press.

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Gene stated:

We continue to have this amazing relationship. I always feel very sad when I remember that John Lennon and Paul McCartney or Mick Jagger and Keith Richards began to publicly slander each other. I mean, even Cain and Abel didn’t get along very well. It was always so sad for me to see that, but Paul and I have this kind of resilience to be the brother that the other never had.”

Regarding the differences, it is a fact that they existed — especially in the 1980s, when Simmons attempted a career as an actor and left Kiss in the background, leaving Paul Stanley to take charge alone. Still, the pair never lost their bond, which resumed as the years went by.

Simmons added:

We don’t agree on much, but there is an abiding admiration and respect for the talent that he has that I will never have and, hopefully, the piece of the puzzle that I bring that he doesn’t have. It works. You don’t know everything and neither do I. But when you meet someone who is a soulmate, you can be greater than ever.”

It’s strange that, even with all this history, Simmons doesn’t consider Stanley a friend. On the other hand, it is a fact that until after the end of Kiss’ activities, in December 2023, the two continued to differ in opinions: the vocalist and bassist chose to continue on the road with his Gene Simmons Bandwhile the singer and guitarist seems to have retired to a more peaceful life after 50 years of service to music.

Collaborated: André Luiz Fernandes.