Kiss's Gene Simmons Disses Ex-Bandmates, Michael Vick
Kiss's Gene Simmons played offense during a panel about his new AMC show “4th and Loud,” mocking his ex-bandmates’ struggles with addiction and taking shots at Michael Vick.
Simmons and a more diplomatic Paul Stanley took the stage at the Television Critics Association summer press tour Friday to discuss their new reality show about the L.A. Kiss, their Arena Football Team.
Also read: Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley's Football Team, LA Kiss, Rocks Anaheim With a Win
Asked why he and Stanley were the only original Kiss members who remain in the band, Simmons wasn't kind.
“Why would you dump your best friend who became a crackhead and a loser?” he asked. “We love and respect those guys for what they did at the outset of the band, and they succumbed to the cliches of cliches, which is drugs and alcohol. Are you kidding me? If you're going to pass the ball to your teammate and they can't see where the goal is, they've got to leave.”
Also read: Nirvana, KISS Among Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2014 Inductees
Original Kiss-mates Ace Frehley and Peter Criss have both been open about their struggles with addiction.
Stanley opined that being in the band at the start didn't guarantee lifetime membership “if you can no longer uphold your end.”
Added Simmons: “Do you have a car? You ever get a flat tire? What'd you do, the whole car stopped because one flat tire decided the car shouldn't run? Or did you change the flat tire?”
Simmons also said he wanted Tim Tebow to join the L.A. Kiss, in part because he has good values and “doesn't torture dogs” — a reference to Michael Vick.
Simmons and Stanley will both feature prominently in the 10-episode first season of “4th and Loud,” which debuts Tuesday, August 5 at 10/9c on AMC.
The post Kiss's Gene Simmons Disses Ex-Bandmates, Michael Vick appeared first on TheWrap.
Related stories from TheWrap:
Joel McHale and Tony Hale Are 'Comedians in Cars Getting Cocaine' (Video)
