The devil who denied hell, why? Legendary Band KISS Secret Story December 9th 18:14

The legendary American rock band “KISS” has a half-century history. The last performance in Japan has begun. Before that, Jean Simmons, the bass and vocalist, responded to NHK's solo interview at a Hollywood music studio.
I remembered the 35 years ago when I first listened to KISS and asked questions to the rock giants.
The interview lasted 40 minutes.
(Los Angeles branch director Jun Oikawa)

The devil denies hell?

Speaking of KISS, it features unique makeup and costumes.
Each of the four members has a character setting. Simmons is “the devil from hell”.

In addition, many of the Japanese titles of KISS albums are frightening. It is a series of “hell”, such as “messenger from hell”, “cry of hell”, “army of hell”.
Mr. Simmons of such “devil” suddenly said something unexpected.

"KISS has never said, 'We are from hell.' Someone just wrote that."

What does this mean?
The head turned white for a moment, and the next question did not appear immediately.
However, as I listened to more stories, I felt that I really understood what I said.

A healthy devil?

The story extended to the reason why the combination of guitar and vocalist Paul Stanley has continued for half a century.

“The two are completely different people, like the coins. We don't agree with each other. But we respect each other. There are four legs on the desk, but if one goes off. The desk breaks, the team is much more important than everything else. ''

However, there are many examples of rock bands whose activities are stagnant as a result of the relationship between the two central characters and that they are eventually disbanded.

I imagine that there were various things between the two, but after all, what was different from the other bands?
Simmons said that he knew the Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney and knew about them.

“It ’s a very good question. It ’s important that I do n’t do drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes. That ’s why I ’m 70. My hands do n’t shake when I put my hand in front of my face. If you are honest both physically and mentally, you can understand that people other than yourself are working as hard as you do. "

It's more like a school teacher than a rock musician.
I understood that one of the reasons for denying hell was to tell me Simmons' belief that you could not stay on the forefront unless you continued to be an honest professional.

I don't think it's just that.
What I feel in my fourth year in America is that in this country, factors such as health, health, and brightness are very important.
Mr. Simmons thinks that the element of soundness is necessary for the business of the band called KISS as well as going to the big league game of the baseball with the family, for example. I took it.

Magic time

KISS also sells flashy performances.
Simmons has been squeezing the eyes of fans with intense performances such as blowing fire.
I also asked why he was particular about the flashy stage.

“I want to have a magical time where I can forget all bad things, whether in traffic jams, international politics, or being angry with her.”

“You can listen to the album for hundreds or thousands of hours. However, the concert is only a few hours long, but the tickets are higher than the album. That's why I want to make it the best spectacle like Kabuki.”

However, it seems that it is not easy for Mr. Simmons to continue his flashy performance.
He says the reason why KISS retires is that it has become older.

“KISS is not easy to continue. Wearing a 20cm heel, 18kg costume, playing on a 5kg base. It's impossible until 75 years old.”

KISS has also been active with no makeup.
That was exactly the 1980s when I met KISS.

Simmons also thought about the continuation of the band in that way.
There are many long-lived bands in the United States and the United Kingdom, and there should be many fans who support KISS on the stage with no makeup. But Simmons said this:

“It ’s boring to go to a band that only plays.”

It was the conclusion of Simmons and others that it was not KISS, as long as they could not show the best spectacle.

A friendly rock giant

It was 40 minutes in no time.
After cleaning up the photographic equipment and going out of the studio, there was Simmons waving at us in the car driver's seat.
And the rock giant left the studio with his own handle.
On stage, Simmons, the “devil”, was a very honest and friendly person off.
I felt that this straightness was one of the driving forces that KISS has been working for for half a century.

Los Angeles branch manager
Jun Oikawa

In 1994 he joined the Department of Political Affairs and the United States General Administration (New York) and moved to Los Angeles from June.