大象传媒

The KISS founding member and all round Rock expert spins his favourite tunes from the likes of ACDC Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper.

Since emerging from the Glam Rock scene in New York in 1974, KISS has gone on to sell out stadiums and millions of albums around the world. KISS are legendary for their pyrotechnics and theatrical stage show. Gene Simmons, bassist and founding member, is known for his extraordinary tongue, his tireless work ethic, and his savvy business mind. Not to mention his love of the ladies. But in this series, he joins Radio 2 to share his passion for Classic Rock, which he credits the UK with creating.

'When I was a kid and I turned on the radio - sure we had American RnB and we had the American versions of Rock and Roll - but it wasn't until I heard the Beatles, and then the Stones, and then Led Zeppelin and on and on and on that I feel in love deeply with this thing we call Rock. America created Rock and Roll, but it was the UK that gave the world Rock - Classic Rock. Guitars, amplifiers turned up to 11 - yes glorious 11. Louder is better. Bigger is better. You're girlfriend has been lying to you all these years - size does matter.'
Some of the music he plays comes from bands that inspired KISS, but most are from bands he discovered or invited to tour with KISS - bands like Rush, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, and Van Halen.

Later in the series he tells stories of unlikely collaborations with iconic figures like Bob Dylan (whom he wrote a song with) and Lou Reed who worked with KISS on a concept album 'Music From the Elder'(1981).

Gene also plays music from bands he produced over the years like Wendy O Williams covers of KISS songs performed by Lenny Kravitz and Stevie Wonder, and surprisingly, country superstar Garth Brooks.

'I'm flattered that 大象传媒 Radio 2 has given me the chance to play the music that I love dearly, that I continue to play over and over again, that I introduce young people to. I'll never forget when my son, Nick, first heard Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy, he went, 'What's that?'And then I played him Queen, and goes, 'What's that?', and that music continues to attracts new ears generation after generation which is why its Classic - Classic Rock.'.