- Video: Gene Simmons And Paul Stanley On Rock & Brews, Rock Superstardom & LA KISS This morning when I woke up, all I could think of was that I was going to meet and interview two of the most successful rock mega-stars of the past 40 years. CNN says that KISS is the most recognized rock band in the world. They’re in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. According to CelebrityNetWorth, they are collectively worth nearly a half a billion dollars. So, yes, despite my 35+ years of professional broadcasting, I was a little nervous. I’ve met and interviewed superstars the likes of Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, Will Smith, Barry White, James Brown, Prince, and so many others over the course of these three plus decades, that I couldn’t understand why I felt so uneasy about this one. But I knew the moment I saw them walking towards me that I was going to be dwarfed…not only as a “media personality” but in stature as well. I’m only five foot nine. Paul Stanley is six foot and Gene Simmons is six foot two. As Stanley jokingly said, “Two giants in Oviedo…and you!” We were a little pressed for time, so, I had to get started. I launched into the interview with TONS of questions…some of which YOU called in or sent me via Facebook. Of course they were there to promote their new restaurant, Rock & Brews, in Oviedo (my hometown), but, I wanted to talk about so many other things. Rock & Brews is not only gorgeous, but, different and unique as well. As Paul said, “It’s not like other rock inspired restaurants that are like a mausoleum with dead rockers’ pajamas hanging on the walls.” So true…it’s not. Stanley also added, “Rock and roll means doing things your way, and we do everything our way. This is the restaurant we would hope to be associated with classic rock.” Though Rock & Brews honors rock stars from the past 40 years, it’s NOT about all about KISS…in fact the first thing I saw walking up was a HUGE Van Halen logo on the exterior wall. Even the Rock & Brews logo (for the restaurant and memorabilia) DOES NOT have ANY prevailing elements from KISS. Its interior showcases every artist from Madonna to KISS…but it’s much more than that. The food is great, the atmosphere is clean, and the people are friendly. There are table heating umbrellas at EVERY exterior table. And HERE’S a new and unique concept for you…how ’bout they even have a pet menu for your little family members. Wow! A pet friendly rock and roll restaurant?! Once we established during the interview that THIS Rock & Brews (their 10th restaurant by the way) was open for business, I wanted to know why they chose Oviedo of all places, so far removed from the tourist trap that is I-Drive. Gene’s answer was surprising and refreshing. According to Simmons, he found Oviedo to be a very cool city…an up and coming a city he liked. He then told me that the guys weren’t going to be absent owners and that they’d be “popping in” unannounced from time to time. Like they did last night as I found out. “Make new relationships, break up old ones, and come on down,” Simmons advised. I asked them both who would be on their rock “Mount Rushmore,” and laughingly Gene said that he’d hope that it was the four members of KISS. He then went on to give his real answer with, “An Elvis, a Beatle, a Stones and then maybe a Hendrix.” Stanley then replied, “The strength of rock and roll has always been in bands as opposed to individuals so you have to go with The Beatles, you have to go with Led Zeppelin. From there you can go to The Who, the Stones, but honestly, where would we be without The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. They are the foundation that everything else is built on.” Stanley went on to say, “We’ve been around so long now that we’re considered classic rock and that’s an honor because it’s lofty air up there.” And of course a conversation with KISS wouldn’t be complete without talk of their infamous stage makeup. “It really was the folly and insanity of four guys who wanted to take rock to the next step,” Stanley revealed when asked about the origins of the makeup.” Nobody can really take credit for it, it was something that came from all of us. We always say ‘you can’t always look like KISS but you can feel like KISS.’ It’s about independence, it’s about self empowerment, and about living your life the way that you want.” We also spoke about their ownership of an arena football team in Los Angeles (ironically called the LA KISS ). “Nothing’s easy. Every time you think it is easy, it’s not. Just like babies, you crawl before you get to walk. New season is ramping up. We’re taking great strides. New season is going to be better than the first one. And what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Simmons said about the team’s early stages. Thanks guys, and all the best to you in ALWAYS and in ALL WAYS…. So, if you’d like to get a chance to brush elbows with a couple living legends of the rock and roll world…stop by Rock & Brews, the guys just might show up. My elbows are sore…would you KISS them and make them better?! Source: 1059sunnyfm.cbslocal
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:47:58 +0000
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