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Gene Simmons certainly doesn’t shy away from the headlines, whether it be because of his career as a rock star, or even as a reality star on his former show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels. Simmons also typically made headlines for his relationship with Shannon Tweed, and the many other relationships he had during his time in the limelight.
Gene Simmons dropped several stories in regard to his career. Fans think some are exaggerated, while this one was confirmed by others. We’ll reveal how Eddie Van Halen almost joined KISS, and why Gene Simmons turned the offer.
Eddie spoke out about the rumor and according to Van Halen, there wasn’t any truth to it.
Guns N’ Roses Manager Alan Niven Revealed The Story Of Eddie Van Halen Wanting To Join Kiss
Somewhere during the mid-80s, Eddie Van Halen was said to have grown frustrated with his circumstances alongside Van Halen. According to Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven, that unhappiness would lead to Eddie proposing a major change to Gene Simmons.
Speaking alongside Metal Injection, Alan Niven revealed, “Apparently, Gene Simmons had the appropriate and accurate assessment at the time and looked at Eddie and said, ‘You can’t leave your band. It’s called Van Halen, it is your band,'” said Niven.
Niven continued, “And that’s not just a matter of possession and control, that’s a matter of content and style. Because – Van Halen without Eddie… I don’t know. Alex I think is an incredibly underrated drummer in the shadow of his younger brother, and I think he deserves far more credit than he gets.”
It certainly would have been something had Eddie made the change and according to Gene Simmons, he was the one that talked him out of it.
Gene Simmons Confirmed That Eddie Van Halen Actually Asked To Join Kiss During A Lunch
Gene Simmons did in fact confirm the story, stating that it all took place over a lunch. According to Gene, Eddie was going through trouble behind the scenes with his band member.
“So I take [Eddie] to lunch across the street and he actually tells me: ‘I want to join Kiss. I can’t take Roth – he’s driving me nuts. We’re not getting along. I’ve got this sound in my head that I want Van Halen to do, and Roth doesn’t want to do it, and we’re just getting to a point where he’s believing his own hype.”
Despite the temptation of the offer, Gene Simmons was proud his response. Simmons declined the offer and told Eddie he needed to stay with his group.
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“I remember feeling proud of what I said. I said: ‘Don’t do it. Stay with the band you started. There’s no role for you – you’re too big. You cast too much of a shadow to be the guitar player in Kiss.’
“And he went back and he was miserable for the next 20 or 30 years. But it would never have worked. Not even close.”
According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Simmons would ultimately work on a collaboration with the Van Halen brothers, but things did not work from a creative standpoint, despite the fact that songs do exist.
Eddie Van Halen Denied That It Ever Took Place, And Stated That The Opposite Might’ve Taken Place
Eddie Van Halen hadn’t discussed what had actually taken place, until it would be brought up in an interview. According to Van Halen News Desk, Eddie confirmed that the story wasn’t true, and that he might’ve gotten an offer from KISS instead to make the jump to their band.
“Not that I know of,” he said in the interview. “They might have asked me in passing, and I Just kind of laughed it off, probably.”
As for the future of Van Halen, David Lee Roth hasn’t turned down the possibility of a tribute project. Roth also paid homage to Eddie following his passing.
“My guitarist passed away. He’s either in heaven raisin’ hell. Or he’s in hell, consequently in heaven. Read into that as you wish. And he would have me say it just like that. And I carry on that spirit deliberately.”
As for KISS, they’re playing the last tour, End of the Road, which is set to take place in 2023.
KISS’s longtime manager Doc McGhee spoke fondly of the final tour to take place.
“Nobody knows what’s gonna happen in the future. So what we’ve kind of put in our minds is let’s go through this like this is the end of KISS as we know it. And whatever comes our way, with technology and everything else, we’ll look at it. Will be Gene and Paul out there in makeup. No. I can tell you that. They’re hanging their hats up after the [final] show, which is gonna be very, very difficult and very emotional for them after 50 years of doing this. And they love it.”
