Wow

[Dave's Bitch]

And were Stanley's vocals so weely weely gwate?

In a word

Yes

[Von Halen]

Gene Simmons did what anybody should have done. Try to get Van Halen signed to a record deal. Did anyone signing bands back in those days do it for any other reason than money? Why the fuck would anyone do it for any other reason? Oh wait, all the other people out getting bands signed were doing it because they are just good people. What a dumbass idea to even suggest Gene Simmons is an asshole for trying to make money off getting the greatest rock and roll band ever, signed to a record deal.

I have stated around these sites forever, that I wish Van Halen were more like Gene Simmons. If they were, I wouldn't be watching a shitty bootleg copy of the Largo show. I wouldn't be watching a shitty bootleg copy of the Argentina show. I wouldn't be watching a shitty bootleg copy of the US Festival. I would have all kinds of "official" red black and white striped shit around my house. Go to Best Buy or FYE and look at the bands that have live shows out on DVD. Even on Blu fucking Ray! Bands that haven't been relevant for decades!

Do you really blame Gene Simmons for trying to steal Ed for his own band? Why the fuck wouldn't he? Ed wasn't a train wreck at that point, but Ace was. Why wouldn't Gene want to upgrade his guitar player? If Ace hadn't been fucking up, Gene would have never had a reason to try to replace him.

Gene Simmons is a Capitalist. Gene Simmons has made a fortune off marketing himself and his band. The dumbasses in VH should take a page from Gene's book, and start doing this now. Van Halen has been given a second chance and they should capitalize on it. They totally missed the marketing boat the first time around, they are stupid to miss it a second time around. Come on VH, flood the market with the stuff I'd love to buy!

[fourthcoming]

I happen to be a huge Kiss fan......I do think Gene Simmons is a bit of a story teller with revisionist history when it comes to the past, but Kiss' first three records and Kiss Alive are great stuff, no denying that. I will never put a band before VH or Zep for that matter but Kiss has always had a special place for me.....and it's probably because when I was a little kid, 5 yrs young to be exact, I was infatuated with Kiss. Why was that? because they were marketing geniuses.....I had an Ace frehley doll and my mother bought me Dressed To Kill at the age of 5. I had no friggin idea what rock and roll was at 5 yrs old, but I knew who Kiss was....and eventually as I got older, I knew what rock and roll was and Kiss was still along for the ride. I can totally understand why Kiss makes some people absolutely cringe.....but I also understand why people enjoy them. I do believe what Dave says in his book about gene trying to cherry pick Ed and Al.....Kiss was already done with peter Criss and were on the outs with Ace at that time. Maybe Kiss would have never made the friggin Elder if Gene stole Ed and Al...who knows. Thank God Ed and Al were smart enough to stay in a band that blew Kiss, and everyone else away. But if your a Kiss fan, Kissology is great.....too bad there is no Van Halenologies on the market.....I think everyone on this site would agree we would all be snatching that shit up.

[redozzman]

Rodney Bingenheimer was a fan from the start , he deserves more credit than he gets. I remember back in the day I think on the Atomic Punks bootleg record the band thank him from one of the Civic gigs.. Bingenheimer also pushed Kiss at the very start of there careers. No matter what you think of Gene or kiss in general , they worked fucking hard on the road and studio in the early to late 70's . 3 albums in 18 months a live lp another 3 Lps in 2 1/2 years another live lp alive 2 then solo Lps and then Dynasty.. Van Halen also had this work ethic as they also had a shitty record deal.
Also if you get a chance check out The Rodney Bingenheimer doco Mayor of sunset strip

I just watched this the other night on the Doc channel. It was sad and very enlightening as well. Talk about video killed the radio star!

[adena dodds]

I've made alto of grown men and women cry....The truth hurts.

I can believe that, as this was around the same time Ed and Valerie hit off, when she found Ed sobbing after a verbal beat down by Dave. I always have a good chuckle thinking about that... verbal sparring with Dave, what a nightmare!!! reduce a man to tears

[adena dodds]

The pathway to Hell is paved with good intentions.

Gene Simmons did what anybody should have done. Try to get Van Halen signed to a record deal. Did anyone signing bands back in those days do it for any other reason than money? Why the fuck would anyone do it for any other reason? Oh wait, all the other people out getting bands signed were doing it because they are just good people. What a dumbass idea to even suggest Gene Simmons is an asshole for trying to make money off getting the greatest rock and roll band ever, signed to a record deal.

I have stated around these sites forever, that I wish Van Halen were more like Gene Simmons. If they were, I wouldn't be watching a shitty bootleg copy of the Largo show. I wouldn't be watching a shitty bootleg copy of the Argentina show. I wouldn't be watching a shitty bootleg copy of the US Festival. I would have all kinds of "official" red black and white striped shit around my house. Go to Best Buy or FYE and look at the bands that have live shows out on DVD. Even on Blu fucking Ray! Bands that haven't been relevant for decades!

Do you really blame Gene Simmons for trying to steal Ed for his own band? Why the fuck wouldn't he? Ed wasn't a train wreck at that point, but Ace was. Why wouldn't Gene want to upgrade his guitar player? If Ace hadn't been fucking up, Gene would have never had a reason to try to replace him.

Gene Simmons is a Capitalist. Gene Simmons has made a fortune off marketing himself and his band. The dumbasses in VH should take a page from Gene's book, and start doing this now. Van Halen has been given a second chance and they should capitalize on it. They totally missed the marketing boat the first time around, they are stupid to miss it a second time around. Come on VH, flood the market with the stuff I'd love to buy!

[adena dodds]

Ace was always my fav.

Mock KISS as much as you want but DON'T talk bad about Ace Frehley!

[adena dodds]

Gene is just a typical SPAWN.....yawn.

Gene is a money motivated sex addict. Fully admits it. Who cares. What you have to ask yourself is did he make his money fair and square? Look at it this way. Some of the best VH bootlegs are off that Gene financed demo tape and did you like KISS growing up? I mean what did the guy ever do to you? He was instrumental in bringing out some good rock and roll and just have a good laugh at his horny egoed out self.

[adena dodds]

Alterior motives....ya gotta look out for those. Lucky to see them comming, and let them see you going!

...Also to Dave's credit... the band stuck with the name VAN HALEN.... Dave has been the band's marketing genius from Day 1. Gene Simmons gets NO CREDIT for Van Halen's success...period.

Gene had an agenda.... why would he want Van Halen to reap the success and in direct competition with KISS at that time? Gene's only interest was getting Eddie into KISS, if I recall from CFTH and Dave gave Eddie an ultimatum... go with Gene or stick with Van Halen as a band.

[Yount]

KISS had a big slice of the pie back in those days and didn't want some hot-shot band joining in at the urinal with flared elbows. Media attention, money, GIRLS!!! I'll only give Gene Simmons credit for realizing that VH were about to monster the late 70's/early 80's. He would have had his minnows on the lookout for new upcoming groups that could potentially kick his arse!!

[bantonelli]

I happen to be a huge Kiss fan......I do think Gene Simmons is a bit of a story teller with revisionist history when it comes to the past, but Kiss' first three records and Kiss Alive are great stuff, no denying that. I will never put a band before VH or Zep for that matter but Kiss has always had a special place for me.....and it's probably because when I was a little kid, 5 yrs young to be exact, I was infatuated with Kiss. Why was that? because they were marketing geniuses.....I had an Ace frehley doll and my mother bought me Dressed To Kill at the age of 5. I had no friggin idea what rock and roll was at 5 yrs old, but I knew who Kiss was....and eventually as I got older, I knew what rock and roll was and Kiss was still along for the ride. I can totally understand why Kiss makes some people absolutely cringe.....but I also understand why people enjoy them. I do believe what Dave says in his book about gene trying to cherry pick Ed and Al.....Kiss was already done with peter Criss and were on the outs with Ace at that time. Maybe Kiss would have never made the friggin Elder if Gene stole Ed and Al...who knows. Thank God Ed and Al were smart enough to stay in a band that blew Kiss, and everyone else away. But if your a Kiss fan, Kissology is great.....too bad there is no Van Halenologies on the market.....I think everyone on this site would agree we would all be snatching that shit up.

I won't knock KISS fans, but as far as the marketing - Gene is banking on some of the strange items like KISS comics & perfume? What would you think if Van Halen went this route? A perfume called Panama or Hot for Teacher? c'mon.... Rock in its purest form doesn't sell out commercially like this. They could if they are that $$ hungry, but I think they want a different image for the band.

Gene has to rely on marketing KISS - do you really think he could dress up in his face paint and go out on stage and really sound like he did in the day? Their show seemed to rely on alot of stage craft. They have their place in ROCK, but they certainly did not change the music of the era like Van Halen holds legendary status.

If Gene hasn't marketed KISS on a cereal box or milk carton yet - its probably coming...

[fourthcoming]

I won't knock KISS fans, but as far as the marketing - Gene is banking on some of the strange items like KISS comics & perfume? What would you think if Van Halen went this route? A perfume called Panama or Hot for Teacher? c'mon.... Rock in its purest form doesn't sell out commercially like this. They could if they are that $$ hungry, but I think they want a different image for the band.

Gene has to rely on marketing KISS - do you really think he could dress up in his face paint and go out on stage and really sound like he did in the day? Their show seemed to rely on alot of stage craft. They have their place in ROCK, but they certainly did not change the music of the era like Van Halen holds legendary status.

If Gene hasn't marketed KISS on a cereal box or milk carton yet - its probably coming...

I agree with you 1000% that Gene has completely over-saturated planet Earth with his Kiss marketing schemes. That's one of the reasons I said I can understand why Kiss makes some people cringe. I totally get that. And as far as musicianship I would never put them up there with VH. Honestly though, I could give a shit if he's putting Kiss on cereal boxes or making Kiss cologne or Kiss dog collars for that matter....I ain't buying that crap. All I'm saying is I would love to see my favorite band...VH open up the vaults one day....that would be amazing. Gene does all of that nonsense under the guise of "It's for the fans" when it's really just about money. Newsflash here people.......it's all about the money to almost every band, actor, and celebrity in general. Al Pacino was in that recent abortion of a movie by Adam Sandler....I couldn't believe he would stoop that low...but is that going to make me not love Dog Day Afternoon, or the Godfather? Deniro has been in some clunkers over the last 10 years, am I not going to appreciate The Deer hunter or Taxi Driver? Robert plant used Tall Cool One in a friggin Coca Cola commercial in the late 80's....am I supposed to not like Led Zeppelin anymore? Judas Priest has The Hellion in a car commercial now......Van Halen had a song in a car commercial.....last time I checked these bands still kick major ass. That being said, Gene still definitely over does it.

[Zing!]

I agree with you 1000% that Gene has completely over-saturated planet Earth with his Kiss marketing schemes. That's one of the reasons I said I can understand why Kiss makes some people cringe. I totally get that. And as far as musicianship I would never put them up there with VH. Honestly though, I could give a shit if he's putting Kiss on cereal boxes or making Kiss cologne or Kiss dog collars for that matter.....

Gene's a failure until he gets the KISS logo onto a space shuttle.

[fourthcoming]

Gene's a failure until he gets the KISS logo onto a space shuttle.

That's pretty funny....I have to say I just laughed at my desk.....shit, Gene might try to have the Kiss logo emblazened on the Moon one day and he'll sell you high powered Kiss telescopes to see said logo.

[redozzman]

I don't think Gene was worried about Van Halen from a competition standpoint. He new how the record industry was and how much money could be made, getting Van Halen a deal could provide him some quick cash.