Why Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley now need permission to perform as Kiss

Ever since Kiss officially retired from touring in 2023 after 50 years of existence, they have reunited a few times unmasked at special events, playing a few songs. That will happen again this year during the Kiss Kruise in Las Vegas next November and according to Gene Simmons, they now need to ask for permission to do it. The reason is that the brand, makeup, and catalog were sold to Pophouse, which now owns everything.

Why Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley now need permission to perform as Kiss

“I had this kind of epiphany. You know, Kiss was actually sold — the makeup and the tunes and the publishing and all that — for a (a lot of money). And a great company called Pophouse is our partner. We’re involved together in the future, so there’s gonna be a motion picture, which is being cast now, and there’s gonna be — I don’t know — cartoon shows, theme park, you name it, it’s all coming up. So it’s gonna be bigger and better than you’ve ever heard, including the avatar show. But that also means that Kiss can’t play live without Pophouse’s permission, ’cause they own the makeup and everything.”

During the same interview with 94.7 WCSX, Gene explained why he decided to continue to tour as a solo act. “I didn’t wanna stay away from the stage. It’s the most fun. Being up on that stage and rocking out is the most fun I can imagine with my pants on. And there’s a magic that happens there.”

“We can sit here and kind of glibly talk about it, but imagine being a painter, and you paint something, and you’re really proud of it, and it just stays in your living room, and nobody sees it. Or if you write a song, and you really like it, you go, ‘Whoa, this thing rocks,’ but you’re the only one who hears it. No, no, no. Whether you write a book, you don’t wanna be the only one that reads your own book.”

“No, you wanna share it with people. Or if you’re gonna throw a party, and you’re the only one in the room eating potato chips and drinking Coca-Cola, that’s not much of a party. I need you to be in the party. What’s a party without you?” Gene Simmons said (Transcribed by Blabbermouth).