One of the most successful musicians of all time, Gene Simmons co-founded Kiss in 1973 and alongside Paul Stanley led the band through 50 years on the road. Kiss became one of the most influential Hard Rock bands of their era and continues to inspire musicians and bands all over the world.
Over the decades, Simmons witnessed the evolution of music and the rise of many incredible bands. He has spoken about several of them, including Deep Purple.
What is Gene Simmons’ opinion on Deep Purple
Gene is a big fan of Deep Purple especially because of Ritchie Blackmore, who is one of his favorite guitar players. “To those of us who know, Ritchie Blackmore means the world, he’s got the goods. Ritchie Blackmore on stage sort of had the right thing that attracted our eyes because when people go to your concerts they listen with their eyes first, (not so much) the ears. That’s why visuals are so important, lights and all the rest of that. But Ritchie dressed in black and had the Strat, did all the physicality. He certainly had a cool name, because names are important, he had Blackmore. To a 15 year-old guy, you go ‘Yeah, that’s cool, Blackmore’, more Black, so all the elements are there”.
“Today here and almost anywhere when that 13, 14 year-old kid picks up a guitar he’s gonna be playing Ritchie’s riff (Imitates ‘Smoke on The Water’ guitar riff). I’m not the one saying that, marketing experts are saying that’s the most played riff of them all,” Gene Simmons said in an interview posted on Blackmore’s Youtube channel in 2023 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).
He also praised Roger Glover’s bass part, saying it was busier and that he probably wouldn’t have done the same in his place. “You hear (the bass) it right from the beginning of (Cher’s) ‘The Beat Goes’. Before the lyrics or anything else it’s the bass that’s the hook. That’s what you remember. Those are my favorite things: when the bass doesn’t try to show off, it just does something that’s undeniable and classic forever. Just like when Blackmore came up with ‘Smoke On The Water’ on guitar.”
He continued:
“As soon as you hear that, you say ‘I’m in!’ You don’t need to hear more than that to want to keep on listening. Of course the bass part for that song is a little busier (hums Roger Glover part). I probably wouldn’t have done that, I would have done something different,” Gene Simmons said, humming his own idea in an interview with Guitar World in 2021.
Deep Purple was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, two years after Kiss. Until then, Gene Simmons had defended the band’s induction for years. He said it was a crime that a group like them was still not included while younger acts were already in. In a 2014 interview with Time, he even said he knew some members of the voting board had deliberately kept Deep Purple out in order to make room for Hip Hop acts.
“The Hall of Fame award is important, because it is important to the fans, but otherwise it means nothing to me. It’s a political organization made up of ten guys. A few of them are good guys, but I know for a fact that some members voted to keep Deep Purple and the Dave Clark Five and great rock bands out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and get Run DMC and other hip hop acts into the Hall of Fame. I’m not finished. I want to start a movement. I want to get Aerosmith and AC/DC into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame. Does that make sense?” Gene Simmons said.
“Burn” and “Space Truckin'” are some of the Deep Purple songs he likes
Besides praising the success and influence of “Smoke on The Water”, Gene also named two other songs he admired and were important. The Kiss bassist and singer mentioned those tracks in an interview for the documentary “Ritchie Blackmore Story” (2015). He used them as an example of Ritchie Blackmore’s talent.
“In a lot of ways, it’s a little tragic that Ritchie didn’t stand up and shine the light on himself. Which is why I’m happy to be here. He needs the light right on him. Because unlike many people he actually deserves it. You know, it bears noting that, for me, Ritchie Blackmore, unlike many guitar players, never lost his edge, if it were. ‘Burn’ is every bit as important as ‘Space Truckin’ and some of the later stuff. You can actually hear a guitar player at the top of his game.”
“When Ritchie plunged into medieval music it wasn’t so much as a surprise as a natural course of events. You know, there are people who enter this band thing for lots of different reasons. For money, for fame and for the chicks. It seems to me Ritchie Blackmore entered into this for the music,” Gene Simmons said. (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage)
“Space Truckin'” was released on “Machine Head” in 1972. “Burn” is from from the album of the same name released in 1974.
Gene Simmons was Glenn Hughes’ bandmate in a supergroup
Gene Simmons had the chance to be a bandmate of Glenn Hughes, former Deep Purple bassist and singer. They were both part of the supergroup Rock N’ Roll All-Stars. The first line-up, which toured in 2012, also had Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan, Gilby Clarke, Joe Elliott, Sebastian Bach, Ed Roland, Steve Stevens, Billy Duffy and Mike Inez.
Their setlist was formed by famous songs from the musicians’ careers. During their 2012 tour, they played Deep Purple songs like “Highway Star” and “Burn”. However, Gene wasn’t part of those performances, Mike Inez played the bass.
Ritchie Blackmore likes Kiss
Ritchie Blackmore has a good relationship with Gene Simmons, as the Kiss bassist appeared in his documentary. Like Gene, the Deep Purple guitarist has always been very sincere when speaking about other bands and artists. So when he praises a group, you know he means it. Back in 1978, he revealed that he liked Kiss because they didn’t care about what people thought of them.
“No, Kiss I like because they don’t care what people think of them. They take a chance and it worked. They’re the first ones to admit they’re not good musicians. I’m talking about middle-of-the-road bands that turn out that lethargic, laid-back cocaine beat. The DJs love it and they play and play it all the time,” Ritchie Blackmore told Trouser Press.