Gene Simmons talks about Scott Weiland & Layne Staley death’s

Gene Simmons talked about KISS’ 1996 reunion tour, and also about Layne Staley and Scott Weiland deaths.

Read what he said:

“The saddest part of all was that the Tiger Stadium show was originally gonna have Stone Temple Pilots opening up.

“I met [Scott] Weiland at a club and I said to him, ‘Look, you’ve got to be straight, cut it with all the heroin and the crap, respect the fans, get up un stage, do a great show, it’s all yours. We’ll support you, but I want you clean on stage.’

“‘Gene, I promise!’ It’s like with anybody who’s a drug addict and alcoholic. ‘I’ve been clean for a million years’ and stuff. And then he died.

“And I had the same conversation with Layne [Staley] right before they went up on stage. I said, ‘Layne, here they are, the fans, they’re lined up, it’s all yours. Just go out there and do great.’ ‘Gene, I have straightened up.’ And then he died.”

“If you were an alcoholic or drug addict, you’re gonna be that for the rest of your life.

“And that’s what they tell you at AA and other organizations – that every day it’s gonna be a decision. You’re gonna have to make that decision to be straight or ruin your life and hurt everybody around you.

“But what I’m saying of course is not cool, you’re supposed to get wasted and ‘Hope I die before I get old’ and all that stuff.

“In fact, my next book is coming out, it’s called ’27.’ It’s about all the sadness with these people who killed themselves. Frances Bean, Kurt Cobain’s daughter, is friends with my son, they hang out. You should read the quotes she does in the media. ‘Hey, it’s real cool your father dies while you’re still a baby from drugs.’ No, it sucks.”