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What is Gene Simmons’ opinion on AC/DC
Formed in Australia back in 1973, AC/DC became one of the most successful bands in history, their famous record “Back In Black” (1980) is the second best-selling album of all time. With many classic releases, the group inspired many generations of musicians throughout the decades and many famous musicians gave their opinion on the group in interviews over the years. One of them was Kiss co-founder, bassist and singer Gene Simmons.
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What is Gene Simmons’ opinion on AC/DC:
Gene Simmons likes AC/DC and the Australian group even was Kiss’ opening act back in 1977 and 1978 when vocalist Bon Scott was still alive. In an interview with The Quietus in 2015, Simmons named “For Those About To Rock We Salute You” (1981) as one of his favorite albums of all time. He explained that he chose the record because he thinks it is the “definitive anthemic album” and even though “Back In Black” had better songs in his opinion, he thinks that in this second album with singer Brian Johnson the group created a bigger identity.
“The graphics and that cannon and the title – and it’s why they always end their set with it – it’s anthemic. ‘For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)’ means something, it’s a connection. It’s like nationhood. Put your fist up in the air and say, ‘Yeah! This is what I believe in!’ ‘You Shook Me’ doesn’t have that, it’s just a rockin’ great song.” Even though Gene said that the record have many anthems, the only song that remained featured on the band’s live shows was the title-track.
Simmons watched AC/DC when they were playing in a small club in Los Angeles before they became big
The Kiss bassist and singer recalled in an interview with Triple M radio his first meeting with AC/DC guitarist Angus Young before the Australian band were globally famous. Simmons said that Angus was missing a teeth at the time. “I saw them playing this really small club in L.A. I happened to be there. And all I remember is being close to the stage, ’cause I love that — I wanna feel it; I wanna feel the chest kind of cave in when the bass and the kick drum hits it. I don’t wanna be at a safe distance. If it’s too loud, you’re too old. So I’m in the front. And even after the blackouts between songs, there’s Angus [Young] just running around on stage, not posing — just kind of feeling it, like somebody in a trance or something.”
The musician said that right there he felt like Angus Young was the real deal, something that represented Rock and Roll music and after the show he went backstage and met the guitarist: “(I said) ‘You’re the guy. What’s your name?’ ‘Angus.’ And then he smiled. And I’ll never forget it, he didn’t have front teeth. I guess at that point they couldn’t afford it. So I said, ‘Let me take you a few blocks away. I wanna sit down and talk with you.’ So he did.”
He continued:
“I’ll never forget it, we went to a place called Mel’s Diner, which is in some parts of the world real famous. And there we are at 1 a.m. in the morning. To some people, I’m kind of a big deal, so all the waitresses and everybody gathered around the table. And at that point, they had yet to know who Angus and the boys were, but it was just Angus and myself.”
“‘What would you like, Mr. Simmons?’ All that kind of stuff. I said, ‘Ask my friend first.’ I’ll never forget it, Angus asked for a frankfurter — instead of a hot dog — and beets. And they looked at each other, and I said, ‘Get the man what he wants.’ So they did. They brought it back. And I’ll never forget, Angus picked up the hot dog without the bun and started biting into it on the sides of his mouth because the two front teeth were missing. And I said to him — I can still remember most of the conversation — ‘You guys are great. I’m gonna make some calls. You’re going out on tour with us.”
AC/DC sold more than 200 million records worlwide during their career and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame back in 2003 by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. Some of their most successful albums are “Let There Be Rock” (1977), “Highway To Hell” (1979), “Back In Black” (1980), “For Those About to Rock We Salute You” (1981) and “The Razors Edge” (1990).
