GeneSimmons.com - Fan Stories

Archive 377

Hey Gene, just got back from Vinal Fever in Tampa. I was sorry to hear you had to cancel. I hope you are feeling better though. The show was great last night at the St. Pete Forum. Saw the West Palm show as well. I hope you can reschedule the book signing for another date. There were a lot of disappointed people there. Anyway, I hope you guys return to the Tampa area soon.
Take care
Denny Brown
Hudson Fl

Response from Gene:

To all the people in Tampa who where expecting the Book Signing to happen: I had to cancel. By mid-afternoon of the day, I almost collapsed, and was rushed back to the hotel, where I stayed in bed for two days trying to break my bronchitis and flu symptoms. You have my apologies.

Even though at the beginning of the day I wasn't feeling great, I thought I could make it through the signing. I was wrong.

We had a show in Jacksonville the following night and I had to get up on stage and put out. LENNY KRAVITZ was there to cheer us on. But honestly, when I got off the stage, I holed up in a local hotel for two days and never got out of bed. It's been a few days since then, and all the symptoms haven't gone as yet.

Again, my apologies to all of you who were expecting the Tampa Book Signing.

I am in Louisville for the show. And, tomorrow there is a Louisville Book Signing. I will be there. Still not feeling great. But, I will make it.

Hi I'm a 14 year old 2nd generation KISS/Gene Simmons fan. I just want to ask if you weren't too sick and nothing bad happened since you missed the signing in Tampa Thursday. I'm only 14 but I've been a part of the KISS ARMY for 15 years I was born into KISS and will die with KISS, and when you canceled my dad literally broke down has been waiting to meet you since before he was my age. He's basically devoted his life to KISS and spent more than a fortune on memorabilia. He has one of the KISS pinball machines in our house. You are our idol and Role Model we read your book a lot and wish you were really there. He has gone to every concert he could and I have been to two of them so far. My mother has just relapsed and returned to Crack so I have been depressed. Then I went to the concert on Wednesday and just let my mind go. I was over at Vinyl Fever Thursday and saw the sign that you had canceled and It just tore me up I thought I would meet you and have a happy moment for a while then I knew it must just be a Dream. I know you have a tight schedule so I will let you go.

I will leave with just one thing that I hope you will remember: You are my Role Model and Idol and I hope you keep doing what you do best. Just as we owe you for your time you owe the fans because without them you would be nothing.

Sincerely, Stephen
Tampa, Florida
A 2nd Generation Hard-core
fan just as my dad

Response from Gene:

Stephen, I wish I could control more things in my life...but, when my body decides to succumb to the flu, it does. I don't know how else to say you have my apologies, but it was beyond my control.

Gene:

Just wanted to tell you that I think it was pretty shitty of you to cancel out on that book signing in Tampa last nite. Myself, along with many of your fans lined up and were more than disappointed to hear the news! You looked just fine at the concert in Tampa the nite before.... did that bronchitis just descend down upon you in the middle of the nite? None of us buy that B.S. story for a second! In fact, several people said they spotted you walking around International Mall that day! You somehow managed a miraculous recovery in order to play the show in Jacksonville tonite..... must be that 24 hr bronchitis!

I also heard that you canceled the book signing in West Palm Beach FL just 2 months ago.... Let me guess- the bronchitis again? In case you think it was no big deal, they had a huge article in the Tampa Tribune, our local newspaper today. It was about how you ditched the fans, and how disappointed everyone was. People drove as far as Miami, Atlanta, and even North Carolina.... JUST TO MEET YOU!!! (and went home emptyhanded). One guy only has a few months to live. He wanted to meet you before he dies.... he was appalled at your bronchitis excuse.... well, just another poor slob, huh?

It's sad that you have forgotten that we fans are the ones who put you where you are today... you would be nothing without us. The fame has definitely gotten to your head.... just reading some snipits of your book, I can see how full of yourself you are. Come down to reality.... Paul is much better looking and doesn't have to be a famous rock star to get girls! Just wanted to let you know that you alienated many people last nite, and lost many fans. If you keep going along the same path, there will be no one to attend your shows, and you will have to continue to tour with Aerosmith (The World's GREATEST rock and roll band!) just to get an audience at your shows. Take some tips from Steven Tyler. I've met him five times and each and every time, he was the kindest, most sweetest man. He takes time out to spend with the fans, and hangs on our every word. He lets us know in no uncertain terms that he appreciates us. He is very humble and down to earth. And for someone of his stature, that means a lot. You can learn a thing or two from him.... He is what a rock star should be!

Again, thanx for nothing! You will be getting no more money from me!

An ex-Gene fan,
Lisa

P.S. Answer this.... if you have the guts!

Response from Gene:

I do have the guts.

I don't like your tone. All you know is hearsay. You hever had the decency to ask me what happened. You decided to be judge and jury. You don't know any of the facts and you are certainly allowed to believe as you will. And, no...you don't have to give me anything.

I say what I mean and mean what I say...Now pay attention:

I did, in fact walk about a mall in town in the afternoon. I then almost passed out at the mall. I had four guests with me, in case your friends didn't mention it.

As for Jacksonville? Yes. I got up on that stage. Yes. The show, I'm told was good. I was close to exhaustion and stayed in town in bed for three nights, while the band went on without me.

Those are the facts. You can accept them, or stick em.

hey, gene...wanted to let u know, as a link to your past, that I live a few blocks from where u grew up[i think]....ilive off 164th n booth memorial ave.,in fresh meadows, queens. my landlord tells me your grandmother lived a few blocks from me , on kiss..ena blvd[hence the name...is it true?]across from qns college..., and that was where the name came from....jes curious....maybe u know the people im talkin bout....the camisa's... just wondering...and my cuz sees u all the time at the plaza, he worx there...small fuckin world.,livin in sin in fresh meadows, NY

JOHNNYAMP[a 39 year old lifelong fan]

[MAYBE YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU GUYS USED TO PRACTICE...WE USED TO BE THERE TO, WHEN MY FRIEND JOHN THEISS TOOK 'THE ROXIE' REHEARSAL STUDIO IN LONG ISLAND CITY. DON FRANK[ REST HIS SOUL] WAS THE OWNER WHEN U USED TO PLAY THERE...[u know the place...just b4 the city,on borden n review.....

Response from Gene:

I honestly don't know what you're talking about. I had no grandmothers on either side of my family. They were all wiped out in WWII by the Nazis in concentration camps. The rest of the letter doesn't ring a bell either. Sorry.

Gene,

I hope you don't get sick of seeing people dressing up as Kiss. As you see, the ladies loved us, and the band at the bar where we went were big fans, too. Too bad we only got second place in the Halloween costume contest; they must have penalized us for not having a Spaceman. Thanks for being an inspiration.

- Dave H.

Hi Gene,

I want to let you know something very important to tell you..

I got back from the 711th Signal Battalion Alabama Army National Guard here in Foley in which they are HQ'ed in Mobile and I did something very nice for them. I had a CD of KISS Symphony (in which I now got the DVD) and I donated it to them so they can listen to the concert while they are in Iraq. They are on stand by and will soon be deployed. I like to ask you to do something though... Send me an e-mail and make a comment to them and I WILL definately give them your message...

With kindest regards,
Sincerely,
William

"It is the people, and not the judges, who are entitled to say what their constitution means, for the constitution is theirs, it belongs to them and not to their servants in office -- any other theory is incompatible with the foundation principles of our government."
Theodore Roosevelt

Response from Gene:

Please wish the guys my very best. This country owes a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who risk their lives every day.

Dear Gene,

I would like to ask your opinion about a dating topic that you recently discussed in response to Rip and Destroy's letter.

As a single man, who is in the dating scene, I would certainly like to circumvent the dating ritual that seems to constantly involve buying the woman food, taking her to movies, and clubs etc. I would like to be much more pragmatic than the current dating scene seems to be. In fact just about all the dating scene seems to be about is the man buying things for the woman. I read your comments about this topic in SEX MONEY KISS. Do you think that the average man on the street can just invite the woman back to his room and actually succeed with much frequency? Thanks for your ideas on this topic.

Zane (Who would like to make more fiscal sense and be like Gene when dating women.)

Response from Gene:

Try it. If a girl is interested in you, maybe she doesn't care about popcorn and movies. Maybe she's as horny as you are.

Hey Demon,

Your KISSFAN80 is awfully hung up on belief vs. knowledge. There are billions of examples where people have acted in opposition to their beliefs, either for better or worse. For example, I believe that overeating is unhealthy, but I still do it. In this case my deed will determine the outcome (weight gain) not my beliefs. On the other hand, I believe I should have the right and justification to beat the holy hell out of some of the child and spouse abusers I come across in my line of work, however my deeds are such that I do my job as prescribed by my professional organization, therefore I keep my job, some asshole goes to jail, etc, etc. Again, deeds determined the outcome, not belief. I believe that I am THE #1 KISS fan of all time, however my deeds allow me to share this designation with others, although I don't believe they are worthy. Deeds Gene, you're right as usual.

J

To protect Dear Gene from the mighty Nurse Yolanda...

LIAR...She would indeed bend over in front of the Demon and welcome anything. And who cares millions or billions...it all tastes the same...

And she is probably right, "her young flesh couldnt handle you".

But there are plenty of women that could, can, will and would!

Tseikana
(Gene's Gypsy ;-)

I've been a fan since I was a wee kid; so wee that Kiss was the first word I ever learned how to spell and write. I was so influenced by rock stars as a child that at age 5 I wanted to be a singer when I grew up. Stuff happens and I grew up, I won't go into the nasty sorted details of my childhood but I will say that some how I managed to grow up to become a decent hard working human being despite it. Kiss was a constant throughout my life, they were the epitome of rock to me and thus earned my love, respect, and devotion. Oddly enough, throughout this time I never had a chance to see them live. This all changed this year, Kiss came to my town on Dec. 3, 2003. When they hit the stage I had tears in my eyes; this was a life long dream coming true. I savored every moment making memories I thought I'd cherish for the rest of my life. I left that show with such a good feeling that I bought merchandise before we left; something I almost never do because I've always felt that merchandise at concerts were overpriced.

I was still on a high from the show the next day that I went out and bought a book that I didn't have a clue as to what it was about just to get a wrist band that would secure my place in line at that nights book signing by Gene. When I got off work at five I sat in my car and began reading and then headed off to the signing. Passing the venue I was taken aback by how few people were actually at the venue but I parked my car and walked over only to find out that Gene had come down with bronchitis. I was disappointed but I understand, when you have shows to do you have to take care of your health so I went home and took care of house stuff and then went to bed where I began to read the book. It was because of reading that book that I started to get this gut feeling that the missed book signing may not be because of what I was told, but I also remembered what was said on the stage the night before and just pushed that twinge out of my mind.

The next day the website for the venue announced that Gene had been seen about town the night of the book signing with a few companions. My heart sank. After reading half the book and PERSONALLY knowing the integrity of the staff at the venue I can't help but think that I, and everyone else who'd spent money on the band, had been LIED to over all these years. I still feel this way. Right now I want to return everything I ever bought that is even remotely related to Kiss because I feel as though I've been suckered into a con game. That I am nothing more than a mark. I feel as if one of the few things in my entire life, the music that at times saved me from killing myself, has been nothing more than one big con game and that HURTS. I honestly thought that Gene was a man who had integrity and honor. I defended him and his lifestyle to many people because while how he lives isn't my way he was some one with whom you could trust to uphold his commitments. I no longer feel that way.

So, the question is, what really happened on the night of December 4, 2003? Were you really sick or did you take some females out to the International Plaza? Was it that there wasn't enough merchandise sold prior to the signing so you didn't feel it was worth the time? Did the person from your entourage lie when he remarked that you were not sick? I feel you owe your fans in Tampa an honest explanation.

If you do not respond I will consider it to mean that you lack any integrity and deserve no respect and thus will promptly return what merchandise related to any of your ventures and sell what I cannot return in an effort to recoup my financial losses. I will also encourage other fans to do the same and spread the word as to how you can be. I await a response...

Response from Gene:

This just doesn't seem to want to end. So, I'll let this be the last one and you can all decide for yourself. Honest, I say what I mean. Right to your face. Good or bad. If I don't want to do something, I will simply not do it. I don't feel I have to explain myself to anyone for anything. But, having said that, I would certainly not use a lame excuse like flu/bronchitis, unless it were so.