KISS's Gene Simmons Talks Back

Kiss mastermind PR whiz Gene Simmons juicied up some quotes for the Minneapolis Star Tribune this week. Here's a sampling (more at the link):

Q How hot is it in your costume when you play outdoors?

GENE: Very hot. In Indianapolis, it was 107 when we hit the stage. Now get into a sun tanning bed. Now wear armor studs, a leather codpiece, put on 35 to 40 pounds of extra weight when you get up onstage. And, oh yes, I forgot to mention walk around onstage and try to be a little energetic if you can on 8-inch plaform heels for 2 1/2 hours.

Q How much more weight do you lose outdoors vs. indoors?

GENE: That's a good question. I don't know. We do have massive industrial air [blowers] -- imagine a vacuum cleaner but it's backwards where it pushes a lot of air toward you. You must get air into your lungs. Between the fireballs and stage lights and everything that goes up onstage, it's easily over 100 [degrees] onstage.