KISS’ Gene Simmons has stated that the “astronomical” prices of insurance coverage is why is his charging one fan greater than $12k to be his “roadie” for a day.
The bassist and singer has come underneath hearth not too long ago for providing a fan the possibility to be his private assistant and roadie for a day – for the price of $12,495 (£9,667) .
Dubbed ‘The Final Gene Simmons Expertise’, and offered forward of his now-postponed North American tour – it permits a fan to assist with load-in on the venue, stage set-up, and the power to take a seat in on the sound test and hang around backstage.
Nevertheless, he has additional defended his determination to supply this “expertise” – saying that rising insurance coverage prices is why he priced it greater than $12k. Chatting with New Jersey’s 95.9 The Rat, he defined his reasoning.
“Right here’s the deal: once I was a child and I went to see [Jimi] Hendrix or someone, after all I loved the present and actually bought off on it — we talked about it ceaselessly and stuff — however I didn’t know what it was like,” Simmons stated, as reported by Blabbermouth. “What’s the start of the day like? What’s it like to take a seat and have breakfast or lunch with my favourite rock stars, after which get within the limo, go to the gig, arrange the drums, do soundcheck after which be onstage…”
He continued: “Now, having stated that, we solely do one roadie for a day per present. And I’ll inform you why — as a result of these days the whole lot is so litigious. … Meaning everyone sues everyone for no cause. So should you get a paper minimize, someone will get sued. And that’s simply the best way life is right here in America — far more in California, by the best way.
“It’s loopy out right here. So, I can’t even, if I needed to, deliver out or do roadie for a day with 10, 20, 30, as many individuals [as we would like]. So we do one, as a result of the insurance coverage prices for which can be astronomical. And so this ain’t low cost. It’s not for everyone. And for that one individual, you do must pay premium numbers. That’s simply life.”
In response to Simmons, the $12,495 price ticket covers “monetary and authorized publicity” along with “the traditional stuff”. He stated: “Anyone has a foul expertise and so they sue you and it prices you tons of of 1000’s of {dollars}. You want insurance coverage for the whole lot.”
The roadie expertise continues all by means of showtime, and features a particular efficiency with Gene Simmons. He instructed The New York Put up:“You journey with me to the gig. You possibly can arrange amplifiers and drums to your coronary heart’s content material. You’re onstage, proper offstage to my proper. You possibly can video the crowds, no matter. And I pull you onstage to sing a tune with me.”
Simmons’ North American tour – which set to kick off this month – is being postponed to “early 2026”. Whereas a trigger for the postponement was not revealed, it was confirmed that it was not attributable to well being points.
Because the postponement of his solo tour, KISS have introduced plans for an “unmasked” present in Las Vegas later this 12 months. It would mark the band’s first efficiency since their 2023 farewell tour.
In response to an e-mail despatched out to followers, the live performance additionally guarantees “a particular reside efficiency from former KISS member Bruce Kulick, together with different particular company, actions, unique experiences and extra.”
