East Coast metal feud! “KISS is a comic-book rock band,” stated Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler after his band’s 2003 tour with KISS was brought up in a recent radio interview. “They’ve got a couple of hits, but they’re more, they’re comic book–you see them in their spackled faces.”
He continued, “We [Aerosmith] were always a band that had something to prove. We always wanted to blow off whatever band it was. And I remember when we went out with Kiss in ’76 or something, one of our roadies got into a knife fight with their guys. And I hated them ever since. But, you know, since then I’ve gotten to know Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley], and they’re beautiful people. But it is different.
A KISS lick and a [Aerosmith guitarist] Joe Perry lick–two different worlds, and I, sometimes, depending on the time of day, get offended [by comparisons]. I hear that and go, ‘It’s alright. But do they really mean it?’ And, ‘What’s this all about?’ And that’s why I think Aerosmith has been around forever. We really do take ourseleves seriously. And I feel like you do. We would come on stage [after Kiss] and I would think it was a little ‘comic book.’” Added Perry, “It’s two different animals. They [KISS] went the theatrical way and used rock and roll, kind of, as their soundtrack. And for Aerosmith, the music is our show. And from that point of view, it’s apples and oranges.”
KISS’s Paul Stanley fired back during another radio interview. “Maybe Steven’s feeling a bit full of himself because he has an album coming out,” said Paul.
He then referenced the 2003 tour with Aerosmith and said, “Steven insisted that they close the show. I really [didn't] care because one way or the other you have to come up onstage. He had a chip on his shoulder back then. [He] was a looking down his nose a bit at KISS. Seeing him come onstage to an underwhelmed audience and [seeing] people walking out [made me smile].”
Added Paul, “When [the new Aerosmith] album comes out, let’s put [it side by side with Kiss’ new album, Monster] and let the music do the talking…Steven may have been over-enthused and needs a reality check.”
