Gene Simmons has revealed why he said "no" to Eddie Van Halen's request to replace Ace Frehley on guitar in KISS.
Not even an inpromptue version of "Jump" on the synth could make Kiss agree to hire Eddie Van Halen on guitar back in 1982 after the band parted company with guitarist Ace Frehley. Classic Rock Magazine has reported that Gene Simmons revealed that he was proud to have said no to Van Halen whilst being interviewed on Nicki Sixx of Motely Crue's radio show.
After the performance of "Jump" Simmons took Van Halen over the road for lunch with Eddie complaing all the while about how David Lee Roth was driving him nuts and that he wanted to join Kiss. Simmons remembers feeling proud when he responded to Eddie Van Halen, "Don’t do it. Stay with the band you started. There’s no role for you – you’re too big. You cast too much of a shadow to be the guitar player in Kiss.’ Other things Gene Simmons can be proud of regarding Van Halen are; overseeing the recording of Van Halens first demo and purchasing a David Lee Roth's first pair of high heel boots.
