Kiss Challenge Stones, U2

[Pete]

Gene Simmons has thrown down the gauntlet to The Rolling Stones and U2 to compete with Kiss as the (admittedly self-proclaimed) hottest band in the land.
Talking to XFM, Simmons said: “I would love to play on the same stage as U2, the Stones and anybody out there who considers themselves a world champion. You come on up on that stage with us, baby. Show me what you got, and then we’ll show you what the big boys do.”

This is perhaps the greatest piece of rock band duelling since Twisted Sister threatened Manowar and Hanoi Rocks with a punch-up in London’s Covent Garden nearly 30 years ago!

[spankymadoo]

I'm trying to decide if Simmons is an idiot or a genius. On one hand we know that KISS cannot sell out stadiums. There's no way they could compete with the Stones or U2 for ticket sales or revenue. On the other hand if one of those two actually take him up on it, KISS would be playing to larger crowds than they have in decades (maybe ever). Even if they only get a small portion of the revenue that the ticket sales would produce, they're looking at a huge payday.
Personally I don't like U2 so I hope the Stones take him up on it.

[kim]

HA! Good for Gene!!!!!!!!

Good for him!!!!....and!...if he and the rest of the
band is on their game...they could easily give U2
a damned good run for their money!!! if not blow
them out of the water!!!
U2...? What the hell have they done in the last while?
Yeah...resting on their past fucking history!!!!!!!!!!

KISS, in my opinion, is a constant and has been
so for many years. U2 on the other hand in my
opinion has been languishing on the "Joshua Tree"
legacy that made them the world renowned group
that most relate to. That "zzzzzooo" stuff" they did
just really doesn't cut it as far as I'm concerned...but hey
....that's just me.
Anything else Bono has been involved with
over the last 15 years is a moot point in terms of music...zzzzzzzzz.

Now...if KISS is gonna go head to head with Mick and the
band...wellllllllllllll, they had better do their homework...hahahaha.
And their excercises, because Mick will kick yer arse on stage!!!!!!!!!!!

All the power to them and I'd love nothing better than to see
a Stones / KISS tour........
Would that not be a hoot?.......Classic rock and roll...all the way!!!

Thanks
Kim

[Pete]

Joshua Tree was their best but U2 have done pretty well since than.

1988 Rattle and Hum The Billboard 200 1

1991 Achtung Baby The Billboard 200 1

1993 Zooropa The Billboard 200 1

1997 Pop The Billboard 200 1

1997 Pop Top Canadian Albums 1

2000 All That You Can't Leave Behind The Billboard 200 3

2000 All That You Can't Leave Behind Top Canadian Albums 1
2000 All That You Can't Leave Behind Top Internet Albums 1

2000 All That You Can't Leave Behind Top Internet Albums 5

2004 How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb The Billboard 200 1

2004 How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb Top Canadian Albums 1
2004 How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb Top Internet Albums -
2005 How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb European Top 100 Albums 1

2005 How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb Top Internet Albums 44
2005 Vertigo 2005 - Live In Chicago European Top 100 Albums

2009 No Line On The Horizon European Top 100 Albums 1

2009 No Line On The Horizon The Billboard 200 1

2009 No Line On The Horizon Top Canadian Albums 1

2009 No Line On The Horizon Top Internet Albums 2

2009 No Line On The Horizon Top Rock Albums 1

2009 The Unforgettable Fire European Top 100 Albums

and than.. making the most money in 2009...

The Irish juggernaut had a huge year in 2009, making more than $108 million. They made nearly twice as much as the No. 2 man on the list, occasional Wellington resident Bruce Springsteen.

Billboard determined the top money-makers list by taking into account music sales, on-demand streams, songwriting royalties and fees and touring revenue.

U2’s success in 2009 included a deal with Live Nation that gave them a good share of money from touring, merchandising and from the group’s U2.com Web site. Songwriting money stayed in house, as while various members contribute, the band rarely does outside work.

Springsteen, who made more than $57 million, was followed in the top five by Madonna ($47 million), AC/DC ($43 million) and Britney Spears ($38 million).

and what? KISS has put out two albums in the last ten years? Who's resting on what?

;D

I say U2 wins ;D

[hojam]

For the record, KISS does indeed sell out big stadiums. Maybe not in the United States, but the rest of the planet is a different story. In the U.S., KISS performs to capacity crowds in the major league arenas. I recently saw KISS on a Tuesday night, in the middle of the Christmas shopping season, at an 18,000 seat arena... The arena was filled to about 98% capacity.

To me, I didn't take Simmons' challenge as a challenge of attendance, but rather a challenge of who kicks ass on stage and blows the minds of the audience. Maybe I am wrong?

[Pete]

Mar 13, 2010 13:24:42 GMT -5 hojam said:

For the record, KISS does indeed sell out big stadiums. Maybe not in the United States, but the rest of the planet is a different story. In the U.S., KISS performs to capacity crowds in the major league arenas. I recently saw KISS on a Tuesday night, in the middle of the Christmas shopping season, at an 18,000 seat arena... The arena was filled to about 98% capacity.

To me, I didn't take Simmons' challenge as a challenge of attendance, but rather a challenge of who kicks ass on stage and blows the minds of the audience. Maybe I am wrong?

I agree Gene probably did mean ass kicking. Kiss definitely has the explosion and fire advantage and realistically probably kick more rock ass but if was attendance.... U2 sold out Soldier Field (65,000) two nights in a row last fall. I got a scalped nose bleed seats for the second one. I saw kiss a few years back and had really good seats. It's like Apple and Oranges. The U2 show was massive though. It reminded me of Pink Floyd who I saw at Soldier in '94 but Pink Floyd beat Kiss and U2 combined!