When Gene Simmons introduced a new fan experience for his upcoming solo tour, he got a lot of flak for it. Why? Because he's charging $12,495 for a fan to be his "Personal Assistant and Band Roadie for the Day."
The Kiss co-founder explained his reasoning during a recent interview with the New York Post. “When I was a kid and went to see shows, I was always curious, ‘What’s it like when they’re in a hotel? What’s it like when the stage is set up? What’s it like being onstage when they’re performing and seeing the audience from the stage?’” he said, adding: “I decided, ‘You know what, nobody’s ever done it. Why not open the idea to be my personal roadie for the day?’”
He then gave a breakdown of what the day would look like. “You meet at the hotel where you have breakfast together or, you know, whatever floats your boat,” he said. “You ride with me to the gig. You can set up amplifiers and drums to your heart’s content. You’re onstage, right offstage to my right. You can video the crowds, whatever. And I pull you onstage to sing a song with me.”
Whoever purchases the package also gets to bring a friend and receives a bass signed by Simmons at the end of the night, but still, that's a lot of money to spend.
Anyone who bought the package during the first half of Simmons' upcoming tour is going to have to wait a while for the payout. He recently postponed 17 tour dates. Instead of beginning April 3 in Anaheim, California, the tour will now begin May 3 in Peachtree City, Georgia.
Kiss also recently announced a one-off show during a 50th anniversary celebration for their Kiss Army fanbase in November, but there's a catch: they won't be wearing makeup.