Meta Description: Discover why Gene Simmons of KISS considers The Beatles’ White Album his favorite. Learn about the influence of The Beatles on Simmons and the legacy of their iconic album.
Gene Simmons Reveals His Favorite Beatles Album: A Look at the Iconic White Album
Kiss was formed in New York City in 1973, three years after The Beatles disbanded, but their influence was still vibrant. The Beatles were a significant influence on Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. The American musicians even decided to model themselves as a super-band like the Fab Four, with each member having their own songs and singing on the tracks.
The Beatles’ Influence on Kiss
Although their sound and look were different, similarities in songwriting are evident. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are the main songwriters for Kiss, just as John Lennon and Paul McCartney were for The Beatles. Over the decades, Gene Simmons has expressed his love for The Beatles numerous times and has revealed which Beatles album he considers the best.
Gene Simmons’ Favorite Beatles Album: The White Album
Like countless artists, The Beatles inspired Gene Simmons to become a professional musician. Born in Israel and moving to the United States as a young child, Simmons felt like an outcast due to his accent. Seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show showed him that it was cool to be different.
In a 2023 interview with Goldmine Magazine, Simmons stated that The Beatles’ self-titled album, also known as the “White Album,” might be their best. He explained, “The Beatles’ ‘White Album’ is one of my favorites because you’re seeing turmoil within perhaps the greatest band that ever existed. But you could hear and feel the disjointed sense of that album. Although clearly the songs shined and the playing and the production were terrific.”
Simmons also mentioned, “It’s interesting that Abbey Road perhaps was the greatest Beatles album. They were breaking up at that point, but somehow that had a more unified thing. But just for crazy out-there music, it’s gotta be ‘The White Album’.”
Released in 1968, the double album had many hits, including “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Helter Skelter.”
The Beatles’ Impact According to Gene Simmons
The Beatles’ impact on music is immeasurable, and Simmons agrees. In a 2022 interview with Planet Rock (transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage), Simmons stated, “There’s no place like the United Kingdom. For me, this is holy ground. You gave the world The Beatles and for that, I can almost forgive you for being a colonial empire. They literally changed the world and opened the minds of a lot of young kids who all of a sudden discovered Motown, Chuck Berry, and all that. They had no idea the impact they had.”
The Beatles’ Legacy
The Beatles are the most successful band of all time, having sold an estimated 600 million records worldwide. They were together for only one decade and released 13 studio albums. Besides their incredible work together, all four members had successful solo careers with p
raised discographies.
