The KISS bassist shared how his band supported the Canadian trio when other acts and promoters refused to book them.
KISS bassist Gene Simmons revealed that his band brought Rush on their first major U.S. tour in the mid-1970s after other acts and promoters resisted working with the Canadian group due to their nationality. Speaking to radio station 101 WRIF, Simmons explained that he and bandmate Paul Stanley decided to give Rush a chance after hearing their songs “Working Man” and “YYZ,” noting that they did not care where the band originated.
Simmons also recounted a specific show on June 1, 1975, at Winterland in San Francisco, where KISS, Rush, and The Tubes shared the lineup. According to Simmons, Rush member Geddy Lee entered KISS’s dressing room asking for food because promoter Bill Graham had failed to provide meals for the opening acts. In response, Simmons confronted Graham and threatened that KISS would not perform unless the opening bands were fed, prompting the promoter to buy them food.
