Gene Simmons: 'NYC is a little too high-falutin'

Feb. 22 (UPI) -- KISS leader Gene Simmons said that though the band members are originally from New York, they couldn't make it in the Big Apple because the city is "too full of itself."

In an interview with Radio.com to celebrate the 40th anniversary of KISS' debut album, "Kiss," Simmons didn't have much love for his hometown.

“We didn’t make it in New York. We made it in Detroit," perhaps explaining the inspiration behind their hit "Detroit Rock City." "New York is a little too high-falutin, too full of itself.”

“It bears noting,” he added, “that New York City, perhaps the most important city on the face of the planet, never gave the world a worldwide musical phenomenon that could play stadiums and arenas around the world, other than KISS. Not one.”

“There’s the [New York] Dolls, the Ramones and other club bands. Blue Oyster Cult was from Long Island, and even they never played stadiums. New York City gave the world nothing. Detroit -- not a major city -- gave the world Grand Funk Railroad, which played Shea Stadium. Not a New York band ever played there,” Simmons said.

So that's why there's no "New York Rock City."

[Radio.com]