Kiss raked in the cash during their heyday in the late 1970s. Simmons and Stanley, now on a comeback after slowing down in the 1980s, recently took some time out from preparations for an overseas tour to talk about their careers. In separate lunches at the Bel Air Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., each arrived in leather pants, boots and a sports shirt. And each refused to be photographed in the attire, which came across as staid compared with what they sport on stage. They did indulge in some fancy living, though.
Former employees recall some financial surprises.
Simmons declined to comment on the incidents. But the main problem wasn't financial frivolity. It was financial naivete. Like many other entertainers with a knack for self-promotion, Simmons and Stanley knew almost nothing about handling money and relied heavily on outsiders for advice. While hot musical groups typically can lay claim to about 40 percent of gross receipts, people familiar with Kiss's financial history say the group's cut was significantly less because too many people they trusted had talked them into dubious deals.