Gene Simmons Reflects on the Intense Rivalry Between Kiss and Black Sabbath in the 1970s

Kiss bassist Gene Simmons has always held Black Sabbath in high regard. Reflecting on their brief yet intense time touring together in 1974, Simmons states, “I’ve always loved and admired Black Sabbath. And I can proudly say the early days of touring together will be a lifelong memory.” However, as he reveals, there was also a strong competitive spirit between the two bands.

The 1974 Tour: A Clash of Titans

During that time, Black Sabbath was an established force in the rock scene, known for their dark, heavy sound and rebellious attitude. Kiss, on the other hand, was a young band still making a name for themselves. They had just released their debut album and were fortunate enough to land an opening slot on Sabbath’s U.S. tour—albeit for only three or four shows.

Recalling one particular moment backstage at the Boston Theater, Simmons describes an amusing yet tense encounter with Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler:

“I was fully made-up and ready to hit the stage when I found myself standing next to the great Geezer Butler. He’s about five feet six inches tall, and with my platform heels, I stood around six feet nine. Once I had my war paint on, I transformed into The Demon—and Geezer didn’t quite know what to make of me.

“He looked me up and down, and I looked down at him. I glared at him, stuck out my tongue, and leaned in until we were face-to-face. Then I let out a deep, ‘Aaahhhh!’”

Years later, Simmons learned that Butler had relayed this experience to Ozzy Osbourne, admitting he felt slightly threatened by the bassist from the opening act. Simmons laughs at the memory, saying, “He didn’t think that was a good sign. And he was right!”

Tensions on Tour

Kiss approached every performance with the goal of dominating the stage, and they weren’t shy about making demands. At their next show in Rochester, New York, their road manager was informed that they had to begin immediately. However, there was a logistical problem—Black Sabbath’s amplifier line was too close to the front edge of the stage, leaving Kiss with no space to maneuver.

What ensued was a silent standoff. Neither band would yield until Sabbath’s equipment was pulled back, and ultimately, Kiss got their way.

On another occasion, at a show in Albany, the headliners were nowhere to be found when it was time to perform. The mystery was soon solved—Ozzy Osbourne had wandered into the wrong hotel room, shut the door, and fallen asleep. His bandmates and road manager were frantically searching for him, unaware that he was sleeping in a stranger’s bed.

A Legacy of Respect

Despite the rivalry and occasional tensions, Simmons holds nothing but admiration for Black Sabbath. He fondly recalls the first time he ever heard of the band: “It was an advertisement in Rolling Stone for their debut album. It read, ‘Black Sabbath – louder than Led Zeppelin!!!’”

He concludes, “Louder and prouder, indeed. Sabbath was a band that did things their own way. Love them or hate them, they left an indelible mark on rock history.”