Is Kiss Planning On Cleaning Up At Wal-Mart?

THE RUMOR: Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were among the musicians spotted at last week’s Wal-Mart shareholders meeting… and they’re returning to recording after an eleven-year hiatus. Naturally, that confluence of events means that the record has to be a Wal-Mart exclusive! Right? TRUTH THRESHOLD: 52%. LIKELY TRUTHS: Gene and Paul were indeed glad-handing at the big Wal-Mart party last week, with the python-tongued bass player even going so far as to tell another attendee that he was “not even close to being the richest guy in the crowd.” Sounds like a little bit of jealousy stemming from rock and roll’s most famous capitalist there! Not to mention that Kiss has been frustrated with the “traditional” recorded-music biz as it currently stands, and a Wal-Mart deal could definitely help Gene. Also, as Chris Molanphy pointed out when I showed him this story, a huge, branded, merch-stuffed Kiss display at The Big W–much like the ones AC/DC was treated to when the big-boxer sold its last album, Black Ice, exclusively–would probably help the band notch its first No. 1 album, which would be a nice excuse for them to close out the recorded-music portion of its career. LIKELY FALSEHOODS: Would the somewhat randy members of Kiss tone down their art for the sake of getting on to Wal-Mart’s notoriously prissy shelves? Would that involve Gene putting away his tongue? And do members of Wal-Mart’s base still believe in that “Knight’s In Satan’s Service” silliness? Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley at Wal-Mart [KISS Army News]