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The Beatles’ most iconic album — arguably the most iconic album ever created — was launched on this day (26 May) in 1967.
Fifty-eight years later, Kiss frontman Gene Simmons expresses his continued awe at the masterpiece crafted by the Fab Four, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Simmons shares with MusicRadar that he and Kiss co-founder Paul Stanley regard Great Britain as “holy ground” for rock music.
“Paul and I, being Anglophiles, have always been captivated by that small island,” he remarks.
“It’s a small place. In terms of land mass, America dwarfs Europe.
“You can fly for five and a half hours from LA and still not reach New York. In Europe, two or three hours and you’re anywhere you want to be.
“Yet this tiny island somehow turned out the most legendary bands, the most gifted writers and singers in history — The Beatles, the Stones, the Kinks, Queen, and so many more. It’s simply incredible.”
Simmons posits that the cultural exchange between British and American rock is not equal.
“Can you name an American band that even comes close to the Stones, the Beatles, Zeppelin, or Pink Floyd?” he challenges. “Seriously!
“And sure, America invented rock ’n’ roll. But we brought you The Grateful Dead; you gave us Led Zeppelin!”
Simmons holds The Beatles in the highest regard.
“In Britain, you have the royals and all that,” he remarks, “but for me, The Beatles transformed it into holy ground.
“I still vividly recall the wonder of hearing Sgt. Pepper for the first time. It’s The Beatles — but they’re pretending to be a different band?
“Then they introduce Billy Shears for the second song? And what a remarkable and heartfelt song it is. [Sings the opening lines to With A Little Help From My Friends] ‘What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?’
“I remember thinking, ‘What is this?’ It breaks every rule.
“It felt nearly like music hall material. And I was like, ‘What?!’”
Simmons concludes with an interesting Beatles fact — and a nod to Ringo Starr.
“Here’s a fact,” Simmons notes. “When they all embarked on solo careers, and George Harrison released his massive triple album, All Things Must Pass, it took me a whole year to fully appreciate it.
“But Ringo had more number one singles in America than any of the other Beatles.
“That,” he declares, “is astonishing!”
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