Not everyone will love the "definitive" KISS documentary, Biography: KISStory, which premieres this weekend on A&E, but that's why it's required viewing for rock fans.
Gene Simmons tells Q104.3 New York's Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein that he and fellow co-founder Paul Stanley can assure fans that the documentary tells the "truth" of the band, whether people like it or not.
"This is a warts-and-all documentary. It is the story of an American dream, of four knuckleheads off the streets of New York who decided to put together the band they never saw onstage — no holds barred, no rules, no nothing," Simmons said. "... But also because you respect and love the fans, you've got to come clean. You've got to tell the stories — warts and all — and we pull no punches about how some of our guys succumbed to the clichés of drugs and alcohol, dysfunction, arguing about stupid stuff. And I'm no different, by the way, though I've never been high or drunk in my life."
Biography: KISStory will premiere in two parts, Sunday, June 27, and Monday, June 28, from 9 - 11 p.m. Eastern time.
Just as Kiss made a career on delivering fans a memorable live show every time, Simmons says the four-hour, two-night KISStory event delivers on the honesty it advertises.
"Before the game is over, you've got to come clean with the fans who you love and respect and thank for making our lives possible," he continued. "...We just work here. You owe them everything, least of all is the truth. And that's what the documentary does — it's going to upset some fans, but it happens in families, too, when mom sits the kids down and says, 'Okay, kids, your father is a drunk. He's a loser. He's losing his job because he doesn't love himself enough to get straight. And he doesn't love the family enough.' You've got to tell the truth. Tough love is the best way to be with your loved ones — by the way, also with people you hate. Just tell the truth, good, bad or otherwise."
Watch the full conversation via the video player above!
KISStory chronicles the band's rise from a rat-infested rehearsal space to headlining arenas across the world, it explores the band's friendships and feuds and celebrates the incredibly loyal Kiss Army fanbase which has supported Kiss since the early-'70s.
The band's near-50-year story is told through rare footage and photos, new interviews with Simmons and Stanley and archival clips from co-founders Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. The film also features current Kiss band members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, celebrity Kiss superfans Dave Grohl and Tom Morello, longtime Kiss manager Doc McGhee and Kiss producer Bob Ezrin.
Kiss's 'End of the Road' tour resumes this August. Get all the tour dates here.
Photo: Getty Images North America