Aerosmith Call Kiss a 'Comic Book Rock Band'

Steven Tyler, Joe Perry rip into former tourmates in interview

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and Gene Simmons of Kiss
Chelsea Lauren/WireImage; Michael Tran/FilmMagic
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and Gene Simmons of Kiss
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Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry ripped into Kiss in a radio interview with Florida radio station the Bone, calling their former tourmates a "comic book rock band." After host Cowhead expressed his disappointment in Kiss' set during a coheadline show with Aerosmith "a couple years ago," Tyler began to ridicule the flashy rockers. "Kiss is a comic book rock band and they got a couple hits but they're more of a comic book. You see them in their spackled faces," remarked Tyler. "It's theater," interjected Perry.

"We were always a band that had something to prove we always wanted to blow up whatever band it was and I remember when we went out with Kiss in '76 or something, one of our roadies got into a knife fight with their guys. So I hated them ever since," continued Tyler. "It is different: a Kiss lick, a Joe Perry lick – two different worlds, and sometimes depending on the time of day get offended. I hear that and I go, 'Yeah, that's alright. Do they really mean it? And what's this all about?' And that's why I think Aerosmith has been around forever, we really do take ourselves seriously."

"It's two different animals, they went the theatrical way and used rock and roll kind of as their soundtrack and for Aerosmith, the music is our show," added Perry. "It's apples and oranges."