Despite Simmons‘ later rockstar persona and business success, this early experience left an impression on John 5.
In a recent interview with 101 WRIF, John 5 was asked about when he got the chance to first meet any of the band members, to which he responded (as transcribed by Ultimate Guitar): “I was so little. I was probably, I don’t know, 14 or 13. KISS were playing at Cobo [Hall, aka Huntington Place, in Detroit, Michigan] or Joe Louis [Arena], one of the two. And I wanted to meet my heroes and I was waiting at the Pontchartrain Hotel.”
“I’m this little kid [who] skips school, and kind of preppy, and all that stuff. And I’m the only one in the lobby.”
“I’m no detective, but you see the tour busses and whatnot. I was waiting there all day — all day. Hopefully, he’ll come down and have something to eat or go get coffee, or… Who knows — one of the guys.
“So, here comes Gene Simmons,” he continued. “He was walking out of the bus into the hotel. And I had my Originals booklet. I’ll never forget this, my Originals booklet. And I said, ‘Mr. Simmons, Mr. Simmons.’ And he walked right by me. I’m this little kid — a little kid. And he gets in the elevator. And I was like, ‘Screw this.’ So, I get in the elevator, too. And he’s standing there [with his arms crossed]. And I have my booklet and my little marker.
Despite his lifelong fandom and day-long persistence, John 5 ultimately decided the autograph wasn’t worth the effort. He explained: “Now, this is a true story. I can’t believe I’m going to tell this. The elevator opens to his floor, and he goes, ‘You want me to sign that?’ And I go, ‘No, it’s okay.’ Isn’t that great?
“True story. I don’t know what it was. I was just so, like, upset that he wouldn’t… I was no threat. I was just a little kid. And I was just upset that he didn’t just stop and sign. I was waiting there for, like, five hours, and he goes, ‘You want me to sign that?’ And I was like, ‘No, it’s okay.’ Then the elevator shut. [Laughs]”
Before he ever became a guitar virtuoso and toured the world with the likes of Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Rob Halford and – currently – MÖTLEY CRÜE, John 5 was just a kid growing up near Detroit Rock City obsessed with KISS. That fascination turned into a lifelong journey of collecting anything and everything from the Starchild, the Demon, the Spaceman and the Catman.
In May 2025, John 5 will open up his personal collection for the first time ever to fellow KISS fans around the world with his brand-new Knights In Satan Service Museum of KISS Memorabilia in Los Angeles, California. Guided tours will be open to the public for one month only (with a possible expansion). Current dates available are May 5-9, May 12-16, May 19-23 and May 27-30. Each will be led by John 5 himself who will provide tons of rich detail and answer any questions. Read more about it here.
Source: metaladdicts.com
