Gene Simmons Once Asked Stan Lee For Costume Advice

Over the decades, Stan Lee‘s influence has been felt throughout comic books, movies, television – and even heavy metal.

During a panel at Wizard World Nashville, Lee recalled his various run-ins with KISS co-founder Gene Simmons. As Lee revealed, he unintentionally played a role in KISS being the band it is today, after Simmons asked him for advice on the band’s costumes. Check it out in the clip above!

“Gene Simmons came up to the office, followed by these other guys.” Lee recalled. “He said ‘I wanna ask you a question, Stan.’ I said ‘Alright.’ He said ‘Do you think this outfit looks too outrageous?’ And he put on these shoes that, the heels were about six inches. And he stood [very] high when it was all finished, in costume.”

Lee’s Marvel Comics background – and proclivity for some rather flamboyant villains – led him to be very on board with Simmons’ idea.

“And I’m used to guys like Doctor Doom and The Vulture, so I said ‘No, that’s not outrageous at all!’” Lee explained. “And he said ‘Thank you!’ …I like to think that I’m the reason that KISS looks the way they look. If I had said it looks too outrageous, he’d probably have thrown it all away.”

KISS Comics

Lee also detailed another collaboration he had with Simmons – one that involved the KISS-themed Marvel Comics specials of the late 1970s.

“I will never forget this.” Lee added. “We were doing a KISS comic book at the time, and [Simmons] said ‘You know, my fans love us so much, the KISS people. I’d like to offer them a chance to get a KISS comic book that has our blood in it. So they could own a little bit of our blood.’ I said ‘What are you talking about?’”

But in the end, the Lee ultimately became on board with Simmons’ idea, and even went with the band to make the plan a reality.

“It ended up, we drove to Buffalo, where the books were printed.” Lee explained. “And the KISS guys stood in the room where the ink is that they print the book out of. And each of them stuck a little needle in his finger, and let a few drops of his blood get into the ink. So we could advertise for that issue of the book ‘You’re buying a copy of KISS with their own blood in it!’”

In the end, to Lee’s surprise, the blood-infused comic ended up being a major success.

“Boy, did that sell out.” Lee joked. “We must have some bloodthirsty viewers and readers.”

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