Gene SimmonS

The Kiss bassisT on his lifelong love of science ficTion

Favourite SF/fantasy films

The original 1951 The Day The Earth Stood Still is one of my favourite movies, although I didn’t mind the Keanu Reeves remake. I love The Shape Of Things To Come, which was based on the HG Wells novels and was one of the early talkies when it came out in 1936. I also like the 1953 War Of The Worlds, which was produced by George Pal. The Steven Spielberg version wasn’t bad, but it was more about modern technology and special effects. The original was really terrifying, as you just had Gene Barry and this girl hiding in this farmhouse and you hear “beep, beep, beep…”

Favourite SF/fantasy books

I’m a big Ayn Rand fan. I particularly like her novella Anthem, which is about a couple who live in this dystopian society, where all they are known by is a number. It’s about finding your own individuality in a future where there’s only this single consciousness. Another short book I like is Illusions: The Adventures Of A Reluctant Messiah, which is by Richard Bach, who wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull. It’s about a gas station attendant, who has a conversation with this guy, where he asks him, “Who do you think you are? God?” and he says, “Yes!”

Favourite SF/fantasy comics

Probably the finest comic series ever has to be Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. I’m also a big fan of the Watchmen film, which was not well reviewed but it’s one of the best movies ever, comic book or otherwise.

Kiss Rocks Vegas is out on DVD on 24 June.