Kiss bassist and co-founder Gene Simmons has revealed that Eddie Van Halen once considered joining Kiss during a turbulent moment in Van Halen‘s history — and that Simmons personally convinced the guitar legend not to do it.

As one of the earliest champions of Van Halen, Simmons played a crucial role in the band’s rise. He famously discovered the group after stumbling into a performance at Los Angeles’ Starwood club in 1976, an experience he later said left him “incredulous.” Simmons went on to produce the band’s legendary Zero demo, which included early versions of songs that would later become classics such as “Runnin’ With the Devil” and “House of Pain.”

Despite his enthusiasm, Simmons ultimately stepped away from managing or producing Van Halen after encountering resistance from Paul Stanley, manager Bill Aucoin, and existing Kiss commitments. Though according to Simmons, the paths of Kiss and Van Halen nearly crossed again in 1982, when Kiss were recording Creatures of the Night following the departure of guitarist Ace Frehley.

In an interview with MusicRadar published on December 29, Simmons said Eddie Van Halen contacted him amid growing tensions with David Lee Roth during the Diver Down era: “Eddie told me, ‘Roth is driving me nuts. I can’t take it. I gotta leave. I know you’re looking for a lead guitar player. Do you want me in the band?'” Simmons recalled.

Eddie soon drove over to the studio — an experience Simmons described as terrifying due to Van Halen‘s doorless Jeep and aggressive driving. After grabbing lunch, Eddie listened to Kiss‘s new material and reacted enthusiastically. “He heard some of the tracks and was like, ‘Oh, I really like that!'”

Despite the opportunity to recruit one of rock’s greatest guitarists, Simmons says he advised Eddie against joining Kiss, arguing that Van Halen was fundamentally built around Eddie‘s playing. “I said, ‘Eddie, a band is worse than a marriage,'” Simmons explained. “‘But with Van Halen, everything begins and ends with you — it’s all about the guitar.'”

Simmons likened Eddie‘s role in Van Halen to Jimmy Page in Led Zeppelin and compared his creative gravity to Jimi Hendrix. “There wouldn’t be room for Eddie in Kiss,” Simmons said. “It would be like putting Jeff Beck or Hendrix in AC/DC. Eddie would have taken over.”

Looking back, Simmons believes he made the morally right decision by encouraging Eddie to stay with Van Halen — even if it meant the band eventually losing Roth. Van Halen went on to record 1984, their final album with Roth, before ushering in the Sammy Hagar era and achieving even greater commercial success.

“I love Roth—that’s still my favorite era of Van Halen,” Simmons said. “But you can get another lead singer. When Hagar joined, they became a bigger band.”

He compared the situation to AC/DC, who reached new heights after the death of Bon Scott: “So that rule — ‘You can’t lose the lead singer?'” Simmons concluded. “Actually, you can.”

Denny Hamlin expressed gratitude and grief in his first public remarks since the death of his father last weekend.

Country singer Cole Swindell’s response was personal.

• Denny Hamlin’s parents’ home caught fire on Sunday (Dec. 28).
• His father Dennis Hamlin and mother Mary Lou Hamlin were inside at the time.
• Dennis died in the blaze but Mary Lou survived and is receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. Her prognosis is unknown.

Update On Denny Hamlin’s Mother

In a short statement pushed to social media, Denny Hamlin thanked those who offered a prayer or get well wishes. Then, he offered a small update on his mother’s condition:

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with condolences on my father’s passing,” the 45-year said. “My mother continues to improve, and our family truly appreciates the outpouring of support and the respect for our privacy during this time.”

WBTV-TV shares that Mary Lou had previously indicated Sunday was her and Dennis’ wedding anniversary, sourcing a three-year-old post on social media. If true, the couple would have been married 52 years.

How Did Cole Swindell’s Parents Die?

“You Should Be Here” singer Swindell is big NASCAR fan, but also someone who knows what it feels like to lose a parent unexpectedly. In September 2021, his mother Betty Carol Rainey died after a stay in hospice.

That came eight years after his father William Keith Swindell died at age 64. This death was a “freak accident” that happened as Cole was on a radio tour to promote his first single, “Chillin’ It.”

“Truly sorry for your loss, DH,” Swindell writes on X. “I know there aren’t any words right now but we’re praying for you and your family and your mothers recovery.”

No details have been shared about what caused the fire at the Hamlin home. Denny Hamlin indicated his father was battling a terminal illness last fall, saying that last NASCAR season was his final chance to win a championship his dad could witness.