Gene Simmons acknowledged last Thursday that he may seem an odd choice as a guest to eulogize Aretha Franklin on a cable news channel, but he's like any other fan of the Queen of Soul: he loved her.
The KISS bassist, who has often counted blues, R&B and soul artists among his influences, emotionally explained his connection to Aretha to HLN Thursday after it was reported that the music icon had died at age 76.
"I loved Aretha, like tens of millions of people," Simmons said while choking up. "When I was a kid, I came to America from Israel and I turned on a television set and there was a New York disc jockey named Murray the K. And he said, 'All right, here she is: Aretha Franklin!"
Simmons described being awestruck by Aretha's confidence, charisma, voice and message.
"I wasn't just stunned by the lyrics — I never heard women talk like that! Give me some Respect, R - E - S - P - E - C - T!" Simmons recalled. "And then the voice, I had never heard anybody like that! I had never heard church music...I was just being introduced to rock and roll. I was flabbergasted."
But the bassist didn't only know Aretha as a fan. He recalled speaking to her once to ask if she would be interested in doing a duet with his then-girlfriend Diana Ross.
"I just picked up the phone and was expecting to get brushed off by managers and the rest," said Simmons. "Aretha got on the phone right away, and I...[couldn't stop stuttering]...because you know you're in the presence of greatness...I was stunned by her graciousness, the lack of ego...her kindness. Along the way I learned more and more about Aretha."
Simmons continued, recounting what he learned of Aretha's Detroit roots and upbringing. He emphasized her relationship with rockers like The Rolling Stones and how she covered The Beatles.
"Sit down and listen to this music because the new pop princesses have to understand that greatness once existed, and her name was Aretha Franklin," Simmons said.
Watch the full exchange above.
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