Dave Grohl showed up at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards earlier this week to pay tribute to KISS. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons were on hand to receive the ASCAP Founders Award. Billboard notes: an honor given by the organization to artists "who have made pioneering contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators." The Foo Fighters frontman made it clear that KISS had a lasting effect on his career.
The singer shared a personal story about listening to his first KISS album, 1976's Destroyer.
"With nuclear anticipation, I let the needle drop on that legendary intro to 'Detroit Rock City,' perhaps the greatest introduction to any rock 'n' roll album ever recorded," he said. "It filled my speakers and my imagination. Thirty-four minutes and 27 seconds later, KISS had filled my soul. I was now a member of the infamous KISS army."
Grohl went on to describe his childhood bedroom and how much KISS memorabilia he had growing up. Before heading to school, he would spend mornings with Stanley, Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. Their music was one of many motivating factors to become a professional musician, he said.
"Forty years later, my love of KISS is still strong," the singer added. "And these days I still spend every morning before school with Paul Stanley... in the parking lot of our kids' f*ckin' elementary school, chatting about Zeppelin and Electric Lady and touring and school fundraisers. So I'd say that my unreasonable dream definitely came true."
KISS follows the likes of Jermaine Dupri and Tom Petty, who received the Founders Award last year. Other recipients include Billy Joel, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Rod Stewart.
