Gene Simmons Jokes It Would've Been 'Smarter' for KISS to Wear 'T-Shirts and Sneakers' over '40 Lbs. of Armor' (Exclusive)

Gene Simmons is well aware that there’s no way KISS could ever rock and roll all nite — especially not when they were weighed down with elaborate costumes.

Simmons, 74, admits to PEOPLE that the physicality of the band and their glam rock appearance (heavily painted faces, metal costumes, etc.) were part of the job. But as he and his bandmates have gotten older, the schtick has become something of a hindrance when it comes to performing.

“We were certainly the hardest-working band on the stage,” he says. “Even if we just walked around carrying, in my case, 40 lbs. of armor and studs on the base and dragging those dragon boots [that] are seven inches tall, and you got [us] spit[ting] fire and flying in the air and all that stuff.”

The rocker adds that perhaps the band — who played their final show in December — may have been able to continue on had they taken the easier route from day one.

“It’s not like having a Sunday walk, it’s not the same. In hindsight, we would have been smarter putting on T-shirts and sneakers and going out there Ramone-style, and just strumming the guitar,” he jokes.

KISS played its final show together in early December at Madison Square Garden, and Simmons says the way the band ended is a “proud moment” for him. 

"I don’t want to go out there with my walker… We've all seen boxers and artists who will stay in the ring too long and get knocked out by some amateur. You don't want to do that, you want to go out on top. And we did it the right way, out of respect and love for the fans."

The group’s entire catalog was recently purchased by Pophouse, a Swedish entertainment group. 

It’s something Simmons says felt like the “natural thing” to do, though he insists it wasn’t something KISS was actively seeking out.

"Life happens while you're busy making important plans," he says. "We were planning our respectful, proud walking off into the sunset, because we've been touring, we had been touring for half a century." 

But the band had a positive experience meeting the Pophouse team, and “broke bread, talked about our families and we got to be friends.” The company eventually acquired the KISS brand in its entirety for an undisclosed sum, according to a press release.

Simmons is now ready to hit the road solo with his Gene Simmons Band, which will play a string of festival dates in Europe this spring and summer. He’s also focused on his Rock & Brews restaurant/bar/concert venue, located in the ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, Washington.

"Rock & Brews is a proud achievement," he says of the 10,000+ square foot space, which is a partnership with ilani Casino. "It's an experience from the time you walk in."