Forbes’ Derek Scancarelli had a recent conversation with Kiss’ Gene Simmons, where the bassist revealed that he likes the Van Halen era with David Lee Roth.

During the conversation, Simmons said:

“‘Well, once you get your new lead singer, you can’t get rid of him!’ No, actually, Axl (Rose) did a terrific job. If he was in AC/DC or Guns N’ Roses, they would both be great because it was convincing.

“Van Halen, a band I supposedly discovered or found; they had signed to me and all that, and I personally preferred the (David Lee) Roth-era Van Halen. It was great. There was nobody like him, it changed what lead singers were. Once Roth left, ‘Oh boy, that’s the end of it.’ No, actually they literally got bigger with Sammy Hagar.

“All these ‘rules.’ Genesis, they lose Peter Gabriel, ‘It’s over! Nope. Once Gabriel left, Genesis became a stadium band with a drummer who came up from the back. All those ‘rules’, who made the rules anyway? In rock and roll, there are no rules.”