First "KISS" Manager Bill Aucoin Dies from Cancer

KISS former manager William "Bill" Aucoin, who also credited in discovering the band has passed away due to surgical complications from his prostate cancer in Aventura, Florida. He was 66.

William managed KISS from 1973-1982 but he quit citing creative and directional differences.
KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley released a statement at the band’s site KISSOnline:

Bill Aucoin, our irreplaceable original manager, mentor and dear friend has died of complications arising from his ongoing battle with prostate cancer. He was instrumental in guiding us from the beginning and without his vision, leadership and unending dedication, we could never have scaled the heights we have reached.

Bill loved life and lived it to the fullest. Words can never convey his impact on us or those close to him.

Over all the years, he never missed an opportunity to be with us at our shows near his home or fly in for special concerts, including our most recent Madison Square Garden show. He had hoped to attend our London show earlier this month but his illness prevented it. He still planned to visit us upon the start of our upcoming US tour.

We loved him, told him and have peace that he knew it.

We will grieve and celebrate all he was and did.

We have lost a part of us.

Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons

He is survived by partner Roman Fernandez, and two sisters, Betty Britton and Janet Bankowski.

Gene Simmons thinks Adam Lambert killed his career due to his sexual preference

Playful long-tongued Kiss' bassist Gene Simmons feels that American Idol runner up Adam Lambert's career is doomed if he will not stop talking about his sexual preferences.

In his AOL interview, Gene said, "He's enormously talented, best talent 'American Idol' has had, but I think he killed his career because now the conversation is not about his talent but about his sexual preference. He's done. You're forcing people to deal with issues they may not be interested in. Life is unfair, and the masses don't all live in L.A. They live in Wisconsin and Nebraska, and you're on crack if you think the same rules apply there. My advice is still the same, shut the f*** up, just sing and let people say whatever they want. But I do wish him the best because he's got all the talent in the world."

"If only the world was not homophobic, but it is. I would be the first one to vote for equal rights for gay women and men, and get the church and the state to stop telling everybody how to lead their lives, but do I think he's killed his career? Oh, in an instant. I hope I'm completely wrong. I hope he becomes the next Beatles and proves me wrong."

According to Rollingstone, Gene thinks that Adam's voice is better if he sings ballads and Broadway songs.

“Respectfully, I don’t think Adam is a rock singer. He sounds much more convincing singing ballads and Broadway shows. His voice doesn’t seem to have a ‘rock quality.’ But, I’m sure he’s going to do just fine.”

Checkout American Idol season 8 finale performance featuring the band KISS and Adam Lambert.

Below is Gene's interview in Fox.. Saying to Lambert to just shut up [2:22].