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Kiss’ Gene Simmons hoping his new book about the “27 club” will help people battling depression

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Simmons Books/powerHouse BooksKiss singer/bassist Gene Simmons has published a new book focusing on the “27 club,” that informal collective of unfortunate stars who passed away at the age of 27. Titled 27: The Legend and Mythology of the 27 Club, the book features profiles of such late music stars as Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The DoorsJim Morrison, Nirvana‘s Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.

Simmons tells ABC Radio that in addition to the biographical segments, the book seeks to examine why an inordinate number of well-known artists have died at or near 27.

“A lot of famous folks from various areas of life either killed themselves or were killed or, unfortunately, passed away at the age of 27,” notes the 69-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. “Sometimes it’s depression, sometimes it’s drugs and alcohol. There’s just no one answer.”

Simmons suggests that fame was a factor in some of these famous rockers’ deaths, since certain musicians who were experiencing issues may have been surrounded by people who were unwilling to confront them because they were intimidated by the artists’ stature.

Gene also points out that besides looking at the passing of the various artists, he hopes his book will serve to help people experiencing problems like depression, which is among the factors that led to some of the stars’ deaths.

“[E]ven if people are having a bad day, I urge everybody to learn more how to listen, just engage in the conversation,” Gene maintains, “and if you need help, for goodness sakes, talk to your loved ones, your friends, your next-door neighbors…And if it gets serious, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline and just talk.”

27 is the first book to be released on Simmons’ new publishing imprint, Simmons Books.

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