MILAN (AP) — Gene Simmons wagged his trademark tongue as an all-glammed-up Kiss swept down the John Varvatos runway in an unannounced appearance during Milan Fashion Week.


The band that brought glam to rock decades ago gave a burst of energy to the Varvatos' rock-inspired menswear preview for next winter Saturday, bringing the normally restrained fashion crowd to its feet to "Rock and Roll All Nite."


Simmons said fashion for him is "to be an individual and not to be a lemming."


Varvato's designs have that "rock persona," Simmons said, adding "if he wasn't designing clothes, he'd have a guitar around his neck."


"The idea is to have a fiery heart and an insatiable appetite for any pair of beautiful eyes, male or female, looking at you. And what you wear is an extension of your sexuality," said Simmons, the band's bassist.


Singer and guitarist Paul Stanley said the band met Varvatos during Milan Fashion Week last year when they were performing in the city. The band has since signed on to do an ad campaign for Varvatos.


"I knew John's clothes for years because they have all those elements that I love in clothes, which are timeless," Stanley said. "There is a style that goes back to some of the great rock 'n' roll bands of the 60s."


The looks that preceded Kiss's show-stopping appearance had a rock 'n' roll edge, with many stage-ready touches like gold- and silver-tone leather jackets, leopard top hats and a dramatic black jacket with pointy felt cutouts on the shoulders that gave the look a raptor-like quality.


Kiss celebrates the 40th anniversary of the release of its first album this year, and will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.




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  • Kings of the Nighttime World


    Gene Simmons of Kiss, practicing his moves while Paul Stanley gets ready, before performing at Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage)




  • Dressed to Kill


    Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage)




  • The Immigrant


    Simmons was born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel, on August 25, 1949. He was eight years old and spoke no English when he moved with his mother to Jackson Heights, Queens. (Photo by Darlene Hammond/Getty Images)




  • Alive!


    Kiss performs at Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom, July 18, 1974. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage)




  • Phantoms of the Park


    The band poses for a portrait in Los Angeles on May 31, 1974. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)




  • God of Thunder


    Simmons blows fire onstage at Georgia Tech, December 1, 1974. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage)




  • Spaceman


    Guitarist Ace "Spaceman" Frehley on May 31, 1974, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)




  • Demon Gene


    Simmons plays bass during a show at the Civic Auditorium in Long Beach, CA, on May 31, 1974. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)




  • Core Members


    Paul "Star Child" Stanley and Simmons co-founded the band in January 1973 and remain members today. (Photo by Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)




  • Rock & Roll All Night!


    Another shot from the Civic Auditorium show on May 31, 1974. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)




  • Makeup Game


    Stanley and drummer Peter Criss pose with the Cadillac High School football team during the 'Day in the Life of a Town' in Cadillac, Michigan on October 9, 1975. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • Strutter


    (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • Womp Womp


    (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • Firehouse


    (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • The Tomorrow Show


    The band sits with Tom Snyder for what would turn out to be an infamous episode of NBC's "The Tomorrow Show." (It aired October 31, 1979.) (Photo by NBC/NBCU Photo Bank.)




  • Gold Standard


    KISS and their gold records at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, December 31, 1975. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • Armor All


    Simmons was known for his ... unique look. (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)




  • C'Mon and Love Me!


    Stanley always seemed like the saner frontman. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • Detroit Rock City


    Frehley, who was known for his infectious hyena laugh, attends to his make-up backstage at Cobo Hall in Detroit during the concert recording of Alive! on May 16, 1975. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • Nothin' To Lose


    Simmons breathing more fire at the Calderone Theater, New York, August 24, 1975. (Photo by Redferns/Getty Images)




  • Love 'Em and Leave 'Em


    Stanley pretends to choke Peter Criss during the Alive! sessions. Criss would later leave the band and complain of being mistreated by Stanley and Simmons. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • Ace Frehley


    Frehley drinking from a bottle of Mateus Rose during the same session. Frehley later left the band as well and later complained that Simmons and Stanley criticized him for drinking and drugging while tolerating the same behavior in others. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • The Hottest Band in the World!


    (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • Platform Player


    (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • Black Diamond


    Peter Criss poses in a vintage sports car. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)




  • Solo Shot


    (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images)




  • Horse Play


    Stanley befriends a carriage horse near Central Park in New York City. (Photo by Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)




  • Back in the New York Groove


    (Photo By: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News via Getty Images)




  • London Calling


    KISS in London, May 10, 1976. (Photo by Peter Cade/Central Press/Getty Images)




  • Uh! All Night


    Kiss in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 29, 1976. (Photo by Jan Persson/Redferns)




  • Stage Fright


    Live in Amsterdam, May 23, 1976. (Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns)




  • Blood Sport


    (Photo by NBC NewsWire/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)




  • Shock Me


    (Photo by Robert Knight Archive/Redferns)




  • I'm a Legend Tonight


    Stanley arranging his hair, New York, February 1977. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)




  • Group Shot


    Live at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, December 16, 1979. (Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)




  • Tongue in Cheek (Or Not)


    Backstage in New York, February 1977. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)




  • Unmasked!


    Simmons hiding his face as he and girlfriend Cher attend the premiere of the movie 'Kramer vs. Kramer' in December 1979. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)




  • Can You Feel the Love Tonight?


    Elton John poses for a portrait with the boys, circa 1977 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)




  • Their Kind of Town


    Simmons and Frehley on stage at the Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, January 16, 1978. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)




  • Spit Take


    Live at the Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, January 16, 1978. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)




  • Fit Freak


    Live at the International Ampitheater, Chicago, Illinois, September 22, 1979. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)




  • That's Entertainment


    Live in L.A., July 24, 1979. (Photo by Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)




  • Creatures Of The Night


    New drummer Eric Carr joins Stanley, Frehley and Simmons during a press conference for the 'Creatures of the Night' album, October 28, 1982, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)




  • Face the Music


    New guitarist Vinnie Vincent performs with Simmons at Wembley Arena in London during the early post-makeup era. (Photo by Phil Dent/Redferns)




  • Animalize


    Stanley at Wembley. (Photo by Phil Dent/Redferns)




  • Not Quite No Makeup


    Simmons, Stanley, Vincent and Carr in London, August 1983. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)




  • Kiss Perform Live At Nassau Coliseum


    Gene Simmons of Kiss performing at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island on November 26, 1984 (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)




  • Totally 80s


    Stanley with "Knots Landing" actress Lisa Hartman at the 11th Annual People's Choice Awards, 1985. (Photo by Barry King/WireImage)




  • Family Jewels


    Simmons backstage with Shannon Tweed and baby son Nicholas, 1988. (Photo by Mark Weiss/WireImage)




  • The Dudes Abide


    Simmons and Stanley in 1989. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)




  • (More) New Blood


    Simmons and Stanley with new members Eric Singer (drums) and Bruce Kulick (guitar) in the Netherlands, January 1, 1992. (Photo by Michel Linssen/Redferns)