The singer and bassist of the now defunct Kiss is known for criticizing the way the music industry operates nowadays
There are many criticisms of Gene Simmons to music, especially rock, nowadays. Not only the artists and musical groups, but also the way in which the industry operates, which after the advent of digital formats has allocated efforts and investments to other sectors.
The singer and bassist of Kiss returned to the topic in a recent interview with Fox News (go Courageous words). Participation in the podcast On Spin Newsfrom the network, it was so Simmons could promote his upcoming U.S. solo tour, with shows in April and May. His original band ended activities in December 2023, after a 50-year career.
Initially, explaining why he continues to perform even at 75, he explained:
“Being on stage is a difficult thing to explain, because it’s something that just happens. We’re social animals, there’s something that happens when you’re on stage and the fans go crazy… it doesn’t matter if you’re the Pope, there’s this movement of giving and receiving emotions, and that’s what it’s all about.”
The musician later lamented that many younger artists and rock bands no longer have the opportunity to experience the same on a large scale. For him the business model “is dead” due to the loss of value of music on the market, which prevents the emergence of big names.
“Unfortunately, the business model is dead. New rock bands don’t stand a chance. In a way, rock is finally dead, because the freckled kid next door – who is a good kid and has a good family – has become privileged: he feels entitled to be able to download and share files and get all this music by grace.”
Gene also points out that many people don’t understand his point. According to him, they confuse it with simple greed.
“They keep saying, ‘What if music became free? You’re too rich to care. Why do you care?’ Well, imagine working for a living, writing a book, selling groceries, or whatever, and people don’t do that.” I don’t pay you for the work you do. So you understand me. You say, ‘Well, wait a minute, I worked for this, how come I’m not getting paid?'”
Finally, he reinforced his sadness about the current scenario, saying:
“This is what’s happening to new artists. And it breaks my heart.”
Rock is dead and Gene Simmons is the undertaker
In most of his interviews in recent years, Gene Simmons insists that rock is dead. In an interview with The Zak Kuhn showfor example, the singer and bassist of Kiss was asked if the style is “still dead”. The chatterbox (literally) assured yes and highlighted how the period between 1958 and 1988 brought with it many more musical icons than subsequent decades.
“People don’t understand how I can say this when we all have our favorite songs and bands. But let’s play a game. From 1958 to 1988, that’s 30 years. We had Elvis Presleywe had Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, David Bowie…in the world of ‘disco’, there was Madonna. On heavier guitars, AC/DC, Aerosmith and so on. And the artists of Motown at the same time. He had done it Prince. In the program, YES, Genesis, Gentle giant. And heavy groups like Led Zeppelin and so on. From 1988 to today it has been almost 40 years. Who are the new ones Beatles?”
The presenter of the channel mentioned the Nirvana. Simmons reiterated that he likes the band, but said younger people don’t even know them. And there was also a name mentioned in the previous answer.
“Stop. We’re blind. I’m a huge fan, but if I walked down the street and asked a 20-year-old ‘who’s the bassist for Nirvana?’, he wouldn’t know what you’re talking about.” Or ask, “Can you sing a Nirvana song?” Everyone knew the Beatles and, to a lesser extent, the Stones and Elvis. […] But years ago, my son saw a beautiful girl and tried to start a conversation. He was wearing the Rolling Stones T-shirt, the one with the tab. To start a conversation, he said, ‘Ah, so you’re a fan, huh?’. She asked what, he replied ‘the Sassi’ and she asked: ‘what is that?’. Even with him humming the riff of ‘Satisfaction’ and other songs he had never heard.”
Wanting to disprove any other artists or groups that could be considered “the new Beatles”, Gene Simmons asked for two more names. The interviewer mentioned Pearl Jam AND Foo Fighters. The answer? “There’s no way”. He continues:
“I love the Foo Fighters, I love those bands. Mike McCready [guitarrista do Pearl Jam] He told me he grew up listening to Kiss. One of his solos [‘Alive’] it was captured note for note Ace Frehley [guitarrista do Kiss, em ‘She’]. But the point is: if you randomly walk down the street and ask the first 20-year-old, “name someone or a Pearl Jam song or sing a song”… good luck. They can’t.”
According to the Kiss musician, both he and the author of the interview are “too close” to rock, which makes it difficult to judge. At the same time, he pointed out a piece of information that neither of them would know: who the prime ministers of England, France or Canada are.
Always from your point of view, Dave Grohl became “much more popular” than Pearl Jam and Nirvana, the group he was a member of before the Foo Fighters. The reason? The artist has transcended the rock bubble.
“Younger people might know Dave because he’s done TV commercials and hung out with people outside of the guitar and concert world. That’s how you become an icon. Everyone knows who you are Snoop Doggbut other rap stars, not necessarily. Snoop is in the media, who he had an agenda with Martha Stewart. The fact is that the masses have no idea who is inside Phishone of my favorite bands, Pearl Jam.”
+++ READ MORE: Why fans killed the music industry, according to Gene Simmons
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+++ READ MORE: The great Kiss hit that Gene Simmons always hated
Source: Terra

Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.