KISS’ Gene Simmons on why rock’n’roll is “nonetheless lifeless”
KISS’ Gene Simmons has as soon as once more doubled down on his assertion that “rock is lifeless”.
The bassist and singer has been declaring the demise of the style for over a decade now, relationship again to feedback from 2014 through which he accused file labels of failing to adequately help rock artists. On the time, he instructed younger musicians and songwriters, “Don’t stop your day job”.
In 2021, he returned to the subject, saying that up to date artists could also be fashionable, however that doesn’t imply they’re “iconic”, saying new bands “haven’t taken the time to create glamour, pleasure and epic stuff”.
He additionally pointed his finger on the youthful technology of music followers, accusing them of “killing the factor that you simply love”, regardless of showing to be extra crucial of the streaming mannequin and its low pay for artists.
Now, Simmons has reasserted his level that “rock is lifeless” throughout an look on The Zak Kuhn Present.
“Individuals don’t perceive how I can say that once we all have our favorite songs and we love our favorite bands – you and I and all people else,” he mentioned. “However what I imply is that… Effectively, let’s play a recreation, and I’ve finished this earlier than. From 1958 till 1988, that’s 30 years. So what got here throughout that interval? Effectively, we had Elvis, we had The Beatles, The Stones, Jimi Hendrix, all that, Pink Floyd, the solo artists, David Bowie and simply music that lasts endlessly, we’d prefer to assume.”
“Within the disco world, you had Madonna, extra heavy guitars, you had AC/DC and all people else, Aerosmith and on and on. And also you had Motown on the identical time. You had Prince. It was a really, very wealthy musical menu. It may go up and down. You had prog bands, you had Sure, Genesis, Light Large, and also you had the heavy bands, Led Zeppelin and so forth. And from 1988 till right this moment, it’s one thing like virtually 40 years, definitely 35 years. Who’re the brand new Beatles?”
Simmons went on to dismiss Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters as examples of more moderen bands on that stage. “My level is in case you randomly stroll down the road and also you ask the primary younger individual you meet, a 20-year-old, and also you say, ‘Identify me anyone in Pearl Jam,’ good luck with that. ‘Identify me or inform me a track. Hum a track.’ They [can’t].”
Elsewhere, Simmons mentioned he stood by his feedback as a visitor decide on Dancing With The Stars after receiving accusations of misogyny.
He additionally had his say on rumours of a potential reunion of The Smiths. “Eliminate the guitar participant and get someone else,” he mentioned. “No person cares. They simply wish to hear the songs. I maintain saying this time and again. In case you go down the road, and with all due respect to Johnny Marr, you go down the road and ask the overall individual, “Who’s Johnny Marr?” they received’t know who you’re speaking about.”
Additionally in his firing line just lately was Flea, who Simmons mentioned doesn’t have a “memorable fashion”.