In defence of the five musical legends that Gene Simmons can’t stand
Kiss bassist Gene Simmons is one of the most recognisable faces in the world of rock, and it’s not just his music that people adore, but they are also drawn to his approach towards putting on such a great show.
His use of pyrotechnics, make-up and lighting makes his gigs one of the most must-attend shows in rock music, but what also happens when you become so widely loved and admired is that you start to develop some pretty strong opinions.
This is a man who walks on stage in front of thousands of adoring fans every night, people who scream and cheer at the pluck of a string, and when you have this kind of confirmation of your genius, how are you ever going to begin to doubt yourself? Simmons has some very cut-throat opinions about musical greats, and he’s pretty unwavering in his brutal assessment of them.
So, while it’s difficult trying to tell Simmons that he’s wrong, we can still defend those artists that he can’t stand. He might be right about a lot of things, but in these instances, Simmons missed the mark
Defending the artists that Gene Simmons can’t stand:
Ronnie James Dio
Simmons’ hatred for Ronnie James Dio didn’t actually come from a musical standpoint. Dio is widely regarded as one of the greatest vocalists in heavy metal, as he was able to step up amongst a group as celebrated as Black Sabbath and be accepted by audiences, not rejected by them. This is no mean feat, and it’s led to a lot of people holding Dio in the highest regard. Simmons also respected him as a vocalist, but he fell out with the singer because of a dispute over who invented the iconic heavy metal horns symbol.
“Gene Simmons will tell you that he invented it,” said Dio, “But then Gene invented breathing and shoes as well, you know?” Simmons took things a step too far when Dio passed away, and he tried to seek exclusive rights to the gesture. I don’t even need to defend Dio at this point, the metal community did it for me, as they said that Simmons’ move to copyright the gesture went against Dio’s legacy and also was a middle finger to fans of rock music across the board.
The Kiss bassist showed no remorse, it won’t surprise you to hear, saying, “I regret nothing. People said, ‘You can’t do that’. Actually, bitch, I can. I can do anything I want to do”.
Ace Frehley
When Ace Frehley left Kiss, he said it was because of creative differences; however, Simmons didn’t hold back on making his disdain for the guitarist known. He said that Frehley was kicked out of the band because of substance abuse, and went as far as describing him as a “cancer” on the band.
The comments themselves don’t need addressing much, as anybody with a brain can see that such a descriptor is a step too far. However, when it comes to the music that Frehley made, so many of those early Kiss songs wouldn’t have the appeal they do without him on guitar. The bounce he injects into his playing, his innate ability to glide over riffs, and his unique solos are unlike anything else in rock. The idea that he was in any way a drain on Kiss is a non-starter.
Every rapper
Gene Simmons creative attacks aren’t limited to just specific artists, but entire genres. He’s made it pretty clear that he can’t stand rap music, as he said he couldn’t relate to what a lot of artists were talking about. “I’m looking forward to the death of rap. I’m looking forward to music coming back to lyrics and melody, instead of just talking,” he said, “Those are novelty records […] I don’t have the cultural background to appreciate being a gangster.”
Do you even need to defend hip hop? The proof is in the fact that rap is the most popular genre of music in the world at the moment, with artists changing the way that people approach lyrics, songwriting, and rhythm. Not to mention, it’s one of the truest art forms out there, given that rappers lay out their lives and emotions within complex lyricism wonderfully. Simmons might not be able to relate, but that doesn’t mean he can’t appreciate the skill and vulnerability here.
Carlos Santana
Gene Simmons and Carlos Santana both had different approaches to what made a good rock show. Simmons went all out with pyrotechnics and flamboyancy, while Santana focused solely on the music, and the former wasn’t a fan of the latter’s methods. “It’s time for us to go out and show the little boys how the big boys do it,” said Simmons, “I’m sick and tired of these bands like Carlos Santana looking at his shoes and thinking that’s a rock concert.”
Sanata described Kiss as a Las Vegas band, and he might have a point. While a Kiss gig might be undoubtedly entertaining, there is no escaping the fact that Carlos Santana is the superior musician. The way that he bends genres and plays so effortlessly is unlike any other guitarist on the planet, and the fact that Gene Simmons called himself the “big boy” in this equation is actually quite laughable.
Axl Rose
Gene Simmons blamed Axl Rose for holding up Guns N’ Roses’ progression. “Guns N’ Roses could have been the biggest band in the world,” he said when discussing the potential of the band, “And the reason they’re not is because of Axl Rose.”
There’s no escaping that Axl Rose was certainly a thorn in the band’s side at the time, as he was a notorious hot head, but you also can’t deny how much he brought to Guns N’ Roses as a vocalist. The band were able to reach the heights they did because they had someone like Rose at the helm, and so to suggest that he stopped them from achieving great things is an absolute non-starter.
