Annie Reuter of Radio.com reports:
Gene Simmons of KISS has some heated words for drug addicts and people dealing with depression in a new interview with Songfacts.com.
When asked if he keeps in touch with the original players of KISS he answered with a resounding “no.”
Why’s that? Simple: they’re either drug addicts or just downers.
“I don’t get along with anybody who’s a drug addict and has a dark cloud over their head and sees themselves as a victim,” Simmons said. “Drug addicts and alcoholics are always: ‘The world is a harsh place.’ My mother was in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. I don’t want to hear f–k all about ‘the world as a harsh place.’ She gets up every day, smells the roses and loves life.
And for a putz, 20-year-old kid to say, ‘I’m depressed, I live in Seattle.’ F–k you, then kill yourself.”
He added “I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff. I’m the guy who says ‘Jump!’ when there’s a guy on top of a building who says, ‘That’s it, I can’t take it anymore, I’m going to jump.’ Are you kidding? Why are you announcing it? Shut the f–k up, have some dignity and jump! You’ve got the crowd.”
While Simmons said KISS has new songs ready, there are no plans to record anytime soon. But, there is one artist he’d love to record with in the future: Lady Gaga.
“I think Lady Gaga is the only new rock star, although she’s not a rocker,” he said. “I would like her to throw away all the disco stuff and get a band. Don’t use tapes, come out with a real live band and guitars. She’s a bona fide musical artist. She did a duet with Tony Bennett, real great pipes. She can sit at a piano all by herself. She’s a legitimate artist. A lot of the other pop divas who are really talented are not artists.”
Simmons said KISS and Gaga tried to collaborate on their last record but both were too busy.
“We got close. She got busy, we got busy. We would have done it.”
additional source: radio.com
245 Responses
By the way, Phil Rudd kicks ass!!
Not sure where Gene was coming from on that one. I also dont know why these articles are even newsworthy. Does he keep in touch with former members of the band? I dont think Peter and Ace care.
People with depression could need legitimate treatment. I dont get it. It these are digs at old bandmates I have heard it all before
They are not newsworthy…..but it just goes to prove how F’ED UP Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley really are…….Joe in The Cuse
Fan since I was 6 years old. I’m 44 now. I have really had it with Gene and Paul’s sickening point of views. Yes I do not know them, but judging by what they say publicly, I would not want to know them. They are one sided and selfish.
KISS f’in rules!!!! We live in AMERICA!! We all have it made!!!
Gene isn’t talking to people with head injuries or PTSD….the contact I had with him once, and I am not going to go into my personal history here, but he pretty much saved my life. Gene is a smart guy, he knows when someone has a legit reason to be depressed. And to anyone contemplating suicide, you are going to die anyway! What? 20,000 or so days left for most of us? That’s not much time, so just hang in there, this won’t last forever….