KISS’ GENE SIMMONS SAYS “THERE IS SOME WRITING GOING ON”
KISS bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons reports that he and the band are writing new material.
Back in March, Simmons said that he had no inclination to record a new KISS album due to the fact some people would “steal it and download it and file share it.” Although, he maintains that stance, he says things are going on behind the scenes.
He tells the Michael Cavacini blog, “There’s some writing going on. Not too long ago I wrote a song called Your Wish Is My Command. It sounds anthemic, like something that might have come off Love Gun, maybe. But I’m not incentivised.
The idea that you work your ass off and then someone with freckles on their face decides they want to download your music and file share – that’s not what I work for.
How’d you like to be a plumber, come over somebody’s house and work all day to fix their plumbing and then when it’s time to get paid they say, ‘No, I just wanted to say thank you.’ No.
Simmons added “I’ve heard people say, ‘Oh, you have enough money.’ That’s what I need – an 18-year-old kid telling me when enough is enough.
It doesn’t affect me at all. And it doesn’t affect the Stones or U2 – a lot of the bands that do well. There’s only a handful, actually.
The saddest thing of all is that the next great bands, with the talent and the charisma and all that stuff, will never have the chance that we did – because there’s no music industry.
There’s no way for them to pay the rent. They’re going to have to give away their music, practically, for free.”
additional source: Classic Rock via teamrock.com
Gene is absolutely correct! Like him or hate him, he always tells the truth as he sees it. Most bands now make next to nothing on the music they release. It’s the touring that makes them the big money. But, when you are a young band that’s just starting out, how are you going to afford to tour if you are basically having to give away your music? For bands like KISS, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, etc., they can tour for decades based on their catalog. Why go to the trouble of writing new material, recording it, marketing it, etc.? Especially when you will make no money for all the trouble. Older fans like myself will pay for new music, because that is how I grew up doing it, and I want to continue to get new music from my favorite artists. But a lot of people seem to think the artists owe them new music for free, which I find ridiculous! I’m not sure what the solution is, but Gene is completely correct in feeling that, if this continues, you won’t get a lot of newer bands putting out albums. I guess it’s okay for me, since there are very few newer bands that I am interested in hearing. I pity the younger hard rock/ metal fans coming up, though!
No problem with The Demon’s words. But please God, no more Paul Stanley singing.
I agree that Paul’s voice is not getting any better. I thought his singing on MONSTER was pretty good, and when I saw KISS live touring for MONSTER he was okay. But I saw video of a recent show in Russia where he sounded terrible. Hate to say it, but I think that KISS is probably going to be hanging it up shortly. Gene and Paul are getting up there in age, and the music industry is so different from when they broke out. I would love to see them take a year or two off, so Paul’s voice could really be rested. Then have one HUGE show in NYC, bringing Ace, Peter, Bruce, and even Vinnie on stage for a final show. I could see them selling out a stadium for something like that! Go out with a bang, call it a career, and ride off into the sunset as the HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD! KISS!!
I wonder if the comments to this article, for once, would leave out the words “imposters” and “bring back Ace and Peter”….(it’s getting old, people. Gene and Paul are going to do whatever the f**k they want to do. Get over it!)
As for Gene’s actual point, he’s absolutely correct. Also, it’s not just some “freckle-faced kid.” I certainly don’t fit that description, and honestly I can’t remember the last time I bought an album since I discovered Spotify. However, the genie’s out of the bottle.
As for making money touring, that too is getting tougher because of the glut of bands on the road, ticket prices, and the same bands playing the same markets too frequently and killing their own demand.
Welcome to 2017.
RTunes:
The Ace and Peter is a very polarizing topic for Ki$$ fans. I agree that Gene and Paul are going to do whatever they want, but that does not mean I, or other fans, have to agree with their decisions. I hate the fact that there are two imposters in the band. And that’s what they are…imposters. The Ankh Warrior and The Fox were not imposters. When Tommy and Eric, who are fine musicians, perform as the Spaceman and Catman characters, they are imposters. To me, KI$$ is a band, not a brand. To Gene and Paul, KI$$ is a brand. As a fan of KI$$, I cannot accept this version of KI$$.
I understand Gene’s business reasons about creating new music and the struggle of new bands. If it doesn’t “pencil”, then why invest the time/money/effort? But also, KI$$ continues today off the legacy created by the original members. So, why should KI$$ create new music when their set lists will continue to be the same setlist of classic music?
I read the entire interview. It was one of the better interviews with Gene that I’ve seen in years. Gene is correct. I just want to know if he or fake ace or fake catman talk to paul about his voice. I love how Gene throws song titles out there and always says it sounds like something off of Love Gun or Destroyer lmao.
Dana why was the article about Pete Criss’ final U.S. show pulled from the site?
Frank,
We were asked to remove it.
D
Gene hasn’t written anything worthwhile since the Revenge album. His ego won’t let him write songs with accomplished musicians – ie Joe Perry, Alice Cooper, Vinnie Vincent, etc. He goes through the motions – see Asylum record/tour – to appeal to who he thinks are true Kiss fans as does Paul Stanley. There are not enough die hard Kiss fans to provide them with a profit on their recordings.
Kiss has became a Broadway show – unlike the Stones who change their set-list and truly enjoy performing – which has just become boring. Mick Jagger leaves Gene and Paul in the dust with energy and performance even though he is 15 years older than them.