Seems like KISS frontman Gene Simmons is no fan of reality show competitions where judges coddle contestants rather than being honest.
“You can’t sugarcoat s–t, pardon me. You can mentor anyone you like, but it’s a waste of time if they don’t have the goods intrinsically,” Simmons told The Hollywood Reporter at MIPCOM where he’s launching his new reality format Coliseum from Sierra/Engine Television.
Simmons is putting his own spin on the TV competition show genre by getting tough on contestants. Why? Because the music industry, like life itself, is cutthroat.
“Your qualification for being on this show is you can sing in the shower? Is that it, without paying any dues or writing songs or any stagecraft?” he questioned. Coliseum sees Simmons, who recently entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, challenging contestants to form rock bands with a winning musical voice and performance.
The KISS bassist will motivate evolving acts before they perform in front of an audience. “We want to open the trap doors of life and get tough. There will be heartbreak, and people are going to cry and their dreams will be shattered, just like in real life,” he said.
Simmons understands what leads singing competition show judges to nurture talent, rather than offer harsh and honest evaluations. “TV shows are fantasy because they’re selling soap suds. It’s family entertainment, it’s primetime, the kids are there, and they [broadcasters] don’t want to get too realistic,” he said.
But Coliseum will prize image over voice when judging talent. “We want to create superstars, not just singers that get record deals,” Simmons said. The other twist is that Coliseum will mix and match artists that contend on the show to find the perfect musical act.
source: hollywoodreporter.com
121 Responses
Gene nothing will be different from your show to any other garbage t.v. reality out there already. Please do kiss a favour & let Ace produce the next Kiss album.
Ace sucks.
You would know that wouldn’t you ?
Enlighten us Talktopete as to why Ace sucks?…..give us something more…..use your intelligence for a change and explain why Ace sucks………or you,re just Another 2bit hater with not much between his ears……come on Talktopete give us something constructive…….
aside from “dance all over your wig”, you’re right on point
I guess there is a lot between his ears – a vacuum sporadically filled with swearwords and nonsensical remarks.
Loves aces sound on space invader! Better than the horrendous monster sound that sounded like loud music coming from another room or something. Horrible muffled sound! Paul sucks at producing!
Sorry to say,but Ace’s album is just as bad as Monster. For all the hype Ace made about Space Invader,it was a total let down.
Clean your ears, theres so many great hooks your little brain couldn’t comprehend. The only problem w/ Space Invader is the solo’s aren’t long enough.
Saying that the solos on SpInv are as good or as much of a hook as on classic Kiss albums would be an exaggeration, that time is over and nothing wrong with it, still the new album is an overall goodie, thanks that he still puts out good music.
Music is subjective. If the guy didn’t like it, he didn’t like it. Why should he “clean his ears?”
Who are you? The authority on music?
I get it you worshop Ace,but this cd is just bad. I mean how many songs do we need with a space themed title. Ok,he’s the spaceman, WE KNOW!!! I can’t believe this is the same guy who put out the 78 solo album,which by the way was the last good thing he did. I’d rather pay to hear him play the whole 78 album then hear him play anything since.
Gene is right I want to see a real idol not the bullshit loser that have won . Ace doing anything would take for ever .
Lol, that be true ! However, can you imagine how great it would be ?
Can’t wait to see the comments on this one as for me I’m done with commenting on what happens to fly out of Gene’s mouth.
And yet here you are!
Just go away1
Take your own advice John
Can’t sugar coat s–t? Well want about your turd of a song, “Trial by Fire???!”
Let’s not forget the instant classics “No no no”, “Lonely is the hunter”, “Burn bitch burn”, “Love’s a slap in the face”, “Cadillac Dreams”, “Boomerang”, “Dance all over your grave”, “Murder in high heels”, “Thief in the night”…all musical diarrhea. That’s what happens when you are too busy with branding and not busy with WRITING GOOD SONGS.
For the record, Murder in High Heels is a good tune.
Thank you, I was about to say the same thing. After Lick It Up it was a downhill battle for Kiss, Revenge gave them some redemption. Sonic boom and Monster are just clones of Ace’s licks that made them famous to begin with.
Why don’t you just admit that you’re in Ace’s camp already. Everything you post is about how great he is and how everyone else is wrong.
Well, now that you are clearly in the Gene and Paul camp (cf. your recent-decent post “Ace sucks”) there is some balance here, right??!!
But how do you really feel? LOL. Gene had his head elsewhere during that point in Kiss’ career and his songs on the albums were crap.
I actually like this idea , & he is right about current shows that coddle contestants . I hope this show makes it to tv .
Yeah because if there is one thing we more of on TV is Crap programming…LOL!
Amen !