Gene Simmons Talks Trash
You don't have to be a viewer of Gene Simmons' household reality series 'Gene Simmons Family Jewels' to pick up on the fact that the Kiss mastermind is a man of, shall we say, strong opinions. While expounding on a variety of topics, from why rappers exemplify the rock & roll lifestyle better than today's rockers to how spoiled Americans are, the man born Chaim Witz in Israel has a take on subjects from pacifism to creativity that is uniquely outspoken and uniquely controversial. Simmons' overriding philosophy? As he tells Spinner, "Life is like being a stripper: Eventually you've got to take it all off." And with Simmons' baring-all attitude demonstrating that his world-renowned tongue is as sharp as it is long, we count down the fire-breathing rocker's top ten Simmons-isms, as recently shared with Spinner.10. Gene Simmons on the death of rock stardom:
"No, there's not a single rock star left. All the rock stars and the biggest ticket sellers in the world are from days gone by. There's not a new band in the world that even comes close. Paris Hilton is a bigger rock star than anybody ... she just doesn't play guitar.
9 ... on his type of woman:
"I don't want to read a book with a girl, I'm sorry. It's not politically correct, but I really don't. I want her to be sexy, I want her to buy stiletto heels, and I want makeup and perfume."
8. ... on originality:
"Creativity is highly overrated. If I want to succeed and I want to open a restaurant, I'm going to go where the most popular restaurant is and rip it off."
7. ... on the crisis in the Middle East:
"I want those people stopped now. I want regime change and I want regime change all over the world, even if it means breaking international law."
6. ... on the "drugs" part of "sex & drugs & rock & roll":
"Getting high was considered the lowest of the low. And then, of course, Hollywood made it socially acceptable. And rock stars, of course, who were qualified to do nothing except shine your shoes, took it even further and made it into a kind of lifestyle."
Gene Simmons in Pictures
5. ... on how Americans don't know how good they have it:
"When people come as an immigrant -- [as I did] myself -- we're shocked at how pampered and spoiled everybody is, which is really to say you live in the land of milk and honey and you don't realize that the rest of the world isn't a nice place."
4. ... on why rappers are more rock & roll than rock & rollers:
"So if the white boys ... all want to look like Kurt Cobain, then the public goes to rap stars, who sing about getting laid all the time. None of them sing about getting married, 'cause the male of the species doesn't want to."
3. ... on his disdain for anti-war protesters:
"What we did to our veterans of Vietnam was just the lowest form, and America should be ashamed of itself -- and every crackhead who tried to burn the flag, I wish I could get them in my sights in front of a baseball bat."
2. ... on why it doesn't make sense for Jews to be pacifists
"You can take a humanistic point of view: You don't have the right to take a human life. That's fine, but then you can't complain when your whole family is wiped out at Auschwitz. And my family almost was. And for Jews, especially in America, to be pacifists is astonishing.
1. ... on his own greatness:
"While all the rock stars, the few that are remaining, they're in bands, I'm the only brand, baby. No matter how big Mick Jagger or U2 is, there are no Rolling Stones or U2 comic books or Visa cards."
Posted by Steve Baltin on Jul 9th 2007 11:00AM
Filed under: Trash Talk, Exclusive, Holy Hell
Reader Comments(1 of 2)
adamat 7-09-2007
wow, what a monumental asshole. congrats gene, you sold a lot of crappy merchandise. though #8 does shed some light on why most people think his music is a complete joke.
chola locaat 7-09-2007
actually gene... there were two U2 comic books. boo yah!
sereenat 7-10-2007
And there I thought he was gay lol Wounder when he come out of the closet hahaha
Aldoat 7-11-2007
This guy is absurd. U2 and the Rolling Stones don't need comic books nor credit cards. Their music speaks for itself. They've sold millions of albums more than his band ever did. And they continue to be a huge concert draw, unlike...... what band was he in again???
memat 7-14-2007
Hey, at least he is paying the bills and continues to still rock an roll... not as often but hey he is old enough to say whatever the hell pisses off people who don't like him! (lol) High'5 Demon! "wink"
Patat 7-15-2007
I can tell that everyone else here that has commented (except for one), has absolutely NO clue what the hell they are talking about when referring to Gene Simmons! You guys obviously don't know what he and his band, "The Hottest Band In The Land", have done and continue to do! When you have done what they have done and accomplished in their career, including being second ONLY to the Beatles in the number of Gold Records sold by ANY band in history (just to name one example) then you can run your mouths! Your opinions are just like that of a typical media critic, UNIMPORTANT! Why? Because you are not a fan, and whether you get paid for your comments or not, you have no interest in the band, it's music or it's history, and you have no factual information to back up anything that you may have to say. So, basically, all of you can "KISS" his butt, the band's butts, and mine too! (That's being nice, by the way!). Until you know your info., SHUT UP! NO one cares what you have to say. The MILLIONS of Kiss fans all over the WORLD know better, they outnumber you, and would probably lynch you if you ran your mouths to them about OUR band! It's easy to hide behind a keyboard people! Put up or shut up!
elisaat 7-15-2007
Okay Pat.Not everyone needs 2 be a fan of Kiss. Some of his views seem very stupid.Saying that they should lynch us is absurd and is the worst thing to ever say.How dare u go there. That is wat the KKK did. Who cares that they are second to the Beatles. U2 is an inspirational band that has done extroardinary things for people.There are bands considered better than Kiss.The only reason you say Kiss is so great is because your a fan.I'm bashing u because you have no sense of wat u are saying.I consider there music horrible. There are plenty other bands with MILLIONS of fans oround the WORLD TOO!!!So you need 2 shut the f*** up. I'm outraged at his 10 and 9 opinions.Paris Hilton is not bigger than any rock & roller.She is a bad, horrible and disguisting woman who has no respect for the laws.A woman does NOT need to be sexy. Rappers talking about getting laid is the reason so many people are throwing their lives down the drain.
ajm33771@aol.comat 7-15-2007
Well he expressed his opinion and is laughing all the way to the bank. Though when really listening to what he is saying and getting past the "he hurt my feelings" mentality, one has to agree with the vast majority of his comments. Then again, he is commenting about popular music which is not the most artistically created nor a master work of musical history!
Ms. Lotusat 7-15-2007
I agree with SOME of his ideas and sentiments, though definitely not all of them. Even I know that I'm not the most PC person in the world, I could have a field day with this guy in terms of arguing and debating some of his points. One of my favorites (not cited here) was the so-called fact that "Seattle killed rock and roll." He's so dense that he doesn't even realize that half of the bands who became popular in the 90s were INFLUENCED by KISS...and, as a result, propelled hundreds of thousands of fans to buy KISS records because all of those musicians mentioned KISS in their interviews as an influence! Yet I agree with him that there aren't any real rock stars anymore. Something is severely wrong with the music industry these days, and I don't want any rap "artist" to be more rock and roll than a rock musician him/herself. If you want a real rock star, look no further than the 1970s. Now that was a crazy but thoroughly riveting watershed decade for music. However, he seems to think that ALL men agree with him about not wanting to be married or, at the very least, not needing a soulmate. This guy's stuck in groupie nirvana and can't/won't release himself because he's just a garden variety sex addict. I know plenty of men who are more romantic than *I* am...and I'm obviously a woman! Really, Gene, just try to live outside of your own inflated head for a day. You might be surprised that the human race is much more varied and colorful than you think. One caveat, however, is that I also want the militants in the Middle East stopped NOW. He and I think similarly about that fact.
PAUL HURLEYat 7-15-2007
I APPLAUD HIS TOPICS FOR DEBATE. JUST LIKE I DO FOR TERRIBLE TED NUGENT . (MAN IS HE OUT THERE)
BUT THE BOTH OF THEM HAVE REACHED A POINT IN THIER LIVES THAT I WISH I COULD BE AT. TO BE ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING YOU FREAKING WANT TO AND NOT WORRY ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES FEELINGS . WAY TO GO GENE FRIG EM ALL. KISS ROCKS
Sigat 7-15-2007
Now I'm certain. Gene Simmons is a GOD!!!!!
Lindaat 7-15-2007
If you have ever watched Family Jewels, you would know what a good person Gene Simmons really is. Together Shannon Tweed and himself are dedicated parents of a son and daughter. Yes some of his comments are stretched a bit, but they are his opinions. You have your opinions too though.
janat 7-16-2007
u2 sucks, gene is a good man & great business person.
janat 7-16-2007
U2 SUCKS, I LIKE GENE & THINK HE IS A GOOD PERSON & EXCELLANT BUSINESS MAN.
janat 7-16-2007
GENE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO VOICE HIS OPINIONS
MACANUDOat 7-26-2007
GENE AND THE NUGE ARE THE ONLY "GOT THEIR CRAP TOGETHER" ROCKERS OUT THERE. THE REST ARE A BUNCH OF WEENIES WHO HAVE NEVER TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS. GENE AND TED DO THAT AND TELL IT LIKE IT IS. ROCK ON!!!
F kissat 8-02-2007
Kiss is way behind a LOT of bands in gold recordds besides the Beatles there's Sinatra, Elvis, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Aerosmith, and the Rolling Stones just to name a few.
Don't believe Gene's BS.
Tonyat 8-04-2007
Gene is THE Man! He knows what he wants, he knows who he is, and doesn't give a $hit who thinks what of him. He is my hero! Go Gene! Go KISS! Ps: I hope Paul Stanley is doing fine and continues to not have anymore problems with his heart!
georgeat 2-21-2008
Wow. Whether or not you agree with him, you don't need to criticize the band. For the genre, it was great music and KISS has a huge fanbase, far bigger than that of most bands. Like it or not, they acheived rock star status long ago.
All he's saying is there's no rock and roll left in today's "rock." It's just cookie-cutter bullshit.
Jamesat 2-22-2008
I agree with some of what Gene said. I'm going to ignore the statements made by the ignorant fools who put down Gene and just state my post.
I don't agree with him saying that men don't want to get married. Most men do--but to the right woman, not to someone who will treat him like a house pet, bank machine, or fashion accessory. I think he may find that marriage can be a wonderful thing, so long as you marry the right person. I mean, after having sex with over 4,000 women, don't they all eventually become the same? Besides, the real reason why most rap artists don't rap about marriage is because they think of women as bitches and hos, not as decent women. And why not have a woman you can read a book with who is also sexy, wears stiletto heels, make-up, and perfume? What's wrong with having beauty AND brains?
I agree that there are no new bands that can be called rock stars. None of them can hold a candle to bands like Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, AC/DC, or KISS (to answer the ignorant question of Aldo in post #4). I agree that flag-burning anti-war protestors are ignorant scumbags who should be beaten with a baseball bat--especially those who mistreated our soldiers who fought in Viet Nam. I agree that Americans are indeed spoiled, because they just don't know how good they have it here. I agree that we need to wipe out the murderous scum in the Middle East who are Anti-American and anti-Israel. And one only has to read the Old Testament to see that the Jews didn't survive by being anti-war protestors. They survived by being mighty warriors and fighting for their lives. If you are a pacifist, then you cannot complain if your family is killed by an enemy. Even John Lennon would have fought for his family if he deemed it necessary for their survival.