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Gene Simmons Tells Critics to Kiss Off

Kiss bassist Gene Simmons doesn't think much of music critics. The 60-year-old tongue-wagging reality star and merchandising guru calls music scribes "An unnecessary life form" in a new interview with the BBC promoting 'Sonic Boom,' his band's first new studio album in eleven years.

"We own some very big houses that critics have bought us with their bad reviews," Simmons cracks. "There's a large Kiss cemetery at the back of our houses where we bury them."

Of course, the lack of critical praise hasn't kept the band's diehard fans from propelling the album to a No. 2 debut on the Billboard charts, making it the group's biggest success in 20 years. Simmons also revealed he was proud of the band's recent accomplishment.

"We made Kiss, with our look, all the pyrotechnics of our live show, the epitome of everything we wanted from a band," he explained. "And now here we are 35 years later and I think we've released one of the best records of our career."

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KISSFAN

Rockin you are an idiot. So does he pay people to go to KISS concerts??? the ones sold out night after night.....in large stadiums all over the worl??? Duh

October 27 2009 at 10:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rockin

I mean hey there he is sitting at that desk surrounded by junk no one wants
and if you ask me he's the only one who buys the crap
he will go out of his way to buy his junk back and he will do the same with his cd's
as an musical artist like pop like son no talent
the true kisstory has a missing chapter
you got popcorn but no peanuts
ronco on the boardwalk with his wares
I sum this one up to one word "GimmicKiss "

October 16 2009 at 10:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rockin

and who goes and buys all of that junk
hes like the ronco of the music industry
and theres no difference than going to mc donalds getting a "hamburger" and a happymeal with a "toy "inside
hey if your gona rip off the world wear a mask !!

October 16 2009 at 8:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
isabel

Rock on Gene! We may be grey-haired, hemorrhoid ridden and have to line our pill bottles up in the morning, but we still own Rock and Roll.

October 15 2009 at 9:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jz

Been a kiss fan since 1975...saw them with makeup and without..Gene is a great showman along with Paul however I can't stand to watch their new shows. I loved Ace and Peter and grew to love Bruce and Eric as well but I just can't get into this new interchangeable kiss. I look on stage and can't quite figure out who they are trying to pass off as Ace. Gene is a bit annoying with all of his self promotion. Well I should not complain as Gene was/is known for his showmanship and sense of theatre not his refined sense of taste and culture. Kiss was my first concert and in many ways still my favorite after hundreds of other shows.

October 15 2009 at 9:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bigiron1973

All of these yuppie larve spewing their jealous rhetoric! KISS will always be one of the Hoteest Bands in the World. Gene is a master of promotions! Anyone in their right mind would be. Don't criticize ambition. It beats the lazy welfare mentality of the youth today! Keep on Rockin' Gene!

October 15 2009 at 9:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
former kiss fan

..... a logo ace frehely created, by the way!

October 15 2009 at 8:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
former kiss fan

the shame of it all, is that gene has managed to "shake down" his fans for a long time, over priced memoribilia and logo's on everything, i wonder who's the idiot that paid 10,000 dollars for a kiss coffin?

October 15 2009 at 8:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rockin

wow time to put my boots on and take a walk around back of genes house
looks like Ill need a hanky
envy? lmao
must be the size of that plater caster on the bookshelf

October 15 2009 at 8:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lonelypoet

Gene Simmons has more money than you all will ever have, and, the last time I checked, "ENVY" is still one of the "Seven Deadly Sins."

October 15 2009 at 7:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Lonelypoet's comment
Beth



love sister---it's just a kiss away...........

October 15 2009 at 8:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply