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Gene Simmons hates music pirates

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Nov 2007 6:53 User comments (48)

Gene Simmons hates music pirates According to a Billboard Magazine interview, it appears that Gene Simmons, the founding member and front man of KISS, hates music pirates as well as the new ideals of Radiohead and Trent Reznor.
As quoted from the article, Simmons had this to say about anyone who downloads unauthorized music from the internet. "Every little college kid ... should have been sued off the face of the earth. They should have taken their houses and cars and nipped it right there in the beginning."

But Simmons wasn't done yet. When asked how he felt about the band Radiohead and Trent Reznor, the front man of Nine Inch Nails, who are offering new, interesting purchasing models for their music and removing the record labels completely from the equation, he added this, "I open a store and say 'Come on in and pay whatever you want.' Are you on f---ing crack? Do you really believe that's a business model that works?"

According to a comScore report however, Radiohead made $2.7 million USD on its first day of sales, a day anyone would hope for especially considering the record label wasn't there to take 90 percent of all profits.



Gene however, in his most hypocritical statement of the whole article, said it was not about the money. "The most important part is the music. Without that, why would you care?" You must be reminded however that Gene has a reality show, a cartoon show, and had been branding KISS merchandise for at least 20 years. About the music indeed Mr. Simmons.

Source:
Dailytech

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48 user comments

116.11.2007 21:08
hughjars
Inactive

Gene Simmons = absurd old dinosaur in no position to lecture anyone about their , er, 'personal behavioural activities'.

216.11.2007 21:10

ditto ^^^

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 16 Nov 2007 @ 9:42

316.11.2007 21:17

It just goes to show how messed up people in the entertainment industry really are. This guy obviously has no grasp of reality what-so-ever. He can't even agree with himself.

416.11.2007 21:37

Yeah well that's just to bad Gene Simmons.

516.11.2007 21:49

Mr.Simmons needs to learn about the free market system we use here in the states, each person or group gets to decide how much he/she will charge for their services/talent, then let the buyer decide. Last I heard, Socialism and Communism were either dead or smelling pretty putrid right about now. (Sorry Frank Zappa, couldn't resist the play on your quote.)

616.11.2007 21:54

I am a huge KISS fan, but Gene is a total dumbass. Gene is all about making $$$, but he doesn't really give a thought about music anymore. The last KISS studio release was 1998 with new material. There have been greatest hits and live shit released over the years, but why buy a bunch of songs you already have?

716.11.2007 22:08

Originally posted by EricCarr:
I am a huge KISS fan, but Gene is a total dumbass. Gene is all about making $$$, but he doesn't really give a thought about music anymore. The last KISS studio release was 1998 with new material. There have been greatest hits and live shit released over the years, but why buy a bunch of songs you already have?
yeah the dude it's all about $$$, since to many ppl music is a need it should be cheap i'm not saying it should be free thought cuz musicians have to eat but i think they should charge less for they work at the end the ones who get the big bucks are the records companies

816.11.2007 22:12

Here's right about this, though:

Quote:
"I open a store and say 'Come on in and pay whatever you want.' Are you on f---ing crack? Do you really believe that's a business model that works?"

Hahaha! Nice. It'll never work as a business model. Something new will (it has to), but not "pay what you want".

916.11.2007 22:50

Quote:
"Every little college kid ... should have been sued off the face of the earth. They should have taken their houses and cars and nipped it right there in the beginning."
Most college "kids" don't have houses.

In fact, most don't have cars. They walk, they bike, they run..or they may have at most a $2500 point-A-to-point-B car.

Certainly not worth destroying some "kid"s career before he even gets out of the starting gate.

A very sincere %&&k you, Gene.

1017.11.2007 00:14

I'll just repost my thoughts from Slashdot yesterday on here as well.

Quote:
I always suspected Gene Simmons to be a complete douche bag. However I lacked this recent revelation to make it stick completely.

Thank you Gene for proving yourself as a failure of a human being. Please eat a KISS brand shotgun.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 17 Nov 2007 @ 12:16

1117.11.2007 00:49

Him and meticalic can go take a flying fck,if they dont like not having money, er ENOUGH moeny they should stay on the road, its not like they get ahell of alot from the media mafia anyway...well they might since they have fame they can musel their cut from the mob better...

1217.11.2007 00:54

I find it impossible to believe him when he says "It's not about the money". He's a greedy douchebag, and he knows it. I thought Radiohead did something outside the box which was kinda cool, I'm sure tons paid nothing, but if they made over 2 million (which they don't split with the record company from what the article said) then they didn't do horrible.

Whatever, I enjoy my free music and movies. Once a pirate, always a pirate. There will always be a way to get media for free.

1317.11.2007 01:07

I could understand Gene if he was just another beginning musician who couldn't get a break, but the guy is at the peak of his career (well TV, not music) and has millions! I just can't take these rich musicians seriously.

One the other hand, I also don't like Radiohead. They pretend to support the internet community, but in the end only make more money of it. So to them, it's obviously also about the moulah and not really about what they claim it to be. I can't believe that people actually buy that crock and go out to buy that overpriced CD-box of theirs. I guess there's born one every minute.

Real pirates never pay!!!

1417.11.2007 01:10

Originally posted by Deznaj:
I could understand Gene if he was just another beginning musician who couldn't get a break, but the guy is at the peak of his career (well TV, not music) and has millions! I just can't take these rich musicians seriously.

One the other hand, I also don't like Radiohead. They pretend to support the internet community, but in the end only make more money of it. So to them, it's obviously also about the moulah and not really about what they claim it to be. I can't believe that people actually buy that crock and go out to buy that overpriced CD-box of theirs. I guess there's born one every minute.

Real pirates never pay!!!

and is that a bad thing? they are supporting it even if its only alil and by supporting it alil they are making more moeny from it then what they could have made if they were mob'd up.

1517.11.2007 01:39

Screw Gene Simmons and his old, washed up, still stuck in the past self. Times change, get with the program you old fart. Go and squeeze what little you still can out of the "KISS" franchise you greedy bastard.

1617.11.2007 01:47

I'm sorry Gene who?

1717.11.2007 02:05

So what, I hate Gene Simmons and Kiss! So there! Naaaaaaaaaaaa...

1817.11.2007 02:58
cousinkix
Inactive

What did you expect from this old model artist. Geme Simmons is one of those few rock & roll Republicans that appear on on the FOX News Channel towing the party line. What kind of artist would be opposed to marketing his own copyrighted music and then keeping most of the profits? More power to the likes of RadioHead, the Allman Brothers and their friends who prefer direct marketing to the RIAA shortchanging their bands...

1917.11.2007 06:02
Kerpalguy
Inactive

It appears that Mr. S has turned into an old capitalistic money monster. Money makes people do and say some really stupid stuff.

2017.11.2007 07:00
ali2007
Inactive

music was cheap back in the days, until it became a market.

2117.11.2007 07:57

Ahh. Gene, Gene, Gene. It's sad to see someone i admired musically so much make such a one-sided, greedy, a*s of himself.
Wake up and smell your own hypocrisy...

Quote:
The most important part is the music. Without that, why would you care?"
Yeah...Kiss has always been an ever moving, ever evolving brand of merchandise and memorabilla. Everything from tee-shirts, to masks, to three and a half foot jack boots. It's never been just about the music. And we've all been able to see that for more than thirty years.

So if you...greedy Mr. Simmons, expect us to swallow that it's all about the music crap...you can politely go pound sand.

2217.11.2007 08:26
emugamer
Inactive

Quote:
Here's right about this, though:
Quote:
"I open a store and say 'Come on in and pay whatever you want.' Are you on f---ing crack? Do you really believe that's a business model that works?"

Hahaha! Nice. It'll never work as a business model. Something new will (it has to), but not "pay what you want".
What do you mean it will not work? Did Radiohead make a couple million during the first day or did they not? I don't know how accurate that figure is, but if it's even close, then it proves that there a chance it will work, and very well...

2317.11.2007 09:06
RNR1995
Inactive

Radiohead did an excellent job, after all if your boss screwed you out of 90% of the take, wouldn't you rather strike a deal on your own and maybe make a little more money? Gene Simmons is a greedy douche bag and he should go lay in one of his KISS coffins. He will sell anything, it is all about the $$$$$$$$

2417.11.2007 10:33

Simmons is an idiot, my wife doesn't need KISS tampons and douche.

2517.11.2007 11:00

I think i´ll go and dowmload all the kiss songs i find even tough i don´t like them

2617.11.2007 11:14

Originally posted by neo1000:
I think i´ll go and dowmload all the kiss songs i find even tough i don´t like them
LOL! Make it interesting, only download the ones Gene sings!

2717.11.2007 11:23

Yeah....all 2 of them
LOL

2817.11.2007 11:48
oappi
Inactive

lol @ Simmons... you can see from this a-holes quotes he has never had trouble with the money. Just anotherone of these once a grate artist who live off their moment of glory which happened like a decade ago. i bet he also had rich parents who bought everything litle Gene wanted.. and yes car at the age it was legit for him to drive.

2917.11.2007 11:51

Originally posted by jookycola:
Yeah....all 2 of them
LOL
LMAO! Hell yeah! Take that Gene!

3017.11.2007 12:22

i got 3 words for you Gene Simmons, Go **** yourself.

3117.11.2007 15:04

I wanna download illegal music all night! And party to it every day!

3217.11.2007 16:32

gene is a f-ing idiot.. there should be a reality show that ends with him getting murdered

3317.11.2007 17:58

Quote:
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's right about this, though:

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I open a store and say 'Come on in and pay whatever you want.' Are you on f---ing crack? Do you really believe that's a business model that works?"
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Hahaha! Nice. It'll never work as a business model. Something new will (it has to), but not "pay what you want".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What do you mean it will not work? Did Radiohead make a couple million during the first day or did they not? I don't know how accurate that figure is, but if it's even close, then it proves that there a chance it will work, and very well...
Agreed. Music is spiritual, and the internet world eliminates supply and demand, and a lot of overhead. The only other spiritual commodity in this world is religion when the "offering plate" comes around. Where I am in the U.S. there's churches in every town that have this "business model". If more bands like Radiohead took this approach the world could be a happier place.

Gene Simmons needs to take his tongue and stick it to a frozen flagpole. Simmons is a total right-winged loser that spoke out all the time in support Bush including his re-election - not surprising.

3417.11.2007 18:25

sigh, ill never be able to watch "detroit rock city" the same way ever again...

3517.11.2007 20:32

That dude is soo full of s**t. Way to go a-hole...way to disappoint all your fans and say something so hypocritical as "it was not about the money" anyone whose kept up with kiss over the years with and see the insane and ridiculous amount of merchandising that band does would know that it IS all about the money. I mean come on, why else would kiss put out a kiss branded coffin. I don't think they'd be very rich with out all that merchandising.

3617.11.2007 20:42

Wow, he just sounds like a moron on a rant.

3718.11.2007 02:05

i just threw away every single kiss album i own. kiss is out dated over rated cant make a new album need to be put in a retirement home and forgotten about bunch of wankers!!

3818.11.2007 02:37

I own all the KISS CDs, DVD, Videos. ECT ECT.

I will say I downloaded every CD they released because I was to lazy to rip them myself.

3918.11.2007 10:39

Originally posted by EricCarr:
I own all the KISS CDs, DVD, Videos. ECT ECT.

I will say I downloaded every CD they released because I was to lazy to rip them myself.
LMAO!!! I do the same as well for the CDs I own, it shouldn't be 1llegal since I own them.

4018.11.2007 13:37

Originally posted by numscull:
So what, I hate Gene Simmons and Kiss! So there! Naaaaaaaaaaaa...

Arg! Count me as another 'Simmons Hater'. I could never stand the grandstander, and his party affiliation has nothing to do with it, assholes are always assholes, from bad to worse.

Ahoy, mateys!!!

oledawg

4119.11.2007 02:59

i just deleted all off kisses album.
damn damn damn.
what an arrogant bastard

but seriously what a greedy bastard.

4219.11.2007 03:08

meh they wanttobe morons and aprt of the problem let them,I will ignore them as I do anyone else who dosent understand media needs to halve tis prices.

4319.11.2007 03:12

Oh and one more thing. Paul Stanley writes better songs!

4419.11.2007 14:14

Gene is full of sh*t. I used to watch his show. His own family is always making fun of him about the things he sells or can sell with the kiss logo on it.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 19 Nov 2007 @ 2:19

4519.11.2007 15:10

Right now i wish i had some toilet paper with the kiss logo on it.

4620.11.2007 00:19

Originally posted by 7thsinger:
Right now i wish i had some toilet paper with the kiss logo on it.
Yeah but would it take anything off you?


As for Gene why don't you go back to your island! You may have just made the dumbest move ever. Now watch the ratings for your lame show slide. Oh that's right it's reality so you don't need writers to be interesting..... or do you?

4711.12.2007 17:10

wow i think he really lost his head on this one. I think Gene needs a cold drink too cool down and take a breathe or two :)

4816.2.2008 12:12

Another luddite to join the ranks of soon redundant recording executives. Even before it was possible for the masses to download music I was suggesting that record stores should have all the music on computers and compile and burn CDs to order without any of the unwanted fancy packaging and with the selection of tracks that you actually want.

Clearly digital distribution must be the future, if only on ecological grounds, and the company's that get to grips with this soonest will be the winners - however they have to accept that in doing so many many jobs will go and lead to the reality of much lower prices and better returns for the artistes

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