Gene Simmons shows his age (and ignorance)

What's with all these old fools trying to make a name for themselves in the music business again by speaking out against piracy? First it was Metallica, who hated on bloggers, but came off its high horse only after we took the band to task. And now, it's Gene Simmons of the once-important KISS, who is blaming fans and peer-to-peer networks for the destruction of the poor music industry.

"The record industry is dead. It's six feet underground and unfortunately the fans have done this," Simmons said. "They've decided to download and file share. There is no record industry around so we're going to wait until everybody settles down and becomes civilized. As soon as the record industry pops its head up we'll record new material."

But it gets better. Not too long ago, the 58-year old, cool dude wannabe said that "Every little college kid, every freshly-scrubbed little kid's face, should have been sued off the face of the earth."

Oh, Gene. I know old age gets to you and sometimes it's easier to be cranky than apply logic to things you don't understand, but can't you try just this one time? You've not only made yourself look like a fool, but your gross misrepresentation of the facts shows us how little you know.

Here's a refresher:

First and foremost, all those "little college kids" you mention aren't the real problem. Contrary to the propaganda the RIAA has been feeding you, the real issue isn't with those pimply-faced P2P users, but with the huge piracy cartels overseas that have created a multi-billion dollar industry out of scaring the hell out of your label overlords.

And you know what? You're now espousing the beliefs of a bunch of gutless cowards who are deathly afraid of confronting the guys with weaponry, but would rather attack college students, force 11-year old girls into a deposition, and make sure people pay ridiculous sums of cash for a track that can be purchased for $0.99 off a service that your industry is relatively happy with.

Try as you might, ol' Genie Boy, you can't run from the facts. You may want to blame your "fans", but in reality, you're attacking the smallest piece of the piracy pie. And to make matters worse, that small piece is the only reason you have had any success at all. Why ostracize them?

I should also correct you in saying that the music industry is not "dead" as you proclaim, but is actually quite spry in its old age. Not only has it been able to field an attack dog in the RIAA, but it's a major force in the anti-piracy fight and, much like you, is trying to do everything it can to push consumers away and make itself look like the bully.

It's working too -- Apple just announced that it sold over 5 billion tracks on its iTunes Store.

But perhaps my biggest issue with your comments, Gene, is not that you are entirely wrong in your description of the music industry, but that you're showing your age and ruining it for those artists that find value in this new era.

What about Radiohead, who made bundles of cash with its In Rainbows experiment or the countless number of young and independent artists that believe in the downloading and free proliferation of music? Or those that have found ways to adapt to the changing times and turn a pretty nice profit?

It may not work for you, Gene, but rest assured that as we enter the next decade, more and more people will gladly jump on the bandwagon I'm describing here.

And just so you know, it's not the pirates that should be blamed for the decline of the music industry. Instead, just like Metallica, you need to look in the mirror and finally realize that it's not your fans that you should hate, but yourselves for not giving your fans what they want.

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[KevLeviathan]

I laughed to myself when I read his comments. Yes Gene, the music industry is six feet under. No Gene, we didn't do it. You did. And guess what? Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails are figuring out ways to sell their music without the RIAA. And it's working beautifully.
You see, when you ignore supply and demand, bad things happen. We don't want to pay $20 for a CD and so with the advent of things like Napster, the price of a CD should've fallen to perhaps $5 or $10. But it hasn't, not even close. So nobody's buying them. Logic says the prices should be lowered to match consumer demand but the RIAA seems to think they get to control what we want and how we get it. Strange.

^ Awesome comment.

[rockeehorror]

So I guess logic should dictate that one should steal when they don't feel a price is fair?
Hey numb nuts... I want a Viper but I think it's over priced.... Can u steal it for me?

[stepyourgameup]

I never thought KISS was that great of a band. However, I think Gene is a very smart man but he is showing some ignorance on this issue.

[Kainchild]

With Bittorrent and many of the other p2p programs down and the popularity of Zune and Napster, I don't think this guy knows what he is talking about. Also I get a kick how this guy wants to sue little kids. What a jerk.

[Motyoj]

Slam little kids and then fill their heads with trash, like your (Gene Simmons) reality show. All the "little kids" getting subpoenaed by the RIAA and end up paying, not a dime goes to the artist anyway. You gotta feel for those multi-millionaire record company execs. I used to by blank cassettes and go home with an armload of albums from my friends place and record them before returning them. No one said **** about that back then but now with the Internet, it's easier to catch people doing it I suppose. Burn copies off CDs you swap and see if they can catch you "ripping off" the record industry.

[cromeyeller]

I haven't bought any music since I got my iPod. I get all the music I want for free.

I used to buy quite a few CDs, but no more. The last time I paid for a CD was for one that I couldn't get for free.

[harry_ness]

And here we have someone making Gene's argument for him. Let me know your address so that I can drop by and see if there's anything worth stealing. You won't mind, right?

[kdozer]

The irony is that KISS became one of the biggest bands in the world, not through record sales, but through over-the-top concerts that drew huge crowds and a marketing and product-endorsement blitz spearheaded by Gene that continues to this day (ie: The KISS Coffin). I'm no record industry expert, but isn't touring and merchandise the way most bands make money? A decent record makes people want to buy the tickets and the t-shirts (and coffins). The argument years ago was that tape dubbing would kill the industry too - someone please tell Dave Matthews and the Grateful Dead that because they allowed taping at their shows, they should be broke instead of rolling in huge piles of money on their hemp-lined beds.

[mectron]

Kiss can Kiss My Shiny Metal Ass(TM), (R), (C)

How to make music as a band (or artist)
Release music for free (or almost free) like on Radio, The net, Promotion and yes P2P
Plan a tour and make big money because you will have gain a lot of fans with all that "Free" music floeating arround.

Things artist don't need anymore:
Big Labels
International criminal cartel such as the RIAA (witch commit crime on a daily basis but still allowed to operate)
Sueing Little boys

Kiss is no longer and as its members have clearly spoken: We don't need FANS
So next time you see KISS (very unlikekly) spit in his in face.

[Eballs]

I don't know if life is worth living if KISS won't release another album... HAHAHA

[mmntech]

For some reason, the music industry thinks it should have some magic force field that protects it from competition and innovation. Oh wait, they got that in 1998. How wonderfully that worked out. Maybe Gene should send the KISS Army after all those greasy teen downloaders.

[Tuxcat]

The notion that widespread online piracy by individuals has had no effect on music sales is absurd on its face. Talk about feeding delusions.

It obviously pleases your sillier readers, but it is irresponsible to encourage people in their childish and self-serving belief that what they are doing when they steal music (and movies) is either justified or harmless. Such theft is also illegal, which I'd think would give you pause before you'd even backhandedly encourage it.

And the notion that the labels' inability or unwillingness to deal adequately with counterfeiting on a larger scale is a justification of P2P thievery on a smaller scale is morally bizarre.

And, yes, I know (better than you, I'd imagine) all about the labels' stupid and self-destructive response to the P2P threat, the evils of DRM, and all the other nasties and unfairnesses. If you don't like the terms, don't buy the music, and live by your purported principles.

[Lerianis]

Warning, warning: RIAA or MPAA shill here! WARNING! WARNING! Computer of previous comment owner will detonate in 10 seconds unless he stops lying.

[Benf]

It's not the music industry thats dead, it's KISS.

[desert_ninjah]

i'm not sure how downloading music effects sales. people say it does, but who's gonna buy a crappy album for $20 when they can hardly put milk in their cereal? if someone doesn't buy the album AND doesn't download it, either way no one is making money, so whats the difference?

i think the assumption is, that people who are downloading music or movies would otherwise be able to buy them. and that each album downloaded equals an album sale lost... i think THAT is delusional, and quite naive.

stamp your rich little feet, gene. if it makes you feel better. i'm still poor, and your house is worth more than my life.

[Lerianis]

You hit the nail on the head. Most people who download things 'illegally' couldn't afford the real thing in question in the first place, because the businesses here in the United States have priced their way out of the pocket of the normal people.

[soundman45]

Gene may very well have a point. A little biased though. As a recording engineer what really troubles me about mp3's and file sharing is the quality issue. For the first time in the recording industry we are producing products for consumers who really don't know what high fidelity is. As controlling as the RIAA is, the one positive thing that came from that organization was a set of quality control standards relating to sound . Unfortunately, with digital compression all of that goes out the window. The music industry may very well have killed itself off, but ultimately it's the consumers who set the standard for inferior sound quality. I think they deserve every lousy sounding mp3 they get.

[Lerianis]

Inferior sound quality? Please, I listen to LOADS of music, and I cannot tell the difference between a CD, radio and a 192Kbps or higher music file. I just CANNOT tell the difference, and if I cannot, with my history in music... no one can.

[swiggins]

Please guys with the comments, Gene Simmons has made more money selling lunch-boxes and dolls to really have this bother him in the least. . In I guess it was 74 or 75 Gene said any publicity is good publicity, and since he has been making music and his KISS brand since 72, he's not doing so bad. . . Gene Simmons is a very business savvy guy and if people will buy his used toilet paper, he'll sell it to them. . So his comments were very well orchestrated, he knows the reaction, and that's what he is looking for, it keeps his name in the headlines, and trust me, that's all he is doing, . . and judging from your article, . I'm sorry to say he has just played you like a cheap violin.

[Marajak]

Good show Swiggins you seem so far to be the only one who has gotten it. Gene Simmons never just reacts. This guy plans, thinks through every breath he takes and knows the outcome before he takes that breath. I watch his show and my area of expertise is Human Behavior. He is brilliant and believe me he didn't just spout off anything. In the dictionary under "ego" it says see Gene Simmons. But he knows exactly how to make his unquenchable thirst for success work totally in his favor, his way and for the outcome he wants. Don't sell him short kiddies. Forget his theatrics which is what sold all of us on the Kiss band and made everyone connected with Kiss millionaires. Get inside his head and you will find a genius at work here and he did play you like a cheap violin. This guy makes no mistakes only money and like he says on his show he doesn't like to lose at anything so he makes sure he doesn't ever enter an arena he does not know inside and out. By the way Gene you did a great job on your kids and I admire the multi-hats you wear and can keep them all in perspective and not buying into your own BS. You are full of yourself but you carry it well and you are a genius fur sure dude. Take the money and make some more Genie just remember the last part of life is to give back to those who got you were you are, your fans who are in desperate need in these desperate times, so show me something good you are doing with your success other than making more money. Take some hints from Tiger Woods who is just a mere pup in life's experiences compared to you. Start a foundation, give to foundations maybe you do but I would like to know about at least one. Don't let me down now Genie, your country, your fans need you but in a much more serious way than your tongue, you talk the talk now show me on your show that you walk the walk. Help the service people who come back broken and in great need, help those from 9/11 who gave their lives and are dying now because of their health problems, show me something you are giving and not looking for a profit or any glory from. Teach your kids that giving is what getting is for, because you sure can not take it with you. You leave this world as you came into it butt naked and with nothing so pass it on to those who need a start or re-start from their giving and make is so we all have a chance at the American dream, without them Genie you would not have anything today.
God Bless us all

[RunSilent23]

I doubt Gene Simmons had I-Tunes in mind when he suggested "Every little college kid, every freshly-scrubbed little kid's face, should have been sued off the face of the earth." Artists are compensated by that model so let's take that off the table.

The Radiohead experience taught us that it might work once in a while to prove a point but it isn't a long term solution. Imagine going to work and saying to our bosses "Pay me what you think I am worth". Would you trust them? I didn't think so. Given the choice to pay little or nothing, most will pay nothing and then we're back to where we started. So that's off the table too.

Let's get real - We have a generation (including the author) who believes that since the distribution method is antiquated, they shouldn't have to use it. Fair enough. But when you still wan't the music and you aren't willing to pay for it, then we have a problem.

[Lerianis]

Most people are willing to pay for the music. They just are not willing to pay for a DRM'd music file, that if their computer busts or they want to stop using iTunes or another program, they cannot use their legally bought music anymore.
Get rid of the DRM, start selling music at 320kbps, then we can talk.

[drumned]

While I agree with soundman45's comment regarding MP3's poor fidelity I think he/she overlooks a much more important point. The decline of the record industry has allowed for a level playing field for bands who never would have had a chance otherwise. I would argue when the majors were at their most bloated the diversity/quality of music available to the public suffered. I'd rather hear a new interesting song at 256k than a the sub-par music the majors were pushing in their heyday. Gene is dead wrong, The industry dug it's own grave. (ps as storage becomes cheaper I believe we will see wav or flac files become more common).

[Lerianis]

You are right about the storage thing. Personally, I am looking at buying a Blu-Ray disc writer once they come down in price just a WEE bit more, so I can archive all my pictures to them. Right now, I have nearly 100 DVD discs with various pictures on them, and would REALLY like to consolidate them down to a handful of Blu-Ray discs.

[scarred09]

he definetly shows his ignorance and his greed. all he wants is more money to line up his washed up old butt, and his waylayed band that never was that good!

[Composer_1777]

I never pirate music anymore, it is uncivilized and tacky. Not to mention I'm an audiophile so if something isn't perfect quality i can;t stand it, sounds like scratching a chalkboard. Gene's comments are definitely un-called for, that is certain. Heh, you know how old people are though.

[soundman45]

Let's face it, the mainstream music industry has always been greedy. Gene Simmons only personifies that fact. As far as the quality of artists supplying the product, it has always been a mixed bag, I don't care what era or genre you are talking about. The cold hard fact is that yes, record companies are a big part of the problem. They don't develop artists like they used to and give them two or three records to to get their musical sea legs. They need to make a profit and in turn it has hurt the quality of the music, but let's be honest. Nowhere in the history of the recorded music can the average consumer obtain a vast library of music for free. To say it has not hurt the record industry is ridiculous, and if you keep watching the numbers like I do, it's only gonna get worse. To put the blame squarely on people like Gene Simmons is way too easy.

[Zanny_Blowzsteve]

Gene $immons is right. No matter how you slice it. He's RIGHT. He's calling a theif, a THEIF.

Your "taking Metallica to task" ? Oh? How'd you do that? By STEALING THEIR MUSIC? You must be so tough. Gee Don, even when having to deal w/ music thieves such as your self, that "once relevant" band KISS has sold over 100 million records. Let us know when crap like Radioturd sells 1/10th of that. I won't hold my breath.