The Smiths Should Reunite Without Johnny Marr, Gene Simmons Says: ‘Get Rid of the Guitar Player, Nobody Cares’
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The Smiths Should Reunite Without Johnny Marr, Gene Simmons Says: ‘Get Rid of the Guitar Player, Nobody Cares’
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Gatz says
‘Choose whichever option makes most money’, says Gene Simmons. It certainly works for for him, even if it shows a lack of understanding of others’ motivations.
Vincent says
What a stupid comment from GS. The Donald Trump of rock. Boorish, crass, mediocre, but appeals to an easily impressed element of the population, so remains excessively successful despite themselves.
salwarpe says
There was such a love-in when he appeared on The Apprentice. Simmons practically dissolved in puddle of saliva, he has so happy to be in the presence.
Reunite without Johnny Marr? I can see a couple of problems in getting Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke breaking bread with Morrissey..
hubert rawlinson says
I can see a few problems touring as The Smiths not least that at the moment Marr has sole ownership of the name, as morrisey hasn’t signed.
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/johnny-marr-morrissey-the-smiths-trademark-tour-b2614483.html
fentonsteve says
Not to mention Andy Rourke’s departure due to mortical differences.
chiz says
That’s just nit-picking, isn’t it?
Sniffity says
“The Donald Trump of rock.”
Perfect description, and it made me realise it explains a lot about Trump supporters. I know a couple of bods, one a (now late) close friend, who were/are bigly Kiss fans. The thing is, they know Gene and Co are musical grifters – but they love ’em anyway! They consider themselves above the main fan morass, because they can “see the strings” so to speak. They’re still buying all the music and merch, though (one even went on one of those Kiss sea cruises).
Vincent says
Thanks, sniffity! Thing, is, I like dumb-smart rock. Iggy, the Cramps, Slayer, Alice Cooper, Metallica (etc) all rock like muthas, all affect to be dumb but are whip-smart in what they do, and hence appeal to both dumb and smart fans. For Kiss, for me, the appeal is more opaque. The rock is weak, it’s clearly insincere, and even the videos of the shows suggest to be it’s not as much of a spectacle as claimed. It’s more about telling everyone they are the best, even though they aren’t. And there’s another point of comparison with dim Don, the ‘King Grifter.
fortuneight says
Hmmm. I don’t think Kiss have mislead anyone – they have always set themselves up as the goodtime party band, and that’s largely what they delivered. No tortured artistry, just cartoonish over the top rock. I think the comparisons is Judas Priest and maybe Maiden. I see less grift in Kiss than Springsteen taking on the mantle of the blue-collar worker despite never having punched a time clock in his life.
Simmons is no Trump. He really did start with jack shit and is now thought to be worth $400m plus – more than Alice, and more than Lars. I’m not sure he’s a particularly nice guy, he’s the most basic of bass players, but he’s 50 years in as a recording artist and still going. And “Alive” is a banger of an album even if the rest are pretty naff (“Sonic Boom” excepted).
Rigid Digit says
He says in the article: “Record Companies are a business, not a social tool”.
What the article does prove is that Gene Simmons is a complete tool
Jaygee says
The only way he could be more of a tool would be if he was made by
Keir Starmer’s dad
salwarpe says
Keir Starmer’s dad was a toolmaker? Who knew?
pencilsqueezer says
Isn’t that a Judee Sill song?
fentonsteve says
Today’s tey/keyboard moment. Well done!
Mike_H says
Lead single from the forthcoming Rachel Reeves LP “Yes It Hurts, But You’ll Thank Me Later”.
MC Escher says
Moz should just go out on tour as a solo act. Surprised this hasn’t occurred to him already TBH
fatima Xberg says
I was reminded of a quote from a recent Dave Gilmour interview. When he had played the album demos to his prospective new (and »young«) producer, the knob-twiddler’s first question was, »Does EVERY song has to have a guitar solo?«
Mike_H says
Fair comment, I’d say.
retropath2 says
He bloody sings on most of his stuff, too…….
Kaisfatdad says
Wonderful story, fatima.
And hats off to Gilmour for telling it. He clearly has certain sense of self-distance.
dai says
Surprised he’s heard of them. And 100 million dollars? A reunited Smiths would have to play a lot of large-ish arena shows for that. Doubt they would be playing stadiums, but these days, who knows?
Foxnose says
Shurely this should be an empty thread?
Boneshaker says
Oxymoron [oksi-mor-on] (plural -mora)
A figure of speech that combines two usually contradictory terms in a compressed paradox, as in ‘the wisdom of Gene Simmons’.
[OED]
Beezer says
I’m not a fan of the man. He’s the luckiest toot note plodder of a bass player alive.
Though fair fucks to him for having the balls to wear his hair in the same style as Wendolene out of Wallace and Gromit’s A Close Shave.
Beezer says
Toot? I meant root.
What a maroon
hubert rawlinson says
Well done for realising your mistake and posting your correction toot sweet.
Black Celebration says
Kiss are a terrible band. I can only think of about 3 songs by them and they are embarrassingly poor.
I can normally see why a band has appeal but Kiss completely pass me by. I guess the live experience must be the thing, but no matter the spectacle you’re still having to endure the slurry of Crazy Crazy Nights or God Gave Rock & Roll to You.
TrypF says
I hoped desperately that with Kiss retiring, Mr Simmons might fuck off to his mansion, count his money and not trouble the people with his boorish nonsense again. No such luck.
Twang says
Three words not often seen together.
Uncle Wheaty says
These three are.
Kiss are shit.