KISS Accuses Radiohead Of Contributing To The Demise Of Recording Industry

Kiss bassist Gene Simmons has accused Radiohead and other bands who give away music for free of "contributing to the demise of the record industry" and insists his band would never follow suit. Gene went on to say:

"The record industry is dead. It's six feet underground and unfortunately the fans have done this. 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 civilised. As soon as the record industry pops its head up we'll record new material."

Radiohead was the most high profile of a number of bands who have begun experimenting with alternative methods of getting heard. Nine Inch Nails took a similar tact by giving away their albums and offering higher quality and special physical versions of their albums, Pennywise offered their album for free to MySpace friends of a sponsor and Green Day gave away half their side projects' material for free, while providing DRM-free MP3s for the normal CD price.

Kiss released their last album, Psycho Circus in 1998.

Thanks for the report to Punknews.org.

Comments

[electric7]

if i may say so myself, why is Kiss slamming Radiohead so much? yes. they released an album for free. yes. they don't dress up in face paint and wear black and white outfits. so they're not you. get over it.

[Bloodandfire]

I Like to think KISS's music was what killed the music industry.

[HyperBoy2519]

i agree with bloodandfire. KISS being a piece of shit killed the music industry. It just makes my blood boil thinking about money-grubbing Simmons getting mad for Radiohead "killing" his money machine.

[Hexagram]

I sure as hell don't care for another Kiss album. Please, remain submerged

[Black Hole Sun]

Let me be first (in this particular story at least) to say what a ****ing moron. The only reason he cares is because the music industry has made him rich. He doesn't care about music at all, just the industry. Imagine if Thom Yorke or Trent Reznor actually responded to him? Someone with intelligence, actually argued against him. He's be lost, he wouldn't have a clue what to do next.

Effectively what he's saying is:
"So what if bands and fans are benefiting from this, the people making music and the people the music is made for, Gene Simmons isn't benefiting, therefore it should stop."

What a purposeless ****.

[yutyoy]

Gene Simmons' greed is what killed the recording industry. guys like him and Lars. what ever happened to artists making albums for their fans?..... oh, wait....Radiohead and NIN are still doing that. KISS can go suck one! bunch of rock and roll clowns!

[KingCheesehead]

For what it's worth, none of his quotes specifically mention ANY band. Seems more like the article chose Radiohead because they were the most high profile to do this.

[kalamari]

yutyoy wrote:

Gene Simmons' greed is what killed the recording industry. guys like him and Lars. what ever happened to artists making albums for their fans?..... oh, wait....Radiohead and NIN are still doing that. KISS can go suck one! bunch of rock and roll clowns!

Well said that man

[michhill8]

well.. I guess I'm the first to say this...

KISS actually really helped the recording industry and not only made a lot of cash for themselves, but also the industry. It is the industry who finds talent, puts it out for us all to hear, and promotes it so we all know about it. Many a good band has called it quits because ends aren't meeting and they have no promotion to the masses for people to support them so they can financially continue to make music for the fans.

Bands like Radiohead and NIN can do this because they have no worries when it comes to money. On the other hand, if everyone did this, there wouldn't be any well produced or mastered music available, therefore, everyone would still be downloading the same old stuff for the next ten years because new music would be hard to come by.

I don't want to be a downer, but that's the sad truth. The record industry IS 6 ft under and going further. A world with no recording industry would really suck, bad... you have no idea...

PS- Gene is a loser.

[flxz]

stfu gene

[Andy2k64]

they r just upset cuz no1 downloads there stuff illegally

[Taylor704]

What an absolute old faggot. People download stuff because its pricks like him that charge too much for music in the first place. 10 pounds for a brand new CD? No. 7 pounds for a Radiohead one, fine by me

He should learn to make some decent music, take of his clown make-up and act his age like the ancient washed up idiot he is. Listen to some decent music like Radiohead instead of hating on the intelligent

[jammyninja]

What a twat. I don't think he's worth a rational and balanced response.

[Thom Yorke]

KISS releasing new music would murder the music industry with knives and pickaxes

[disturbed21]

How many times is Kiss (especially gene) gonna attack other bands just to cling on to the publicity? I know many have said this before but the music industry (From MOST Bands point of view) is to make the best music they can and get noticed for it. Not for money or attacking other bands because they give some music away.

[JudasTheGuide]

Gene Simmons can suck my ass. I don't have the right to let other people try out things I've paid good money for, but he does have the right to charge £15 for something that costs next to nothing to make??

When he looks in the mirror I hope he sees what I see when I look at him: a greedy, self involved dick hole.

[Samothomas]

[quote]michhill8KISS actually really helped the recording industry and not only made a lot of cash for themselves, but also the industry. It is the industry who finds talent, puts it out for us all to hear, and promotes it so we all know about it. Many a good band has called it quits because ends aren't meeting and they have no promotion to the masses for people to support them so they can financially continue to make music for the fans./quote]
The internet made it a lot easier for new bands to break through. I would never have heard of some of my favourites if it wasn't for downloading stuff illegally, and I sure wouldn't have attended their shows. In a weird way, downloading kinda helped music industy.

[heaven's gate]

Well, KISS sucks, so... Simmons can shut up.

[tim western]

If NIN charged money for the shite they're releasing these days then I wouldn't be impressed...

[D-Fens]

Radiohead is Radiohead, which means they can do no wrong. KISS is pretty lame compared to Thom and company. I'd like to see Simmons write something like reckoner.

[rygun091]

One of the reasons Radiohead and NIN are giving it out for free, is because they're rebelling against Record Industry heads with minds like Gene Simmons', who are in it for just the money.

Those who run the industry do NOT LIKE MUSIC.

Radiohead & NIN KNOW that their fans care more about the music, and the quality of it. not someone else's bank account.

[cakeandpiemofo]

Gene Simmons doesn't get an opinion because he is Gene Simmons.

[dabonehead182]

First off it's radiohead's music, not kiss'. So radiohead can do whatever they want with their music. Kiss needs to understand that they're not the number 1 band anymore since what? the early 80's. I mean i used to like kiss, but the original. My bad it's not even kiss, it's just Gene. All these eighties rockers need to wake up except for slayer and all the other good hardcore bands that came out in the eighties. Oh and ozzy.

[ShaDoW0lf]

Gene Simmons is an idiot who can't comprehend the potential the internet and downloading has for artists in the industry. Here's why.
Lets look at some facts: For one, releasing a good album on the internet is cheap, because hosting is cheap. Furthermore, people who get the music can share it with others, both friends and complete strangers, easily. One of the results is an extremely cheap production line, the only cost being the recording and the instruments of the artists themselves, rather than the cost of album after album at some Chinese factory. The other, the possibility of an almost limitless fanbase, since its a matter of "download, listen over and over, fan." Add that to cheap internet advertising via Myspace and the like, and the result can be a HUGE fan base.
Everyone knows, large fanbases can be milked for money. Merchandise, concerts, musicians being used for advertising due to their fame (selling out) and other previously disregarded potentials offer huge profits if everyone knows, or can know, your band. Honestly, who buys KISS albums these days anyway?
It takes some creative thought, but with some ingenuity, labels can actually become obsolete, and unnecessary. I think that is what they fear.

[mushroom2]

I offically invite Gene Simmons to kiss my arse

[jshwak]

I think that gene is lashing out because nobody wants to sleep w/ him anymore..

[RU Experienced?]

Tell it like it is Gene!!!

[Firetech]

Gene is just selling out right now anyways, The Apprentice, his reality show, and now trashing Radiohead. At least they actually experimented with music instead of doing the same thing everyone else did. Except the wackjob costumes. Isn't music supposed to be about the music instead of the money involved? So Radiohead put out an album free, that's their choice and I'll tell you what, it's earning them more fans and getting them more famous than Gene actually (ask any modern listener to list five KISS songs and five Radiohead songs and see which one wins).

[Dragon Master]

Gene Simmons is done. Absolutely finished. He's not releasing any albums, I don't see him making new music, and frankly, his entire persona is ridiculous. First of all, bands like KISS are amazing, but he has completely ridiculed potential for new music and, true, CDs should stay popular, but the Internet is much more amazing, as a tool for giving bands a basis. Heck, his time is done. He is so conceited and arrogant that he makes Napoleon have a complex (Pardon the pun.) He thinks any woman will sleep with him, just because he's rich. However, he will wake up dead, one day. KISS is not going to be around forever. The problem with most hair metallers is that, while they make good music, they don't understand new music. The Stones can understand the White Stripes. GNR understood that Nirvana was good, revolutionary stuff. HECK, Axl Rose likes Soundgarden. However, Gene Simmons is living in the past.

[mr.glavin]

kiss ssuck

[Dragon Master]

That, and I don't give a care about the music industry. I want music, good music, and not some senseless guy in the industry. Gene Simmons seems to support the industry. A majority does not. I am in the majority, because I am a music lover.

[brentondig]

Psycho Circus came out 10 years ago, and the only good track was the title track. The last good song they released before that was mid-seventies.

[brentondig]

dabonehead182 wrote:

...All these eighties rockers need to wake up except for slayer and all the other good hardcore bands that came out in the eighties. Oh and ozzy.

KISS was seventies. They were already downhill in the 80s.

[Wakisazhi]

michhill8 wrote:
Bands like Radiohead and NIN can do this because they have no worries when it comes to money. On the other hand, if everyone did this, there wouldn't be any well produced or mastered music available, therefore, everyone would still be downloading the same old stuff for the next ten years because new music would be hard to come by.

To be fair though that's not entirely true since it's the internet so there is something new each day (if the myspace music scene is any indicator a new star is born each day). Also recording programs and mics aren't too hard to come by (may be expensive for your average joe, but not hard to obtain). So it's really a matter of the artist/band and given the amount of bands out there big or small I don't think it would be fair to say that we wouldn't have any new music for the next 10 years, if anything we'd probably have a lot more due to easier availability over the net.

[Anti Vicarious]

Gene, you need to stfu.

[Skarson]

GENE. The record industry NEEDS to die. All it is doing is taking money for distribution, etc, the end result being that bands tend to get about 17 cents per 15-dollar record sold if they're lucky. We don't need all that now that we have the internet. Recording studios could still easily survive, production and such is a meager cost to a musician/band when they don't have to deal with distribution costs. At this point all record companies are really doing is STEALING from bands, which is far worse than the file sharing piracy that bands themselves tend to complain about so often (piracy=\=stealing, but that's another issue altogether).

[ComradSputnik]

I really hope someone beats the living hell out of Gene Simmons

[clasp]

I am a diehard fan, but Gene, shut the **** up.

[Dingoman]

Dear Thom Yorke,
How DARE you put out the best album of 2007 using new marketing styles with your "computernets" and your "hoobidyjobahargens"!
Take Genes example and sell so far out that you wont know your bobbleheads from your Dunkin Donut endorsements!!!
Rock n' Roll till 7pm and party every thursday,
- Gene
Ps tell them Greenwood boys to get offa my Lawn!!!

[Dingoman]

pps i just realised i used my name in my letter to you "take Genes example"

well....

*starts smashing Axe-Shaped Guitar at Windows Vista*

[Sp00nman94]

I don't want to hear new Kiss and he has to have a reality check. It's 2008, seriously. Plus his show on A&E sucks.

[Wakisazhi]

Dingoman wrote:

Dear Thom Yorke,
How DARE you put out the best album of 2007 using new marketing styles with your "computernets" and your "hoobidyjobahargens"!
Take Genes example and sell so far out that you wont know your bobbleheads from your Dunkin Donut endorsements!!!
Rock n' Roll till 7pm and party every thursday,
- Gene
Ps tell them Greenwood boys to get offa my Lawn!!!

+1,000,000
I so lol'd at the last bit. Priceless stuff! *thumbs up*

[miraclegrow7]

isnt it Radiohead's money to be losing? his argument is totally ****in' irrelavent... go make some more reality TV shows you ****ing sell-out

[miraclegrow7]

isnt it Radiohead's money to be losing? his argument is totally ****in' irrelavent... go make some more reality TV shows you ****ing sell-out

[tbarrettl]

rygun091 wrote:



One of the reasons Radiohead and NIN are giving it out for free, is because they're rebelling against Record Industry heads with minds like Gene Simmons', who are in it for just the money.

Those who run the industry do NOT LIKE MUSIC.

Radiohead & NIN KNOW that their fans care more about the music, and the quality of it. not someone else's bank account.

Like many saying something similar well said, NIN, Radiohead, Lennon, and others are far musically superior and a more pleasurable not stale listening experience to listen to than Kiss.

[recliner33]

Radioheads and NIN's way of giving back to their fans is giving their music away for free. Gene Simmon's way of giving back to the fans is charging $59.99 and a reach around for a stupid bobblehead replica of him in tights and makeup. Now what's the better deal?

[burndttoast]

I was under the assumption that Gene Simmons was taking direct blows at Radiohead because of the title. A bit deceiving as usual.

[Nargenfargen]

Bloodandfire wrote:

I Like to think KISS's music was what killed the music industry.

+1

[recliner33]

Why would Gene even say something like this? I use to think he at least had some brains but after hearing this and the other stuff he's been saying lately I think he's losing his god damn mind. He should just shutup and take the next mothership out of this planet so he will at least keep some of the tiny reputition that he still has left.

[andersoncouncil]

"There is no record industry around so we're going to wait until everybody settles down and becomes civilised [before] we'll record new material."

God-willing, the record industry will never pop up. I hate KISS.

[JRowe3388]

Fuck Gene Simmons. He's a money hungry *****.

Who cares if they write music again? It would be too contrived. They're just in it for the money.

[Vinura]

alright, well im not waiting around for another kiss album so we all win

[The_Seventh_Sin]

JRowe3388 wrote:

Fuck Gene Simmons. He's a money hungry *****.

Who cares if they write music again? It would be too contrived. They're just in it for the money.

+1

[joker_thief]

andersoncouncil wrote:

"There is no record industry around so we're going to wait until everybody settles down and becomes civilised [before] we'll record new material."

God-willing, the record industry will never pop up. I hate KISS.

lol

[Morning Star]

Gene Simmons is a MASSIVE tool anyone who's seen his reality show knows that. He's just spitting his dummy to anyone that will listen because all he is interested in is accumulation of wealth and the integrity of these other artists makes him uncomfortable.

[gillis14]

Well to everyone who said that Kiss sucks SHUT THE FUCK UP because if any of u ****ers like any bands from the eighties to now u must all relise that KISS has influenced them so again to anyone who wants to slam KISS on their music go slam ur favourite band as well because chances are KISS had some kind of influence on them..... Now that thats over i want to say that bands that do that have helped killed the industry along with constant music downloaders

[David_Bowie=GOD]

Greedy people like Gene Simmons is what the music industry doesnt need. He's just mad because when Radiohead and other bands release albums for free, they still sell records in the end. He's also mad because now no one has to buy their latest album to see how bad it is. Kiss hasn't been good in a long time. Downloads dont affect sales. In fact, it helps your band get discovered. Many bands who I am fans of I heard good things of, but I didnt want to spend money on a cd I may not like. Im 14 and cant get a job, why would I waste money? Many of the bands I love I first downloaded their music. Once I loved their music, then, I went out and bought their albums. In fact I'd say downloads HELP sales. Metallica and Kiss need to shut the **** up about the free downloading already. Its starting to piss people off.

[nathantayloryes]

LOL in all of this only 1 person is defending kiss, thats hilarious.
Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails are fantastic bands

[aocrkid]

michhill8 wrote:

well.. I guess I'm the first to say this...

KISS actually really helped the recording industry and not only made a lot of cash for themselves, but also the industry. It is the industry who finds talent, puts it out for us all to hear, and promotes it so we all know about it. Many a good band has called it quits because ends aren't meeting and they have no promotion to the masses for people to support them so they can financially continue to make music for the fans.

Bands like Radiohead and NIN can do this because they have no worries when it comes to money. On the other hand, if everyone did this, there wouldn't be any well produced or mastered music available, therefore, everyone would still be downloading the same old stuff for the next ten years because new music would be hard to come by.

I don't want to be a downer, but that's the sad truth. The record industry IS 6 ft under and going further. A world with no recording industry would really suck, bad... you have no idea...

PS- Gene is a loser.

its true!! i dont download anything that came out this decade!!!

[mcshane90]

i think a band should do whatever the hell they want with there own music. Recording music isn't about trying to see how much money and profit you can pump into your wallet and a lot of people have forgotten that.

[Tophue]

If a band pays for the studio time and cost of production of an album, then it is entirely theirs to give away. It's exactly the same as someone painting a picture with materials they bought themselves and then giving it away for free, or someone writing a book and giving it out for free on the internet. KISS needs to realize that there are many musicians who are much more concerned with creating art and music that they are proud of and letting people hear it. It's selfish and just shows that kiss doesnt actually care about artistic fulfilment if they arent going to write music if theres little chance of making a profit. I will give all my music away for free

[Tophue]

Also if the recording industry REALLY wanted to come back they could just ditch CDs and just release vinyl again, which doesnt transfer as well to digital

[Mushroom123]

Dingoman wrote:

Dear Thom Yorke,
How DARE you put out the best album of 2007 using new marketing styles with your "computernets" and your "hoobidyjobahargens"!
Take Genes example and sell so far out that you wont know your bobbleheads from your Dunkin Donut endorsements!!!
Rock n' Roll till 7pm and party every thursday,
- Gene
Ps tell them Greenwood boys to get offa my Lawn!!!

hahaha i died at the greenwood boys part haha omg just picturing johnny and colin just standing on genes lawn just to piss him off then running away when he comes outside only to return later haha

[squeakynuts96]

funny stuff dingoman

"I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day!!!11!one!!" = deep

KISS probably one of the most corny cliche rock bands of all time griping about radiohead, funny. Wish there was a way to get Gene to read all these comments if anything I would hope it would extinguish any idea of him making another album. This "Demise" as he calls it is the industry evolving to cope with an ever changing technology driven economy... and it isn't a bad thing.

[justiferatu]

aocrkid wrote:

michhill8 wrote:

well.. I guess I'm the first to say this...

KISS actually really helped the recording industry and not only made a lot of cash for themselves, but also the industry. It is the industry who finds talent, puts it out for us all to hear, and promotes it so we all know about it. Many a good band has called it quits because ends aren't meeting and they have no promotion to the masses for people to support them so they can financially continue to make music for the fans.

Bands like Radiohead and NIN can do this because they have no worries when it comes to money. On the other hand, if everyone did this, there wouldn't be any well produced or mastered music available, therefore, everyone would still be downloading the same old stuff for the next ten years because new music would be hard to come by.

I don't want to be a downer, but that's the sad truth. The record industry IS 6 ft under and going further. A world with no recording industry would really suck, bad... you have no idea...

PS- Gene is a loser.

its true!! i dont download anything that came out this decade!!!

you both are ridiculous the industry once was helpful and smart, but with this internet thing theyre losing power, but what power you ask? i mean theyre not actually making the music, they just get to make money off of it. (south park said best) its just a marketing scheme now for the most part. and so so many buy into it...

and for the record i didnt know kiss still considered themselves a band... haha. what a joke.

[Tordyboi]

I agree with Gene being a greedy man. but you guys have to know the difference between making a living and being greedy! Artists doesnt have to give away albums for free. They actually pay alot of money to make their art for you. So if you think it should be for free, then your the greedy *******.