Gene Simmons: Downloaders 'Should Be Sued Off The Face Of The Earth'

Gene Simmons, founder of successful pop-metal act Kiss, is the latest artist to comment about the music industry that has afforded him a great deal of success. When pressed by an Billboard interview about the possibility of recording new music, he lashed out saying, according to PunkNews.org:

"The record industry is in such a mess. I called for what it was when college kids first started download music for free -- that they were crooks. I told every record label I spoke with that they just lit the fuse to their own bomb that was going to explode from under them and put them on the street.

"There is nothing in me that wants to go in there and do new music. How are you going to deliver it? How are you going to get paid for it if people can just get it for free?

"The record industry doesn't have a f*cking clue how to make money. It's only their fault for letting foxes get into the henhouse and then wondering why there's no eggs or chickens. Every little college kid, every freshly-scrubbed little kid's face 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. Those kids are putting 100,000 to a million people out of work."

You can check out the interview here.

Comments

[puppetmaster917]

not gonna stop me from downloading my music.

[amp_322]

Geez, somebody's bitter.
Sorry bout the money, Gene...not that you care about it, right?

[Mihyaeru]

I'm pretty sure by suing those kids ull sell even less albums as theyll ave even less money to psend on albums than before! I've actually bought more albums since being able to download music as its given me a much greater and wider venue to find new good music...I can't speak for everyone but I know that some people like myself still by albums and just use downloading to test music out before spending loadso f money on ap otentially rubbish album

[JohnnyLovesYou]

Gene Simmons is an intelligent dude but seriously?
F***ing idiocy.

[Bootsy 4 Prez]

Hes a douche bag. Downloading music isnt right but theres no need to be so bitter. Plus its not just college kids everyone does it.

[metalfanatic07]

I'm pretty sure by suing those kids ull sell even less albums as theyll ave even less money to psend on albums than before! I've actually bought more albums since being able to download music as its given me a much greater and wider venue to find new good music...I can't speak for everyone but I know that some people like myself still by albums and just use downloading to test music out before spending loadso f money on ap otentially rubbish album

amen to that!

[winningdays]

It's comforting to see that their are still musicians who have passion for their work. 'How am I going to make money off new music?' Remember when people made music because they enjoyed it? Since when do YOU need to worry about money Gene? For the record, KISS sucked ass.

[winningdays]

there*

[crzywhiteboy]

"There is nothing in me that wants to go in there and do new music. How are you going to deliver it? How are you going to get paid for it if people can just get it for free?

Something tells me his all about the money,and lookin at the history of KISS his all about the money and not the music.

But anyway he can just reliese a cd it dosnt have to be on a record label.Im sure he knows atleast one producer,if he really wanted to do music he has the fame to have a succesfull cd without a record label.

[SyixString]

oh shut the **** up gene simmons... you have so much money im sure you wipe your ass with it. rockstars in general are way the hell over paid so they shouldnt even whine when we get their music for free.

[echofreak]

"Those kids are putting 100,000 to a million people out of work"

source? i seriously doubt its putting them out of work there just not making the ridiculous money that they used to. i feel bad for the poor record executives out on the streets.

[Inimical]

Well, coming from Gene Simmons this isn't surprising. He's always been about profit.

Doesn't mean he's wrong, but this isn't surprising in the least.

[Donkey Fly]

I know it'd wrong but with out people downloading stuff, you wouldn't get any new bands coming through if you know what i mean.

I like downlaoded random stuff just in the hope i might discover a really cool band.

[Comeback Kiddd]

Now I feel like downloading Kiss music and sending an e-mail to him about it

[chris_kedro]

well, someone should sue Gene for statutory rape, or breaking up the relationships of the ~10,000 girls he brags to have slept with.

[buzz]

what a twat he is.

im not 100% sure but i reckon there are very few people nowadays who want to hear this gashbags new material.

[dethly_screech]

I openly admit i download music, but only as a taster as to whether i buy the album or not, if i like it then i will.

[T.Rextacy]

go get another face lift, your moles are showing through your make up again.

this is why Gene Simmons is a loser, and why KISS is nothing without Ace Frehley. KISS is just 4 guys in make up now. The 70's actually meant something for KISS.

[tommyt]

awww i guess he didnt make enough profit on the kiss casket

[thebigbadburn]

friggin idiot... i guess he his music must be total crap if he'd rather people didnt download and just went out and bought the cd blindly.... and the nerve to blame the consumer for trying to save their income (far FAR less than what this moron probably makes) by NOT making the mistake of buying crap music...go DOWNLOADERS!!!

[Chewy120]

wow this worst than metallica

[Slashrulz]

I have two word for all of you IN RAINBOWS...

[thebigbadburn]

He wants to know how artists make money these days in the age of downloading? Refer: RADIOHEAD

[a7xsoad]

For crying out loud. Music is about music. Not money. I would give my bands records to ANYONE for free. Cause I want people to hear my music. That's it. Jesus, some people.....
I'm now gonna download twice as much music. Just to throw it on Gene Simmon's face.

And of COURSE the record industry knows how to make money! Someone took on KISS! They must have been mad to have actually liked them, but hell, they made plenty of money from them! And they still make money out of crap bands. The record industry doesnt care about ANY original, diverse, or talented acts. MONEY is the only thing they think about, music does not concern them WAHTSOFUCKINGEVER!!!!

[demiphoenix]

D: gene simmons doesn't like me?
this could ruin the rest of my day...

hold on, got to finish downloading this album

[thebigbadburn]

i've discovered more bands (some almost completely unknown but incredibly good, way better than f**king KISS) by downloading music... something previously unheard of.. how is this putting people out of work? Looks more like the access to downloading music creates better incentives for people to start making music rathen than a deterrent... man, this bozo seriously need his clock reset... and i dont even know what that means.. probably all that lead in his stupid-ass make-up has caused any functional brain cells to die..

[thebigbadburn]

hmm... maybe this guy is just desperate for attention and decided to say something that he knew would get all of us spewing and frothing like rabid hounds.... which we are, it seems... this is my fourth comment and i'm still pissed...

[Cadj]

*Downloads KISS songs in spite of Gene*

[Sajko_x]

thebigbadburn wrote:

hmm... maybe this guy is just desperate for attention and decided to say something that he knew would get all of us spewing and frothing like rabid hounds.... which we are, it seems... this is my fourth comment and i'm still pissed...

lol :p

[backtobasic]

Cadj wrote:

*Downloads KISS songs in spite of Gene*

Haha, yup.

[CousticStrangla]

I download music and if I like what I hear I buy the album. In KISS and Gene Simmons' case though, I don't download or buy their music because they suck; no worries there.

[AmazinAzian014]

I download music too, I'll admit it. I downloaded Libertad - Velvet Revolver the week before it came out, and then when it did I went out and actually bought it because I like the band enough to do so. However when Avenged Sevenfold came out with their new CD, I just straight up stole it from them.

Hopefully we're all into music for love of the instrument, but if making music is your career and you hope to make a living off of it, DOWNLOADING SUCKS.

I can say from personal experience that the production of an album is extremely costly. $5000 for recording, $5000 for gear, $1000 for CD duplication, $300 for art design, etc. If I put my CD out there for $5 a CD, and I found it on Limewire I'd be both angry and happy. I'd be angry that people are downloading my music, but happy that someone cared enough to do so.

Bottom line is that for established musicians such as Simmons, making money should be the LEAST of his ****ing concerns but he IS right when he says it's put hundreds of thousands of people out of work. Now that it's so easy to download music, bands on new labels rarely ever take off from the ground because people can go out and get torrents of their CD for free, and the artist never sees any profit or sometimes even break even.

Surely within the next five-ten years we'll see some form of vast change in how music is distributed.

If you took the time to read this. Thanks. And check out my music. =)

myspace.com/poupiam

[aic_rooster]

Seems to me like the record industry did just fine with KISS. And as for putting millions of people out of work...I'd really like to know how.

[ihaterap69]

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

Now I feel like downloading Kiss music and sending an e-mail to him about it

with the mp3 file attached

[thebigbadburn]

ihaterap69 wrote:

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

Now I feel like downloading Kiss music and sending an e-mail to him about it

with the mp3 file attached

HAHA.. we should all do that!

[carpincowboy]

watched family jewels yeah he`s a caring father but all he really cares about is money. every time he goes somewhere he has to try and make more dosh. **** him music should be free anyway.

[Nathan_393]

Definitely going to have to see some new way of distributing music in the next while.
And Kiss has made their millions, so they can shut up.

And I'm too broke to afford CDs, especially when they want them at such ridiculous prices. So the record companies can shut up and sell them cheaper.

AND HOLY CRAP THE REAL PROBLEM IS NOT DOWNLOADING MUSIC. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE PUTTING OUT CRAP MUSIC. If I want music, I'm paying for the good music. I'll download crap music for free.

Seeing as how Kiss sucks, then their music deserves to be stolen. Glam metal needs to die. And honestly, all the money is made from live shows anyways. Bands probably make all of $2 from every CD sold. It adds up, but holy geez I don't care. This is coming from an aspring musician too, by the way.

[MXFNCK]

i dont want him to make a new album too

[phoenix_88]

you know, i don't hear everyone in the porn industry complaining about illegal downloading...

[rygun091]

He's right.

[Nathan_393]

MXFNCK wrote:

i dont want him to make a new album too

He's making a new album???
He's a douche.
And I think downloading is probably making money for the good musicians. I'll never buy a CD from a band I haven't heard of before without downloading a couple songs first to hear what I think. Recently, I've discovered Exodus, Testament, and Nuclear Assault that way. So, what the heck is wrong with it when I still buy the CDs?

[roarinflames]

and people still bitch about lars ulrich.
this guy is a douche bag. especially since i'm a college kid with a freshly scrubbed face who just so happens to get all his music from the cd's i buy at stores.
FUCK YOU GENE SIMMONS!!

i think you have no clue
and yet all you can do is market an overused band that hasn't released an album in nearly 10 years to sell beer coolers and condoms.
hopefully the record company puts you out on the street soon so you won't have words that irritate me in the morning.
Go Generalize someone else you greedy selfish jerk.
-1 fan

[Fi-Fi]

jezus that guys got a few billions on his bank acount and he sais he doesn;t want to do new music cause he wont get payed?? so much for the all for the fans stuff gene -.-

[thejester]

i support gene simmons. the older i get the more i agree with him in the fact that this is stealing

[UltimateNirvana]

could he be more of a dick.... just cause Kiss sucks ass, doesnt give him the right be such a dick.
like said before "FUCK YOU GENE SIMMONS!!!!"
P2P!!!!!

[luvmygibby]

Everyone here is missing the point. Maybe Gene sux a$$ and maybe KISS does too, but it really doesn't matter. Downloading effects not only these guys, but all musicians and all the behind the scene peeps too. Such as your most hated record execs and also the producers and sound engineers that make the music sound good to your ears. All you people that say you download music and then go buy it are full of shit too cause everyone knows that just aint true.

The point of the matter is all of these people are working on their craft - making something for you to enjoy and you're stealing their work. That's all there is too it. There is no denying it.

[GiantRaven]

All I got from that article is that if I download music he will stop making it...

*fires up limewire*

[luvmygibby]

Just think if it was you being ripped off.... What would you do and how would you feel?

[Shredder Guitar]

his opinion hasnt mattered since that sad attempt of a disco song and the removal of the makeup that KISS did. Settle down, Gene.

[the_extremist00]

bla bla bla good old "i want my moneeeyyy"

what if i rip a cd to mp3, and e-mail it to someone ? illegal to go on peoples mail you know
who is ever going to know ?
peer2mail ? hmmmm

and if i rip my entire collection into a cuple DVDs and borrow all my friends ? and if they do the same ?

its the same thing
gene simmons was cool like...15 years ago
now its just an old man desperate for money

i can plug my guitar in, record a song in 10 mins, post it online, get critique, few people listening, IF im good more people will listen, and i spent 0 $ on that, and these guys keep spending thousands to go on MTV, to play on radio
"The record industry doesn't have a f*cking clue how to make money"
of course, the money is ours to make now, get your greedy noses of our stuff =D

and stop figthting the internetz, for it iz serious bizness =D

[neversleeps84]

That's one of the funniest things I've ever read. Does he think kids are going to go an buy one of his crusty old albums? Kiss has had a built in fan base for many, many years and the fans are loyal, so he knows they are going to go and buy his crap anyway. Downloading will cost Kiss album sales because Gene knows that kids from this generation will download one of their songs and most likely say "This sucks, I wouldn't pay for this." He should just stick to his crappy cartoon (if it's even still on) and lame forays into reality television, collect his money, and stop being bitter.

[5250]

Buy a KISS album and you'll get two good songs and eight filler songs. Now who is getting ripped off?

[roarinflames]

neversleeps84 wrote:

That's one of the funniest things I've ever read. Does he think kids are going to go an buy one of his crusty old albums? Kiss has had a built in fan base for many, many years and the fans are loyal, so he knows they are going to go and buy his crap anyway. Downloading will cost Kiss album sales because Gene knows that kids from this generation will download one of their songs and most likely say "This sucks, I wouldn't pay for this." He should just stick to his crappy cartoon (if it's even still on) and lame forays into reality television, collect his money, and stop being bitter.

i didn't even know he had a cartoon to be honest
guess that means hes getting washed up.

[Andy2k64]

tbh im sure people like gene simmons can go without having a million or so...people moan that its about money. If a band is out there because of the money they shouldn't be there

[JFY]

It's only the rich "stars" that complain about it...
They don't need money...

[efferus]

Gene, I was never a fan and never will be. You're not an artist. You're scum. Take your millions of dollars, and go shove up them up your ass. It'll give you something better to do with your time.

[7thhell]

Go away, Gene.

[Kayfan]

"How are you going to deliver it? How are you going to get paid for it if people can just get it for free?"

I seem to recall a very "new" very "foreign" band called Radiohead offering their album for any price (even free), and then making a shitload of money for it, but nobody has ever heard of them so it doesn't matter now does it?

[sillybuuger12]

The Bands themselves makes very very little money off of the CD's that we buy (or not as the case may be) in the shops. there's increasingly a view amoung musicians that it is a promo tool to get people to come to their gigs and to buy their other merchandise at those gigs, that is where the REAL money is for th bands and it is the band that pays the producers and sound egenears who record them. the people who make money off those CD's are the record execs and people like HMV and the MPA who are rich enough as it is so quite honestly i couldn't give a flying fuck about them. i will carry in downloading and going to support the bands i love when they play live.
Also if most of the band are dead or something like that then I see no problem with downloading it, it was them that made the music not the record company so I think I'll download that Robert Johnson or Charlie Parker album thankyou.
also as someone quite rightly pointed out, downloading allows us to find new music easily, i would never have found one of my favorite bands, (a scandinavian band called Lumsk)if I hadn't downloaded it and now i fully intend to buy their albums because i like them that much.

[The Man Himself]

"Every little college kid, every freshly-scrubbed little kid's face should have been sued off the face of the earth."
Wow, what a douchebag, suing kids? Oh no, I feel so bad that these rockstars might have to work a real job and be down to earth like all of us, wouldn't that be horrible? A world where there was no money in music so we aren't supporting some rockstars drug addiction and they do it for fun instead of a business. wow I don't even want to think of how awful that would be. Theres a lot of real musicians out there who are nothing like Gene and don't care about making money. The days of the rockstars are dead, get over it. They raped it for everything it was worth and their gonna criticize us the fans? I don't think so. Gene should just go back to filming his reality show.

[Korzack]

This is coming from the guy who lives comfortably from KISS lunchboxes & all the rest of the merch he signed up with in the band's hey-day. The day I take Gene Simmons' advice on matters like this is the day Hell froze over & became part of the Ice caps scientists are fretting about so much.

[Boooonnngggggg9]

dont forget that gene simons pattened the phrase "OJ"

[cameronc]

gene simmons has nothing to worry about. he isnt a great musician... no one would waste time downloading his stuff

[swervin]

oh please like they don't make enough money. I am going to continue to download just because of people like him

[Draken]

Kiss sold out a long time ago so his opinion is invalid.

[Stampede]

-1 another

[Adamus9]

I think that this is a dumb thing for Gene to say, its not like hes in the poor house with all the merchandise and his show. also i just want to say to people that download to test music i think that is a bad excuse. bands put up myspaces and music on their web pages so people can listen to some of their songs and see what they sound like so really there is no justification for downloading

[aseme]

How do you make money if nobody buys your cd?

You tour...

[Nor'Easterbass]

gene simmons is a money-grubbing homo and is just pissed he can't buy the world itself because mp3's were born and now he's not making as much as he used to. TOO DAMNED BAD. I download but I support every band that deserves it by buying their album and their merch when I can. "Gene should just go back to filming his reality show" is right, said by The Man Himself. lol.

[roarinflames]

Draken wrote:

Kiss sold out a long time ago so his opinion is invalid.

normally i hate when someone says a band sold out,
but this is not the case.
gene simmons is totally a sellout.
you have only sold out when you resort to beer coolers and lunchboxes.

[b-rentt!]

Hey Gene, Buddy..What The F*** are you saying, you don't even know what your talking about anyways, everybody downloads music, your stuck in the past, well get out and face the facts, and please, like your concerned about how much money you would or would not make, you greedy S O B, nobodys gonna buy your Sh*t now anyways, so you know what Gene, if your worried that your not gonna make enough money, go throw on your 10inch hi-heel platforms, a pound of make-up and ***** yourself out, just like the good old days!!!, *******
--Brentt!
p.s., KISS wasn't that great!

[Robin_OldSchool]

Thanks to downloading I'm probably a KISS fan, I wondered long if Gene really only cared about money but I gues he does. So what that people download, if they really like the music the will also buy dvds and cds afterwards. I'm not buying a cd from a band that I dont know, I download it first and if I really like it I buy the cds. Real fans do that. I mean I first downloaded KISS and fount it awesome now Ive got 10 cds from them so I already spend a lot of money for him

[senorpepe]

And Gene Simmons should Fall of the face of the earth. I seriously thought he was dead already. Nah j/k, but hes being a d@#$ face.

[marcus00]

roarinflames wrote:

Draken wrote:

Kiss sold out a long time ago so his opinion is invalid.
normally i hate when someone says a band sold out,
but this is not the case.
gene simmons is totally a sellout.
you have only sold out when you resort to beer coolers and lunchboxes.

Or when you offer your entire family to a scripted "reality" tv show.

[Anjohl]

"I've actually bought more albums since being able to download music as its given me a much greater and wider venue to find new good music..."

Yup, that's me too. I found the following bands over the last few years via downloading, and I know have a stack of CD's by each:

Queensryche
Candlemass

[chrisbeevor]

Wasn't it proved statistically that downloading has actually had equally as positive an effect on CD sales as it has a negative one?

It's apparently positive advertising for a band and their concerts become more frequentiated and so on.

I personally think instead of thinking about punishing the people that are downloading, they should try and look more into what they can do to get more people back into buying... obviously it's the money mainly but there's got to be other factors that influence it. Lack of free band samples maybe?

[CrazyPigeon]

Well, not everyone is made of money. I have about 75 albums on my PC, at about £10 an album, thats £750 at least. When I start to earn decent money I will go out and buy the CDs or legally download, but I'm a 16 year old in full time education without a job...

Seriously though, he is ****ing loaded already... Its just for the attention. Why don't more bands do a Radiohead? It takes balls to pull out a trick like that and they did it and made shit loads out of it.

[hobo467]

Haha, that's Gene for ya. I would've expected more, actually. At least bands still make money off touring. The record industry, however, is done for.

[Metal_Rich]

Mihyaeru wrote:

I'm pretty sure by suing those kids ull sell even less albums as theyll ave even less money to psend on albums than before! I've actually bought more albums since being able to download music as its given me a much greater and wider venue to find new good music...I can't speak for everyone but I know that some people like myself still by albums and just use downloading to test music out before spending loads of money on a potentially rubbish album

Well said.

Nice that Gene was sticking up for the whole industry and not just himself and his band... makes a change from everyone else.

[Jondy]

yes, you're so right gene simmons, college students who can't afford to buy music should be sued off the face of the earth so your ass can be even richer. **** you!

[metalifan]

I agree with Gene! Downloading for free is totally wrong! If you download then the band will go bust and that means no more rocking concerts! Just go to the shop and bloody buy the CD! Computer geeks who can't be arsed getting out of their arse to buy the album from a shop!

[Borza]

Gene Simmons is an idiot. Music business is in such a mess because of the crappy that's coming out these days. Actually, some of the best bends you can only find on internet (especially if you live in some third world country). Services like Last.fm are a fine example and I think we're in for a music revolution.

And, although artists have to make a living, and I fully support buying albums, I think one of the greatest pleasures for a musician is when people listen to his music, no matter they got it.

[hoppo90]

most people includin myself download a song prior 2 buyin the recor 2 make sure the band doesnt completely suck ass - if there gd chances are people will buy it. and also wouldnt u say its good having your stuff downloaded as it at leasts get u known by more ppl. simmons is minted these days so i dont know y he gives two turds the selfish cock. kiss had some good songs but 2 b fair - they werent no hendrix experience, their new material would b cock. F**k buying it if u bring a new album out simmons - ill see if it aint complete balls beforehand by downloading

[tim311mahoney]

I agree with Simmons. Most of you cheap pr*cks can't afford $15 for an album ($10 on Itunes)? That's absolutely pathetic. These musicians make music that you enjoy, you SHOULD have to pay for it! They worked hard for their careers. Who cares if they're living in a studio apartment or a mansion in beverly hills?! They got where they are because they're successful at what they do. They deserve every penny that comes their way and should be entitled to more. And I know that a bunch of you will cop out on the, "uhhh, i'm poor i don't work" crap. Anyone can get an after school job.

[Taker]

Most people that download music wouldn't have paid for them in the first place, so I really don't see the big deal.

[Mojo89]

this is coming from a guy who says rock and roll is 90% image. If kiss would focus more on their music then their make up and their stage show they could probably be a good band being as they had some some what descent songs in their catalog. It would be different if he were taking it from the approach "I'm an artist, this is what I do I feel that it's robbery to take me of my work for free" not that i agree with that view point but I can understand where it would be coming from. Instead its "there crooks i dont get my damn money so i can buy my mansion. I have to settle for a smaller air plane!" ha that episode of south park says it all if you've ever seen that hahahaa =)

[candysars]

like anyone listens to kiss anymore

[phillyguitar]

winningdays wrote:
For the record, KISS sucked ass.

lol, p0wned!

[smalRaptor]

I've got lots of CDs. I support free music, but I also support bands that I believe deserve it. I'm not going to pay 15 dollars for one song on a cd full of crap. Gene Simmons can put stuff in his butt.

[sc_stanger]

what does it mean when they say 'downloaders'? are they talkin about the hardcore downloaders that have 20,000 songs off of limewire or what? i only download a couple for few and if i like...i buy the cd...whats the harm in that?

[nibsabbath1825]

I don't download music but there is a point that must be made: What the hell happened to making music for the sake of making music? What the hell happened to making music for the fans? Apparently Gene Simmons has lost sight of what matters over the years. It shouldn't be about making money. And I AM a musician. I don't care if I make $100 a night or $10 a night. It doesn't matter to me because I play music for the enjoyment of it not so I can buy a new ****ing yacht. Anybody who thinks that music is for the money needs to choke. Gene Simmons included.

[break-me-in]

1. I don't like KISS.
2. Gene Simmons is an unjustifiably arrogant prick.
3. He shouldn't need to worry about money.
4. I don't support downloading, but I am now going to go and download the entire discography of KISS, then delete it. Just to piss him off.

[smalRaptor]

Also, support your own ass by performing live and caring for you fans.

[StenTheAwesome]

Looks like he'll never escape his inner jew.

[aig91]

nibsabbath1825 wrote:

I don't download music but there is a point that must be made: What the hell happened to making music for the sake of making music? What the hell happened to making music for the fans? Apparently Gene Simmons has lost sight of what matters over the years. It shouldn't be about making money. And I AM a musician. I don't care if I make $100 a night or $10 a night. It doesn't matter to me because I play music for the enjoyment of it not so I can buy a new ****ing yacht. Anybody who thinks that music is for the money needs to choke. Gene Simmons included.

I agree with you 100%! He's just pissed because it's all about making money to him

[Dr.Tomahawk]

Sorry Gene. Did this stop you from getting the $12,000,000 Beverly Hills mansion you wanted? Did you have to settle for the $10,000,000 one instead?

I wonder the exact date when he and others like him stopped playing music because he enjoyed it and started to play it for the money

[UrMomsMom]

I duno about you guys, but downloading helps me find lost records or albums that i cant find on stores, plus if i was to buy all the albums i have, il be living on the street...

[smalRaptor]

Damn, bands get more money from touring anyway! Gene would know that if his band didn't glorify itself by being the biggest sellout in the history of music.

[mp3stalin]

what an asswipe... dexter holland of the offspring put it best... limewire and all that is just like the old days when people tape shared... its not GOOD for the industry... but its not BAD ethier. the reason that things wont sell is the record industry and the stores like FYE wanting $20 for a damn CD.

[IronMaiden5]

Mihyaeru wrote:

I'm pretty sure by suing those kids ull sell even less albums as theyll ave even less money to psend on albums than before! I've actually bought more albums since being able to download music as its given me a much greater and wider venue to find new good music...I can't speak for everyone but I know that some people like myself still by albums and just use downloading to test music out before spending loadso f money on ap otentially rubbish album

+1, I usually download some of the music before I buy the album so I know that I won't be wasting my money. And whatever happened to playing music because you enjoyed it and not for the money? That is one reason I don't like Gene Simmons.

[neversleeps84]

metalifan wrote:

I agree with Gene! Downloading for free is totally wrong! If you download then the band will go bust and that means no more rocking concerts! Just go to the shop and bloody buy the CD! Computer geeks who can't be arsed getting out of their arse to buy the album from a shop!

Where is the info to back up that claim? Downloading has been going on for quite a few years now, and how many bands, especially already established mainstream bands, have actually went "bust" because of it? It's probably somewhere in the area of "none". If anything, bands have been getting more notoriety because of downloading, it's the record companies that lose money. And there are many artists who still go platinum and multi-platinum, so it can't be a humongous loss.

I have found many bands I love because of downloading, and when I find a band I like, I go and buy their CD. But I'm not gonna waste my money on a band if they suck.

[gitchef]

What a greedy a**hole this guy is. Never liked KISS, now i know why

[mister sir]

hey F U C K you guys, ur all stealing music when record stores are closing down. if you dont have the money to buy the records, dont listen to the music, just how it was in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. why should they suffer because u cant pay for the records. go F,U,C,K yourselves you dirty crooks and go to hell.
hes aloud the be ****ing bitter.

[Johnny_talent]

puppetmaster917 wrote:

not gonna stop me from downloading my music.

thats cos you're an idiot, cant you tell that downloading music just means a band and a label make no money and you know how labels operate, if a band gets a record contract and barely sells any albums cos people are downloading it all then the product driven label will just drop them.
So an immense new band will got dropped cos people like you download their music instead of keeping them employed

[IMABBALLPLAYER]

Wow, Gene Simmons is so dumb. The music Industry will never go out of business because of people downloading music.

[Johnny_talent]

mister sir wrote:

hey F U C K you guys, ur all stealing music when record stores are closing down. if you dont have the money to buy the records, dont listen to the music, just how it was in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. why should they suffer because u cant pay for the records. go F,U,C,K yourselves you dirty crooks and go to hell.
hes aloud the be ****ing bitter.

f**king agreed, bands and labels make enough not to go bust but they dont operate properly and bands will get dropped, u wouldnt take an artists paintings for free so why take a bands music

[Aceofextreme]

ok...I don't even like Kiss or Gene Simmons, but he's absolutely right. I mean, people that download music for free are stealing, and after all, music is something worth paying for. what about all the up and coming musicians? people are losing jobs over this.

[JoeyDengler]

People just have this strange idea that all musicians are super rich - they dont seem to realize that they work their asses off to get there. Yeah they have alot of fun doing it and dont have to worry about the pressures of doing a 9-5 job but who cares? its their life and their decision to do that. Gene Simmon has every right to be bitter because why should he put music out there if people are just going to stea it - i bet anyone who complains about Gene Simmons would hate it if they worked their asses off and didnt get shit for it.

[americablanco]

Doesn't he make money out of everything nowadays? I think he even has his own condom line. Seriously...

[life_247]

Music sales in the UK have increased every year since the advent of downloads.

Also Gene Simmons is the embodiment of commericialised rock.

[El Jordo]

he's just in it for the money. your a dick gene

[El Jordo]

break-me-in wrote:

1. I don't like KISS.
2. Gene Simmons is an unjustifiably arrogant prick.
3. He shouldn't need to worry about money.
4. I don't support downloading, but I am now going to go and download the entire discography of KISS, then delete it. Just to piss him off.

way ahead of yah ahha

[brianmay1966]

Gene, go bury yourself in a Kiss casket. KISS hasn't been relevant since the 70's. I, too, am going to download the entire KISS catalogue,again, and then delete it. I call on everyone to do the same!!! UNITE!!!!

[1llusionz]

Aceofextreme wrote:

ok...I don't even like Kiss or Gene Simmons, but he's absolutely right. I mean, people that download music for free are stealing, and after all, music is something worth paying for. what about all the up and coming musicians? people are losing jobs over this.

Lots of holes in this argument. . .I agree with neversleep84. I download to check out new bands and what not. If I like, then I'll buy. It is better than buying a bunch albums to checking out, turning out I don't like them, and be stuck with the CD forever and you cannot return it. :/

But this doesn't surprise me, Gene commercial the hell out of KISS. Anything you name, there is a product that has a KISS logo.

[chris14579]

gene thinks hes ****ing gods gift to earth, hes all about money hell put the kiss logo on a steamy piece of shit if he could make money off of it, i hope they never make another record.

[Toasty25000]

If record companies want people to stop downloading they need to bring down the price of CDs, because as it stands now it's ****in' highway robbery.

[thefuture]

This is the same talentless, commercial sellout douchebag who patented the term "OJ"

[<Craig>]

The fact is artists dont make any money from albums anyway, about £1 per album if theyre lucky. The ways to make money in the music industry are to play gigs and sell merch.

Downloading music is wrong, yeah sure, but most people who own a computer have downloaded at least one song at one point in their life.

Also, Gene simmons pattented the little money bag with the dollar sign on it as a symbol for his record company, and as a board game symbol. then he Phoned the peopl ewho make Monopoly and said thanks very much for using my money bag symbol in your game, I'd like my money please. So they payed him COMPENSATION, AND he gets a royalty on every Monopoly board game with that symbol on it.

I now buy CD's instead of downloading it, unless i cant find it anywhere, but can find it on a download site.

Bloody Gene Simmons!

[ghostofhendrix]

I think downloading is both good and bad. It helps less commercial bands become more successful/well known, but it does eat of the profit of the big bands. At the end of the day tho, its really not gene's problem- he has enough cash anyway. I do agree that that some artists aren't as well paid as they deserve to be tho- touring isn't exactly a walk in the park even if it is fun

[Year Zero]

Say what you will but he does have a point. If you built a house and wanted to sell it, don't you think you should get paid for all your hard work? Same goes with records. You have to realize that this is their job and how they put food on the table. At the same time I think a record company should provide a full preview of the album you want at anytime over the net. You just can't download it to burn to CD's.

[1llusionz]

Lars Ulrich, eat your heart out.

[ghostofhendrix]

Toasty25000 wrote:

If record companies want people to stop downloading they need to bring down the price of CDs, because as it stands now it's ****in' highway robbery.

Actually i think the record companys sell them for a decent amount- normally something like £6- or $12 if youre american. Its mainly the middle men eg. record shops that overcharge in order to make a killer profit. In the long run though, they'd probably get more money from selling them cheaper, as more people would buy them

[metalj0se]

I'm pretty sure this fake...

[BINGBANG]

why would i waste my money and my time going to a music store when i can simply get it for free in my home in 5 mins.

i buy albums but the ones that i really love beside i buy dvds and t-shirt and a ticket for their shows isnt that enough money for them.

[Regular_Guy]

Way to make it seem way more black and white than it is, Gene.

[1llusionz]

metalj0se wrote:

I'm pretty sure this fake...

It's not fake, I've check the Billboard website. The article is there.

[nibsabbath1825]

smalRaptor wrote:

Damn, bands get more money from touring anyway! Gene would know that if his band didn't glorify itself by being the biggest sellout in the history of music.

+1 Ask Lars Ulrich on this issue. It's not the bands that are getting screwed by downloading--it's the record companies. And as far as I'm concerned, the greedy self-important bastards deserve every rape they receive from every downloader on the planet. Most of them allow their signed bands no freedom whatsoever. That in itself is a much larger injustice than somebody downloading one song rather than buying an entire album from FYE for $20 ($5-10 overpriced, mind you)

I must also mention that if a band is big enough and popular enough, there is no living way on God's green earth that they are going to be in any danger. If the band IS dropped, they'll be picked up again right away. Record companies aren't stupid. No one in their right mind would drop a band like Atreyu, Killswitch Engage or any other such mainstream powerhouse. It would be folly. And if they DID get dropped, as I said, some other record company would find ****ing Christmas in their back pocket because no one would allow one of these bands to sit around without a label. There's too much of a potential to make more money.

[darkfire_storm]

demiphoenix wrote:

D: gene simmons doesn't like me?
this could ruin the rest of my day...

hold on, got to finish downloading this album

this made me laugh.

[nibsabbath1825]

Oh, incidentally, when I did download music (3 years ago) I never downloaded even one Kiss song.

That is one band that has never been worth the effort on either broadband or dialup. Certainly they were innovative in a way, but the musical value of Kiss isn't even numerical. It's more along the lines of mold.

[Lipscomb]

the music industry should stop crying and work harder on security measures,they should also remember all the years they ripped consumers off.Im old enough to rememember buying cassette tapes and records for up to $16 to $25 a pop ,back then those prices were rediculous,but if you wanted music thats what you paid!

[freshtunes]

I completely agree with Gene. If you like a band you should support them.

[edibledevilboy]

i agree with Gene and freshtunes - if you really wanna test out an album, you buy the single or youtube the video of it or something.
Taking free music is stealing just like taking anything else for free with less consequences, as a music fan it's only right to pay for it

[Lipscomb]

buy the way i was around when kiss first came out .they sucked then and they suck now.Gene Simmons reality shows proves what a jackass he is.

[Lipscomb]

in light of my previous comments i would also like to say we should support artists especially the up and coming ones buy paying for the music they produce.

[neversleeps84]

mister sir wrote:

hey F U C K you guys, ur all stealing music when record stores are closing down. if you dont have the money to buy the records, dont listen to the music, just how it was in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. why should they suffer because u cant pay for the records. go F,U,C,K yourselves you dirty crooks and go to hell.
hes aloud the be ****ing bitter.

Um, no. Back in the day, especially with cassettes, if someone didn't have money for a tape that their friend had, they would just make a copy, which I guess you could consider the primitive version of file sharing.

As for record stores closing down, large chain stores like Wal-Mart, Target, etc. probably have more to do with that than file sharing. If I want a CD and I'm shopping for groceries at Wal-Mart, I'll buy it there (unless it is a censored version of an album). More often than not, the small chain music stores are more expensive (at least from my experience).

And once again, Gene is not allowed to be bitter because Kiss made the bulk of their money off of merchandise and concerts compared to their album sales.

[neversleeps84]

freshtunes wrote:

I completely agree with Gene. If you like a band you should support them.

Hence the term "like". I support all bands I like. I buy their CD, merch, go to shows, etc. But if I hear a single by an up and coming band on the radio, I'll download maybe 3 more of their songs. If they suck, then I don't buy the CD and delete the files. I don't expect every CD I buy to be a classic, but if there are at least 4 songs I love then I feel it's worth my money.

[_Bucky_]

I reckon the whole downloading generation actually helps the music industry more than anyone realises.

1st - A wider range of music is available to more people = far more musicians get work, and the "musicians" who nowadays get the biggest paychecks will just have a little less money.

2nd - The music will soon be about the music again, and not just the money. When I download a really good CD, I'll go and buy it the next day. When I download a crappy CD, I don't even bother to listen to it more than once or twice - why in the hell would I pay 200 swedish Kronas for that (about 30 us dollars)? That's just plain stupid.

3rd - The record companies won't have to spend as much money on promoting a CD - if it's good, it'll promote itself on the net. So, they'll save money leading to better wages for musicians or/and lower prices on CD's.

4th - When the prices drop as a result of the above, more people will be able to buy more CD's.

I could go on forever like this, anyone could, by using the brain for about 3 minutes. But the record companies are probably too busy guarding their not so well-deserved money to realise this.

[_Bucky_]

Oh - and one more important point. Good bands make most of their money by playing gigs. Only the record companies get filthily rich by selling CDs.

[ledzep618]

I guess Gene should just stick to making his $50 a bottle KISS Cologne. At least that can't be downloaded for free.

[_Bucky_]

And to keep my spamming rolling.... You can't download the feeling you get from a live concert. It's impossible, no matter how good the quality is.

[guitarguy.jerem]

Bands should stop worrying about people downloading there music for free.
They should be more worried about selling tickets to there shows because that is where the money is going to be.
And he is defined as "pop/metal" haha. That's a new one in my books.

[Nerdo-sez-bo]

Haha, well, turns out your music sucks. Bad luck.

But, I usually buy what I download afterwards, so I suppose I'm redeemed.

[Cied Shredder]

echofreak wrote:

"Those kids are putting 100,000 to a million people out of work"

source? i seriously doubt its putting them out of work there just not making the ridiculous money that they used to. i feel bad for the poor record executives out on the streets.

Of course Gene Simmons was prepared to have this arguement. They're not making the money they used to, not NEARLY. Most musicians hold two jobs if they aren't making a lot of sales. Even one of the Used guys when they were in their prime was a car salesman on top of touring. He's not talking about the record execs, he's talking about the musicians. Use your head.

(I'm in no way advocating what he said...)

[joshua029]

everyone does it... but it shouldn't be happeneing...

[Schizopathic]

Cadj wrote:

*Downloads KISS songs in spite of Gene*

everyone should download tons of KISS songs, make like Mix CD's of them all...and then mail them to Gene Simmons...the stuck-up old f*ck that he is...

[pigmaggots]

What does Gene care? he's make his money and continues to make it by selling crap merch.

Like i've said a billion times...if bands make good albums, then people will buy them anyway.

[Super-Peanut]

juuust lost a LOT of respect for the man

[Macabre_Turtle]

Gene Simmmons is a dick. I used to atleast think he was a good business man, but I guess he doesn't realize that the money doesn't come from record sales, it comes from the shit the records allow you to sell afterwards.

[A_New_Level]

I guess i'm the only one who agrees with Gene. Bands are losing so much money over that. Making music is the band's ****ing job and their only making a fraction of the money they should be. All you guys are getting your free music. You don't care. If you were a band, i'm sure you wouldnt want teenagers stealing money for you worked hard for and put that much effort into.

[A_New_Level]

Bottomline, you guys are breaking the law. I don't care who you think is a sellout or whatever. YOU guys are doing the wrong. Not the bands or Gene.

[dime187]

KISS sucks and so does Gene. Grow older gracefully for Christ sake. Enjoy your golden years because God knows as old as you are you probably dont have much time left.....Until then you can kiss our downloading asses... and not to wory were not downloading your crap anyway!!!!!

[1llusionz]

Bands don't get most of their money from albums sells. So. . . I'll still buy if I like the CD and if sold in US.

[keeponjammin08]

I'll tell you how you make ****ing money, you tour, and put on a good show like a real musician should. Kiss always sucked, and Gene Simmons is a joke. My dog takes shits with more talent than he has.

[keeponjammin08]

And now, I'm going to download the entire KISS discography.

[SurfinWithSatch]

Mihyaeru wrote:
I've actually bought more albums since being able to download music as its given me a much greater and wider venue to find new good music...I can't speak for everyone but I know that some people like myself still buy albums and just use downloading to test music out before spending loads of money on a potentially rubbish album

Bang on the same as me. Why go spend a tenner on something which might turn out to be a load of crap when you can download, have a listen and if you like it, buy it, if you don't, you just delete. In my opinion it makes bands that sell loads of records look even better, coz for people like us that listen then decide to buy rather than buy and chuck the CD in the trash, if they are getting loads of sales, they must be doing something right.

(Btw I know half of that was jibberish so ignore it)

[anticlementous]

I wouldn't listen to that crap for free, especially since that douche only cares about the money and not the music.

[Chaosinferno825]

Lol... "Oh noes, I have to use a slightly smaller obscenely priced private plane! Wait... I don't."

Stop whining. KISS Meets the Phantom is a great example of KISS doing crap just for a profit.