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.

[Black Hole Sun]

Super Rich Gene Simmons says: "People who don't have much money, stop downloading music, so I can have more money." He follows up by being an idiot by either assuming that every single college student is exactly the same or that everyone must pay for the crimes of a group they belong to. It really shows that he did music for all the right reasons. Money. What a greedy dickhole.

[Mudvayne_4_Life]

Gene seems like a great guy, now if he could just get his head out of his pocket.

[Noverion]

I CANT BELIEVE THE SHIT IVE READ IN THIS

what the **** planet are you morons are you on, sit and think for a minute, okay Gene Simmons is a rich guy, who cares, its about the PRINCIPLE, how would you guys feel if you were doing a job and not getting paid for it. what about those bands that arent as well off as KISS and gene, and need to shift music to LIVE. MUSIC is peoples JOB, downloading their WORK for free is like getting to someone to work for you and hten not paying them, its virtual slavery, ****ing hell.

[dantheman123]

ah! downloading music has stopped him from making another cd!! it just gives and gives!

[huge-o]

damn greedy jew just wants more money for himself

[SoftParade1967]

I download music because I love the artists and there music. I have no money and too young to get a job. and once I get a job im gonna buy cds. But until then. I'll download some music.

But I will say Noverion made alot of good points.

[NightEmbers]

Thats why I really hate Gene Simons

not that he's against Downloading but the fact that he's all about money, and we all know Gene is a Filthy Rich ****Head so more is just plain greed. I mean have you seen how much his clothing line goes for... its insane!

[dantheman123]

Noverion wrote:

I CANT BELIEVE THE SHIT IVE READ IN THIS

what the **** planet are you morons are you on, sit and think for a minute, okay Gene Simmons is a rich guy, who cares, its about the PRINCIPLE, how would you guys feel if you were doing a job and not getting paid for it. what about those bands that arent as well off as KISS and gene, and need to shift music to LIVE. MUSIC is peoples JOB, downloading their WORK for free is like getting to someone to work for you and hten not paying them, its virtual slavery, ****ing hell.

I think its you who needs to sit and think for a minute. Also spend a minute to check your spelling if you want to be taken seriously. Yes it is their job, but it should also be their passion and just the fact that millions of people around the world are listening to their music should be more then satisfactory. Also bands make pretty much nothing off of cd sales, most of the money goes to the record company, and then the government and then the stores and then the few cents left go to the actual band. If their music is good then fans will pay money to see them live and/or buy their merch. Thats how bands make money and they should be more then happy with that. Yes downloading music causes a bit of a problem to bands and they are loosing a bit of money, but nowhere close to enough for people like Gene to flip out and be a stereotypical douche bag.

[warfalcon53]

wow. people talk about metallica selling out, other bands selling out. but KISS is founded on selling out. they are the biggest sellouts the music world has ever seen. thats why all their music sucks. this is rediculous, i mean, i download music to see if its worth buying, and if it is, then i go directly to the store and buy it, unless its a band that i already love, such as dethklok metallica, etc. its like gene simmons would never just buy a bagel without trying it first, and then asking for a discount, on top of his coupon, then only eat half of it to save it for later so he could take it back for a refund.....gene simmons is a jew

[Winsbury]

lol... it appears i am the only person who agrees with him. Think about it, if no one bought music from their favourite bands, then theyll have no money, meaning theyd have to get proper jobs and have to quit the band. whether you like it or not, all bands revolve around money, wouldnt you like to have lots of money? corse you will!

[dovic]

I like Kiss music, but Gene Simmons is an *******.
Till 20th century there was no copyright at all and musicians had to play very much to earn their livings, so Gene, you can suck my dick because I don't give a flying **** if you can't make money anymore.

[Lotz222]

huge-o :
damn greedy jew just wants more money for himself

thats kinda raw huge-o lol. But i do agree with i,m that the music industry is just retarded because they have to change their strategy somehow BUT F*CK OFF GENE I'LL SUE YOUR ASS FOR BEING SO GOD DAMN UGLY HA!

[Kennedy_Road]

That's f'n bs! Most artists make pennies or less from each album sold. It all goes to their label/recording studio/management etc... All the artists money comes from touring, sponsorship and merch sales. Look at KISS for example. You think they would put their name on all that crap like coffins and credit cards if they weren't making billions off of it!!?? Downloading gives the consumer a chance to preview albums and make sure they're not complete crap before they go out and spend anywhere from 12-20 bucks on them. I would have been pissed if I went out and bought the KISS disco album the day it came out, only to find out I'd rather punch myself in the face then listen to it. Of course, I hate KISS anyway. Good individual musicians with a crappy sound and less then pathetic song writing. Sorry, I had to through my personal opinion in after the facts.

[RabidBeaver]

Shouldn't music be about enjoyment and not money? I mean ya you wanna get paid but isn't playing and making the music the part to enjoy and love??

[silent caution]

he worried bout losing money, he has his name on everything from coffins to condoms, give it a rest gene

[9badarv]

i don't think it's up to Gene Simmons to judge others. why doesn't he just go back to writing cool songs with KISS, which hasn't happened since 1980. KISS is cool, but Gene Simmons is probably the first douche bag in Rock n' Roll, am I right??

[thedarkblues06]

Wow, tons of comments!! My two cents: Gene Simmons is being a fag about all of this. I'll admit, he does ave an even point, people in the record industry are failing more so than ever when it comes to music, but I would like to see where Gene backs his faggotry up with, he could've at least EXPRESSED it in a nicer tone.

Artist's money comes PRIMARILY from concert tickets and merchandise sales anyway, albums only make for a small percentage. Oh, and advertising. Even still, if I found his e-mail, I would throw everything I had at him. I for one download LEGIT...with PERMISSION (www.ruckus.com for legit d/ling Gene...oh, did I mention it was EXCLUSIVELY for college students? Eat shit.)

[IlikeMetal]

go **** yourself you washed up piece of shit. Mybe if you hadn't of ruined kiss you wouldn't have to be complaining about money.

[whoismilan]

I used to think he was an OK guy...

Luckily this article has opened my eyes.

[Insomnia57]

not every college student does it...shut up you know they do....i admit i downloaded a few songs but i realized how wrong and f**cked up it was, now i buy albums. Think about it, if you worked your a** off on a new album and put care and effort into the listing order, would you want people to just steal a few songs off it before or after it comes out? thats like stealing a pizza and not eating the crust. (sorry if this doesn't make sense or is stupid, i really just feel like arguing)

[shotgunjoe]

Gene has too much money.

[LSPapercutAP]

wat a greedy a$$hole, we make music for the music not for the money you greedy son of b*tch!

[saucehead]

Gene, I've got an idea: How 'bout doing a show where the ticket price isn't $100+? How 'bout selling a T-shirt at the show for less than $50? How 'bout having some musical integrity and putting out an album where you don't reap the benefits, but where the proceeds are donated to a charity? Lastly, how 'bout putting out an album that is so great I will spend my money on it? Why should I pay $15 to hear the same ole rehashed crap? Maybe I should sue you for not putting out a relevant album in the last 15 years.

[flea878]

It just goes to show that a band like radiohead make music for the enjoyment of writing music, and are happy for people to pay nothing. Kiss were half the musicians that radiohead will ever be, and gene simmons clearly doesnt care about the principle of downloading, just the profit side. What a lame band KISS were anyway

[mercurymay]

I guarantee he stole candy as a kid. What's he gonna do, write a written apology to Jolly Rancher? No. And what makes him think that it's only college kids? I'm a senior in High School and very offended that I'm excluded in his faggy little rant

[Dirtydeeds468]

Leave it to Gene Simmons to come up with a quote like that.

And ROFL @ "pop-metal."

[adamdrulz]

Dude, no matter what your opinion on downloading is, Gene is the muthaf***ing man. He invented the rock n' roll bada$$. Much respect to Gene.
My personal opinion, if you download an album, make it up by buying a t-shirt and seeing them live a couple of times.

[adamdrulz]

also, he is blaming the record industry more than the fans, take note

[seeing_red]

"Just think if it was you being ripped off.... What would you do and how would you feel?"
I would actually be glad kids are downloading my music that means they like me.
gene is just an old bastard

Couple of comments:

1. He's a twat.
2. Yeah, I download music, but if I didn't download it, I wouldn't buy it. You lose nothing.
3. I still buy shit loads of music, I'm reckoning on roughly £750 this year on CDs, vinyls and legal downloads, plus another couple of hundred on gigs/shirts, more if you count the cost of travel.

And *checked*

[wyldeshredder]

jeez...if i could get people to download my tunes,to listen to my material,it would be great. to have people wanting to see u play night after night is a blessing,wether ur making money off of ur albums or not. gene has been living on top of the world for to long, and is forgetting what its like to try to break through.

[SnakeSkinner]

i've never liked Gene Simmons, but this puts the icing on the cake. He is one complete a$$! I hope he rots in hell forthe comments he made about people losing their homes.

[Vedder]

shut up gene, kiss sucks, you suck and ur show really sucks. You have millions of dollars from very little talent, consider yourself blessed and stop ragging on me for not wanting to pay 20$ for 7-8 songs on a cd that i'll like. I support bands i like, seen most of them live + t-shirts/cd's etc...just download music from old or fringe bands.

[lateraluspiral]

hes just mad because no one even gives have a shit about kiss enough to illegally download their 'work'

[xxgenocide98xx]

a7xsoad wrote:

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!!!!

Music is about music, the record industry is about money. How would you go about giving out MILLIONS of records for free btw? Nobody is going to give YOU those records. Nobody is going to give YOU that bandwidth. You're going to have to come up with the money yourself. When you look at it like that, music really isn't so free anymore is it? Idiot.

[ibanezguitarkid]

^ WTF^ thats suppost to say **** you gene, but the spaces were taken out.(damn computer )

[Evan792]

I would be pissed too if my band put so much hard work and money into making an album then some punk ass kid went on the internet and got the entire thing for free! The world is so screwed up these days.

[DamageMachine]

Like Lars Ulrich said: "I don't care if you download the music, just wait till the album comes out at least"

Gene's a twat and a douche bag, he has enough money to last him 2 life times
and plus, musicians make their money off of shows and merch. Rot in hell

[neversleeps84]

A_New_Level wrote:

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.

Ok, I can speak from personal experience on this one. I am in a band (unsigned), we have a CD, and guess what? We GAVE AWAY about 60% of them. And I'm sure some of those people burned copies for friends. Know why? More people heard our music. And you know what else? There have been alot more people at our shows because of it, and we get requests for OUR songs instead of the covers we have to do most of the time. So we have made more money off of the bars and clubs we play at then we ever would have off of selling the CD itself. We sell out of our t-shirts when we get them made. We could have been pricks and told everyone "You do not get a CD unless you pay for it". Instead, we gave it to most people, and those people will spend 10-15 dollars cover charge to see us play, even if it is two nights in a row. So, let's do the math. One CD sells for 5 dollars, t-shirts would go for 10. If ONE person sees us two nights a week, that is anywhere from 20 to 30 dollars. Playing live shows and selling merchandise is obviously much more lucrative than selling a CD.

[Nathan_393]

Noverion wrote:

I CANT BELIEVE THE SHIT IVE READ IN THIS

what the **** planet are you morons are you on, sit and think for a minute, okay Gene Simmons is a rich guy, who cares, its about the PRINCIPLE, how would you guys feel if you were doing a job and not getting paid for it. what about those bands that arent as well off as KISS and gene, and need to shift music to LIVE. MUSIC is peoples JOB, downloading their WORK for free is like getting to someone to work for you and hten not paying them, its virtual slavery, ****ing hell.

good sir, you are a douche.
they don't make any money at all from cds. if you understand anything about this conflict, you would know that the big losses are for the record labels. and i'm fine with that because the record labels are a bunch of dicks anyways who try to control your music and have ruined many a good band. Remember that one called Metallica that they destroyed?
And as for bands not making enough money these days from downloading, explain to me then how even though 62% of the purchasers downloaded Radiohead's new album for free, why they still made 10 million dollars in a month.
They're reaaaalllly hurtin'.

[kirkadolph]

Pop-metal group Kiss??
wtf??

[brianmay1966]

Where can I buy KISS toilet paper? The kind w/ Gene's tongue prominently featured?

[kirkadolph]

He doesn't understand us wanting to download music for free because he's so filthy stinkin rich.

He woulda done the same damn thing if he was a kid now

[eetfuk58]

nathan_393 is right.

Downloading music hurts the labels not the band. Bands get money from tours, merch, etc. unless your radiohead haha
Labels get money from the records.

study your facts Noverion, you are naive and ignorant and it shows.

[Nathan_393]

I'm going to blog about this when I get some time...like Sunday...this just pisses me right off, all these naive idiots wandering around - including Gene Effing Simmons

[European Son]

Who ****ing cares what Gene Simmons thinks? I don't. Downloading is a fact. Stop whining. I'm not saying it's good or bad, but it's not like everybody's gonna stop downloading just because Gene Simmons says so.

People who download music do so because they love music. I doesn't matter how much you twist or turn it, they don't do it because they want to rip off artists, even though they might.

[scimitar]

we're putting them out of work? if we didn't download, they'd still be out of work. its us that put them in business in the first place when we used to buy music.

[Nathan_393]

amen

[RCalisto]

aww dammit he hates me!! why??? WHY????

[Nathan_393]

brianmay1966 wrote:

Where can I buy KISS toilet paper? The kind w/ Gene's tongue prominently featured?

this was the best thing I've ever seen.

[Seidenschnur]

If it's any consolation, Gene, I never downloaded anything from the KISS catalog. At least Ace was wasted, thus explaining his shitty playing. What's your excuse?

[Kayfan]

I wonder how much he got payed by the record companies to say this? Honestly...

[rotaguy]

GiantRaven wrote:

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

*fires up limewire*

that was the funniest comment yet!!!

[McLovin-]

he;s just getting more borke and more irritated..
for christ sakes... he made kiss kondoms.. like wtf!

[McLovin-]

edit: broke*

[teelsho]

I suppose this just shows what is important to Gene. The money. He needs to go bowling with Radiohead and learn a thing or two about passion for music. Screw him, I wouldn't even steal his music if he put out another album. He's lame.

[FFTLxx]

don't worry gene, I woulnd't dream of downloading your music.

[connorlawhorne]

i find it amazing that kiss actually made decent music when this is the kind of attitude gene has.

[myrhymeandreaso]

A musician doesn't need all that money. If they were really in it for the music, they could live with "just enough money". A true musician is for the fan and doing something they love. Just like an artist or photographer. They don't expect a lot of money, they do it because they love it.

Also, yeah. I will totally spend all the money I don't have on your CDs (which I would not ever buy a Kiss album) and not have any more money to buy food, or to go to shows or have anything else. I buy any music that is really worth it. If I really love an album I will buy it.

Haha and I totally don't care to admit this.. I am downloading hundreds of illegal songs a week over stolen WiFi internet so.. yeah haha. I don't care. Sue me Gene. F*cking sue me. Because you'll totally have fans left after that happens.

[sestemofatowel]

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

straight up!

[SG6578]

Its amazing how a man like him can complain about not recieving money. You still get a sh*tload of money from signing a contract and playing live shows. I hope he doesn't go and make a new record anyways, KISS was about looks not the music and his comments in this article really show it.

[Grapejuiceksjdf]

Even though I wont stop downloading any time soon and even though I dispise him I agree with Gene. You're all dumb, you're missing the point and you're all just scared that at some point you'll have to start buying albums again. And what he's saying about the record companies getting ****ed is true. We had a guest producer visit the music class I attend and he explained the whole deal. The future is pointing towards independent production, no more labels. Which some may say is good, and it very well may be considering how much record companies **** artists over.

[SMITH05]

winningdays wrote:

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.

Amen, I read that and wow! Passion for making music because it's a beautiful art form that enables people to connect with one another, Psht, **** that, it's about the money;] Obviously he only cares about the money, he did that atrocious show on VH1 with those British kids. I'm sure it was equivalent to how much he would have received for strapping on his bass and spitting blood through his dentures. AND FOR THE RECORD, KISS DOES BLOW DOGS FOR QUARTERS!

[trippesp]

great here comes another metallica incident hahaha

[Idiot_Son]

I download music so I can find out whether it is worth buying a cd. The majority of bands out there only have a handful of good songs, so why would I pay for them to keep recording new shit? If the songs I download sound good, I'll go out and buy the album. If I can't listen first, I'm not interested.

[Slap_Bassist]

I think when the possibility that you can make an album comes around, you'll change your mind. If you make an album and everybody gets it off limewire then you're not going to make anything, which means after all that practise you've put in not only on your own but also with the band, you'll have nothing to show for it. You'll still be stacking shelves at the local supermarket while onr of your songs plays on the radio. I know I'd be pissed. And with poor album and/or singles sales comes no or very little tour, which again means that you'll get nothing. He's made millions though. I think the bitter people should be new bands who have genuine talent and decide not to do anything about it because they know they'll get no money.

[PUNKfromNORWAY]

I totally agree with Gene, if one of u guys were trying to sell a album but the "fans" downloaded it, your out of buisniess in one sec
Ps: I know my english is bad

[thrash64]

tim311mahoney wrote:

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.

Oh yeah sorry, I forgot they deserve every penny of their millions for having a band (especially one which has obviously low musical ability). Perhaps a teenager living in complete poverty whose parents can't even afford to give him money for lunch needs to save their 15 dollars (me by the way). I love music, I need it to get me through the day. Music is not an art reserved for the elite. I'm not cheap, I'm poor. There's a big difference.

P.S. No ones ever gone broke from having their concerts sell out. I dont download from local bands, only the ones who have so much money, that they should be giving their music away by now.

[bizzzrad]

People download music for free off the internet? i thought everyone has converted to buying cd's. After all spending money is cheaper than saving money. According to avagadros number and law of octanes

[SplutterBrain]

Gene just wants your money, even if you're dead... that's why he sells KISS caskets.

[Rage`]

If I'd had any respect for that money grubbing idiot, he would have lost it right there.

[adamdrulz]

YO, The reason you should buy cd's is not because the band makes money from them, but because if the band does not cell cd's, then then get no second cd!!!!!
Unsigned bands can give away cd's because its a promotional thing.
When your on a label, the suits don't care about anything but the bottom line
STOP BEING SELFISH DUCHEBAGS

[mccann685]

he has a fair point...but es rich and es jus bein greedy....f*** up gene

[BurningTheLives]

Kinda late for him to start complaining about this since music downloading has gotten to the point where it can't be stopped unless all music is deleted off the internet, which I don't see happening.

[The Spoon]

i try to buy as much music as i can, but this in not always possible. for example most of the time, i tunes doesnt always have what i want....i dont feel like spending 10 dollars for something i might not like (although thanks to myspace, this doesnt happen anymore) and more

but if i was a signed band, id do it for fun and the love of music, concerts, people, money is just a plus

[reverseblade101]

i just lost my respect for gene man. i mean i knew he was greedy being in one of the first sell out bands ever. but come on gene, you have your own ****ing tv show for god sakes! you're filthy frigging rich already. think about the kids who cant afford 14 bucks for 1 cd. goddamn it gets me so pissed when people act like that. i still try to buy cd's as much as i can, but if there's only a few good songs on one, yea i'll stick with downloading.

[macmancometh]

If you didn't think KISS was all about the money before this, you have to now. Gene's a genius business man but he sold that band to hell. And yes, downloading's bad, but there's noting they can do to it, as of now.

[reverseblade101]

i just lost my respect for gene man. i mean i knew he was greedy being in one of the first sell out bands ever. but come on gene, you have your own ****ing tv show for god sakes! you're filthy frigging rich already. think about the kids who cant afford 14 bucks for 1 cd. goddamn it gets me so pissed when people act like that. i still try to buy cd's as much as i can, but if there's only a few good songs on one, yea i'll stick with downloading.

[BurningTheLives]

reverseblade101 wrote:

i just lost my respect for gene man. i mean i knew he was greedy being in one of the first sell out bands ever. but come on gene, you have your own ****ing tv show for god sakes! you're filthy frigging rich already. think about the kids who cant afford 14 bucks for 1 cd. goddamn it gets me so pissed when people act like that. i still try to buy cd's as much as i can, but if there's only a few good songs on one, yea i'll stick with downloading.

exactly. not everyone can afford cds. $14.99 isnt exactly cheap to everyone

[dieinafire]

lol, even if downloading music never happened, Gene still wouldn't be making any money. Failure.
Makes me want to download every kiss song, even when I know I wont listen to them. Kiss sucks. Gene needs to kill himself :/

[FenderKid87]

Gene will still be making money. He owns a ton of publishing contracts for other artists.

[MTVget0FFtheAIR]

wow gene's got some nice cleavage going on there.
he's such a faggot...to even start something like this. KISS is a joke, always have been, always will be. they raped the meaning of music and if anything, they should be the ones to be blamed for the shit record industry

[bludwolfrocks]

this comment adds to the pile of proof that gene simmons is a bloated pig

[MTVget0FFtheAIR]

we, as a community, should spite the man. everybody start burning cd after cd of kiss music and leave them lying around in tons of public places. together, we can get so many in circulation nobody will EVER buy another KISS record. WOOOHOOOO!

[metal Lover]

Just because of this I'm going to download their whole discography for free. And I don't even like Kiss.

[WhereArtEsteban]

He would.

[HelloHalo]

Remember what happened when Metallica did this?

Nice job Gene. Screwing yourself over.

[t-bo18]

k thats f*ckin stupid
sure artists dont make much money anymore from record sales, but look at the price of concert tickets! theyre still making the same amount of money, its just coming from a different source of income. suck it up gene.

[samerika]

i don't really agree agree with him.....

[Eternal_One]

Typical. Make millions, retire, then lash out at the fans.

[civilunrest]

chris_kedro wrote:

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

Not sure what you're on about with the rape thing, but do you seriously think you can sue someone for breaking up with you?

Eternal_One wrote:

Typical. Make millions, retire, then lash out at the fans.

He hasn't retired, they're (Gene and Paul) are touring next year.

Checked.

[easthatred]

I downlaod music but not whole albums. Dont act stupid people. If its your product you want it to be legitly distributed. So he has a right to be angry but at the same time hes so damn rich.

[war666child]

that is stupid... i bet his own kids download..

[ZEPPELINRULES16]

i would buy music but i dont live near any record store and walmart dosent carry anything good so downloading is almost my only option and that dosent always get me what i want i really wanted to check out john paul jone's solo album(zooma)but walmart dosent have it and the only music store is up in the city(a 3 hour drive for me)hell walmart is an hour drive from were i live

[bendiko]

Capitalist *******. If you are going to make music it should be because you want to give something to that certain someone that listens to the music, or because you LOVE music. But when your driving force becomes money, the music starts to lack what used to be spiritual about it. Over time the music gets worse. So screw Gene Simmons. I never liked Kiss and I am never going to like them either. Not after reading this bullshit.

[crueddude]

FUCK GENE SIMMONS!!! Money hungry bastard. He said before, as well as others in Kiss, that they were trying to take over the world back in the day. That same motto carries over to today. They are control and power hungry.

[!@#$]

What ever happened to music being created for the sake of creating music?

[arsonite]

Ima go download some Kiss now.

[gsr2k6]

What a joke. People will always support bands that they like. You cant simply download a concert after all and bands still sell plenty of cds. He just sounds like the tool he has always been. Entirely about the money.

[RyanEsta]

I'm not defending Gene in any way, but for those of you who say that he doesn't need the money, that "rockstars" who have millions of dollars shouldn't worry about how much money they're making on a new album, is an irrelevant statement. People should be payed what they deserve, regardless of how much money they have, simple as that. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be payed properly for the work you put in. And yes, for a lot of people making music is a type of work, and for some people it is a hobby, just like anything. I know tons of people who fix computers for free as a hobby and fix computers for a profession. Same exact thing.

[vicd08]

If I feel a band is in need of money or they are just getting started, I will GLADLY buy their CDs. But, if bands like Metallica bitch about downloads, well then I just got me 50 Metallica songs for free off LimeWire. Since when is music about money? If you need money, I'll but the CD. If you want MORE money, **** you. I don't need to spend $15 on your CD to hire you personal assistant asswiper for an hour. It's not like KISS hasn't made money on concert sales, costumes, TV appearances, t-shirts, hoodies, pinball machines, aprons, beer coozies, watches, clocks, lighters, lanyards, ashtrays, shotglasses, socks, and lip balm. I
I'd much rather keep my lips from becoming chapped with KISS lip balm than my ears from bleeding from a KISS album.

[tdiz42008]

damn, i dont know what the **** i was thinking.. deep down i knew it was wrong and i was a crook, but still...

i guess that study done at whatever college that said downloading actually increases music sales by a tiny amount was wrong..
im so ashamed.....

[DopeDanny]

Bootsy 4 Prez wrote:

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.

exactly! hes gonna sit there n try to tell ppl his kids his family whoever dont download shit? hes just bitter cause he wants as much money as he can get like the rest of us...

[DopeDanny]

NickSK wrote:

Gene Simmons. First douchebag of rock n' roll.

haha i think u forgot about axl rose n phil anselmo lmao

[aerodynamic lov]

I agree and disagree with Gene First off all people are gunna download no matter what, no point fighting it, it's wrong but people ain't gunna stop cause you said so
And Rockstars also do things called Gigs Gene jeez i mean thats where the money is putting on a great show could earn you millions

[x_themetalfan_x]

I'm gonna go download some Kiss. Lick my sweaty sack, Gene.

[cyclobs]

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.

i dont

[henza_x]

Right ok, his just bitter because "rock school" was such a good show...

And it seems his no longer wanted for guest roles on family guy either..

[Baa I'm a Sheep]

Dont worry Gene,I for one arent going to download you're precious music.....but mainly cos its all terrible and you really really dont need anymore ****ing money.

[Cobalt Blue]

if this was said by anybody but Gene Simmons I might have taken it seriously... but from what i've heard he seems like the most money hungry man in the world... I heard he copy righted "O.J." as short for orange juice because nobody had thought of it... I heard Kiss didn't want to be in the Rock & Roll hall of fame because you have to pay some fee... but he'd be honoured if fans would pay the fee for him... (what i've been told i may be slightly off)

[Dylsack]

I think that music should be free to download if you are forced to suffer with dialup because of where you live.

[snapneck]

I'm not surprised by this coming from someone in the BIGGEST SELL OUT BAND. Don't get me wrong Kiss makes great music, But shit Gene puts the Kiss name on EVERYTHING.....or even his name for that fact.

[drakenshadow]

gene simmons is a ****ing douche anyway. hes rich why does he care?

****ing retard.

[trendkiller69]

pop-metal is an oxymoron=P

[BennyStruggle]

Id like to see Gene sued off the face of the earth for having something to do with the biggest fad and gayest band of the 70's.

[BennyStruggle]

x_themetalfan_x wrote:

I'm gonna go download some Kiss. Lick my sweaty sack, Gene.

Yeah, Im gonna download their entire chronology then delete it as soon as it finishes. lol

[MegaRon]

Jeez, I'm sorry, Gene. I'm sorry that I don't go out and buy albums from bands I'm not sure I'm going to like right away, and decide to give them a test-listen first and decide what to do from there. I'm also sorry that I decided to download certain songs that are otherwise unavailable to me because of my location. Finally, I'm sorry, Gene, that you can't get by on what "little" money you have. Maybe if KISS made better music, you wouldn't have the same problem with people like me. People that like to test-drive their music before committing to the band.

On a semi-related note, I had an illegal copy of Symphony X's "Paradise Lost" for a long time and tonight, I went out and purchased it because I thought that it was well worth the money.

[brad8814]

I do find it sad that downloadable music is reducing my oultlets to find real albums. Recently many record stores have closed due to lack of sales while other big name stores have shrunk their cd sections. I personally like to buy real albums and collect them, but I can't find anything but the crap that is in the top 10 sales.

[TheNERD250]

JohnnyLovesYou wrote:

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

HE IS???!!!!!

[Jamo888]

every freshly-scrubbed little kid's face should have been sued off the face of the earth.

Gene Simmons can kiss my f'uckin browneye. What a bitter, greedy piece of corporate s.hit he and his s.hitty f.uckin band are. Maybe KISS isn't selling records because their music gargles balls. Read the facts, record sales are the same as they've always been, except now the sales are spread out. Just because Britney Spears sells a few less albums and bands like Wintersun sell a few more doesn't mean record sales are in a slump. There is nothing like a little friendly competition between bands and labels. As for putting thousands of people out of jobs? If any more bullshit was coming out of his mouth, his ass would say "moo". F.uckin' automaton. Downloading music is the single greatest thing to happen to the recording industry, imo. Bands are finally forced to put out good albums. Bands don't make money selling records, they make money from touring. It's forcing bands to work harder than they ever have. Good bands are getting noticed finally. Being a working musician myself, I think it's too bad "Mean Gene" can't see that music is it's own reward. Money is icing on the cake, but the cake itself is so f.uckin' tasty.

[GreenSaosiner]

jackass has enough money... im gonna download the entire kiss library now. good day to you mr. simmons

[Jondy]

here's what I do, if I hear of a band I might like I download like everything they've made. If I like it, when they release new stuff I buy it. Had I never heard them before and explored their sound I'd never have bought any of it. The bands I have done this with are practically countless.

If I ever make it in this industry my concentration will be on live shows because it's about making music, not making money.

[whitebluesboy]

Gene Simmons can suck it. He's the greediest MF on earth. Who needs their own f*^cking island? I hope he does something illegal and as punishment has to actually work for a change like the rest of us and earn some money for once instead of being a cheap rat.

[EternFict]

I can understand him being mad but came out like a total ass in that interview.

P.S. I'm a proud music theif

[whitebluesboy]

This is the Gene Simmons Family Jewels.
When God made me he broke all the rules.
I rock all day, I roll all night
You wish you were me, you know I'm right.

-This alone justifies everything everyone has said

[jthm_guitarist]

He said this months ago... why post it now?
I have dial-up but if I had high speed I'd download music. Why? Every album I want is not sold in stores. I have checked every music store within 50 miles or so and no one carries my bands. The only way for me to get my music would be to download.
Also, when Gene was on that show saying it, I realized I've never seen a person that I didn't dislike more. Kiss is a cool band I guess, but Gene (as a person) is really weird... like you'd never trust him with anything.

[fade2black_69]

F*** how much more money does this ass wipe need??? Bands should make money from their shows not their albums! Albums are made to get your music out there and downloading it just makes it a lot easier too...

[JerkyChid]

protest by downloading KISS

[iml84myd8]

he makes a point tho; It's not just the record executives losing jobs. It's the cafeteria lanch lady that had to be let go for cutbacks at the record company. Or the garage band that could have been signed, but there wasn't enough money. I hate to be hypocrite:p

[zepledfan413]

I agree, downloading is crap...I can't find a good reason to do it. I like buying albums, I get pictures and a biography with the band (I'm into classic rock so I don't know what you get with new bands albums). I also support the band (though some aren't collecting anymore ha).

[long gone]

he doesn't want to make music because of the money. Sounds like a true musician to me. and it'd be different if he wasn't soo rich.

[Nightstrider]

Aw, is Gene-y not making quite enough cash for his liking? Tough ****ing bollucks buddy, I guess wiping your ass with hundred dollar bills just isn't quite good enough for Gene Simmons, inventor of overated Saturday night bar-rock.

[the_bi99man]

winningdays wrote:

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.

Couldn't have put it better myself. I'm gonna go download KISS's entire collection. Then start selling it to people cheaper than they can buy it in stores. Then I'm gonna spend the money I make on drugs.

[Elohel]

Someone should tell Gene Simmons people stopped caring what he thinks sometime in the 80's.

Sure, it's good to financially support people and their art but theres more ways to do that than just buying records.

[the_bi99man]

long gone wrote:

he doesn't want to make music because of the money. Sounds like a true musician to me. and it'd be different if he wasn't soo rich.

Soooo.... you didn't actually read the interview did you? Or maybe you just overlooked the part where he said that he would like to start making more music, but won't because he won't get paid for it.

[BrianApocalypse]

For the last time, it's not illegal downloading that's killing careers, it's the fact that there's so much different music that people can choose from.

[Alex The Red]

I don't know about you guys but records aren't meant to be sold to make money. They're supposed to get people listening to your stuff so they go to your concerts.

If major record companies went of business due to illegal downloading? Then good! It'd leave more room open for us little guys making music for the love of it and less room for those doing it just to get rich or famous.

[burn the stars]

i think hes just mad that noone cares anought to download his music.

[original=punk]

obviously the king of merchendised "rock" is complaing about people not buying his shit.

[KingSquall802]

Downloading = the end of music industry.

[system13]

What a Jackass. Someone who's truly into it for the music wouldn't mind people downloading their music for free. Hell, I encourage it.

[emo=Fights=yay]

thought i might as well right something too, why not.
I am against downloading, it is a bad thing used by lazy people who wont buy cds that arent really that expensive. i will download if its from a band that i dont care about but if they are good id feel like a douche downloading their music.
im glad gene has this opinion and doesnt want to make more music kiss always sucked, had too much image and no where near enough talent, if only he'd stop being interested in music altogether.

[emo=Fights=yay]

i agree with alex the red but not all famous bands are in it for the money.

[1llusionz]

emo=Fights=yay wrote:

thought i might as well right something too, why not.
I am against downloading, it is a bad thing used by lazy people who wont buy cds that arent really that expensive.

Generalizing much?

[emo=Fights=yay]

i like "the_bi99man"s attitude it kicks ass

[delo-E.W.A.F.]

For all you idiots that said KISS sucked you are idiots they are the ebst rock band of all time (except led zep).

1.Ace frehley is an insane guitarists
2.Paul Stanley is a great singer
3. Peter Criss is one of the greatest drummers who ever lived
4. Gene Simmons is also a great bass player (listen to the bass riff of "sure know something')

Plus they have awesome lyrics and the choruses are really catchy

[officially dead]

people that care more about making money than they do making music piss me off. and anyway, don't we all buy our favorite bands albums still? also, have we every seen a punk band complain about this crap?

[kriscornella2@g]

i spent 15 years buying over inflated albums which had so many fillers..exceptions ok computer, dsot moon, nevermind, master of puppets, led zep remasters, anything dream theater pre 99. Thankfully now i get my own back, and actually i wouldnt waste my time downloading his crap music.

[BennyStruggle]

saying Kiss is the best rock band of all time is like saying Blue is the best color of all time. Its your opinion and not a fact.
Kiss was a gimmick band if you ask me. As bad as the Monkees.

[B3RZ3RK3R]

Gene Simmons, cry me a river. I guess you don't have enough money huh. Honestly I could care less about a band that has millions of record sales. The only thing that matters is if they can play shows and fill the seats in the house. I must ask Gene when was the last time you did a tour?

[Lilone]

Well it really don't matter if any one down loads if they can't one person will buy it then let all there friends rip it just like people used to buy casets and let some one copy those same for records this has been going on for ****ing who knows how long and Simons can **** off!

I could care less what he thinks! plus raido stations only play what ever is populer any more they don't play random new old stuff just one song from like one new cd and it ruens the whole cd cause no one has taste any more any way there all just a bunch of fad fallowing ignorent dumb ass's and the people who do like music have any right to down load what they want.

[Bobbito315]

I agree with him in every way. It's stealing no matter what excuse you spit out at me.

[ReBoRnBaND4]

stop bitchin' everyone has heard it millions of times and everyone knows the artist dont make didly squat off there records, people downloading music shouldn't have anything to do with him wanting to go into the studio and make new music, that shows his lack of musicianship right there. i now finally know now why i havn't liked KISS for all these years

[delo-E.W.A.F.]

i think we can all agree that earth wind and fire are awesome

[Rengori]

delo-E.W.A.F.
For all you idiots that said KISS sucked you are idiots they are the ebst rock band of all time (except led zep).

1.Ace frehley is an insane guitarists
2.Paul Stanley is a great singer
3. Peter Criss is one of the greatest drummers who ever lived
4. Gene Simmons is also a great bass player (listen to the bass riff of "sure know something')

Plus they have awesome lyrics and the choruses are really catchy

I lol'ed.

[pinheadslts75]

Bah, the music industry has always been in the tubes. I'm shocked KISS are as rich as they are with how badly major labels will rip you off. Nirvana was making less money off record sales than they would have been working at a 7/11.

[juzcook]

sounds to me like someone prefers the money over the fun side of music

[Magero]

I am so not surprised that Mr. Gene "I own the world" Simmons hates downloading. Oh well. It wont stop me.

[Masonpwiley]

Yeah, because everyone knows the labels give all the money to the artists. And the labels are dirt-poor, they need all that money.

[Kapalen]

SyixString wrote:

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.

A lot of people have said ignorant things in this thread, but this takes the cake. If you were loaded and I straight up mugged you you shouldn't be allowed to bitch? Cause that's exactly what is happening.

Gene never raped anybody, if he did he wouldn't keep photos of the 4200 women he's slept with.

There are so many asinine posts here, I jsut can't take it

[Kapalen]

Rengori wrote:

delo-E.W.A.F.
For all you idiots that said KISS sucked you are idiots they are the ebst rock band of all time (except led zep).

1.Ace frehley is an insane guitarists
2.Paul Stanley is a great singer
3. Peter Criss is one of the greatest drummers who ever lived
4. Gene Simmons is also a great bass player (listen to the bass riff of "sure know something')

Plus they have awesome lyrics and the choruses are really catchyI lol'ed.

You lol'd? Noone can deny the effect Ace Frehley's playing has had, he inspired countless guitarists to take up the instrument. Paul Stanley has done broadway shows, Peter Criss was taught by Gene FUCKING Kruppa and Gene actually does do some pretty sweet bass. I mean they were at the First Rock Honors so obviously somebody likes them.

[BennyStruggle]

I think the point Kapalen is that frankly no one wants to hear that old washout speak...and definitely not voice his meaningless opinions.

[Kapalen]

sillybuuger12 wrote:

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 **** 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.

Bands don't pay producers or engineers, they get their money out of royalties or by job just like the musicians do. If the labels don't make money then they don't send out the A&R to find new artists to make new music so then there's no more music. When an artist dies their rights don't go to the label it goes to whoever they say it does. SO when you go download Charlie parker you're robbing his kids not the record company.

And what's with this talk about a world where music is made for free by musicians who jsut love doing it? DOes loving what you do feed your family? No you morons.

Oh also, when you buy the band's merchandise, part of that money goes to the label too.

[Kapalen]

BennyStruggle wrote:

I think the point Kapalen is that frankly no one wants to hear that old washout speak...and definitely not voice his meaningless opinions.

So if someone else said it you'd rally behind them? Wouldn't that make you a pawn?

[optisailor2002]

sooooo.anti-downloaders, are you interested in venturing into the arts scene (be it music, arts, whatever)? if so i believe that you shouldnt do so because obviously you have missed the main point of gene's argument:

"There is nothing in me that wants to go in there and do new music."

it screams at you in your face :"I WILL ONLY DO MUSIC IF I AM GUARANTEED MONEY MONEY MONEY. OTHERWISE, NO, I WILL NOT DO MUSIC COS I DONT GET PAID. NO I DO IT FOR THE MONEY, NOT COS I LIKE MUSIC." so if you agree with his point doesnt it mean that you are also one of such "money grabbing" bastards?

if you are with him, please, i beg you, do not in any case enter the music industry, for fear of crappy music being written.

and like many others have already commented, how many bands have you actually seen gone bust cos of people downloading their music? i dont see metallica being broke. i dont see bands like linkin park going broke. i dont see radiohead going broke, even when they ALLOWED fans to download their music LEGALLY without asking them to pay for it.

think about it. if you make good music, you dont have to be afraid of not making record sales at all. and if it goes on limewire or whatever, it means that people are listening to you. and if those people are "fans" of yours who discovered you through downloading, all the more you can be at ease, cos "fans" would buy your album if they like it.

and that generalisation of his has turned me off BIG TIME. besides, whats the point of suing all the college kids if they are probably all too poor to pay up anyway? gene might as well have said "why dont we just wipe out everyone off the face of this earth."

[catchtherainbow]

we need Dio to retort to Gene (refers to Metal:A Headbanger's Journey)

[t3h guitar n00b]

Any musician today realizes that his or her music is going to be stolen by someone. Its common knowledge bands make MOST of their profit of merch. I guess gene isn't with the times anymore.

[Kornholic]

Hahaha Gene Simmons, what a prick. He would do anything to get more money. Why would poor college students have to give their little moneys to Gene Simmons when they can download their songs for free. GENE SIMMONS AND OTHER MUSIC INDUSTRY COCK SUCKERS DONT NEED ANY MORE MONEY

[Inahrima]

delo-E.W.A.F. wrote:

For all you idiots that said KISS sucked you are idiots they are the ebst rock band of all time (except led zep).

1.Ace frehley is an insane guitarists
2.Paul Stanley is a great singer
3. Peter Criss is one of the greatest drummers who ever lived
4. Gene Simmons is also a great bass player (listen to the bass riff of "sure know something')

Plus they have awesome lyrics and the choruses are really catchy

You forgot to add in the part where they became massive sellouts and *******s.

[olithebass]

fair enough to gene. we knew he was all about money anyway. but if I was big n famous and just got a new album out, theres always money on peoples mind however small or big it is. the last thing I want is people stealing it off the internet.

[MetalCro]

he is 100% rightand you are all idiots

[breadfan82]

A statement fitting of a lecherous old fart that pimped his own band out for hundreds of millions in merchandising. Really, who needs a KISS blow dryer anyway? In essence, it's the same thing. The file sharing companies are taking their abilities to the next step to reach the masses and make money by any means necessary...much like KISS did. If anything, Gene ought to be singing their praises, but it's the age-old "pot and kettle" scenario. Now that someone else is making money off of him, he changed the way he feels about that. But I'm sure he won't think twice about next month's launch of KISS trash bags or whatever ludicrous plan they've worked up.

[fezaan66]

ok gene i wont download music.....YEH UR MUSIK becuase i wudnt want to becuase u suck!!!!!

[Minicabbae]

There is noithing wrong with downloading if they should sue anyone it should be limeiwire of the bittorrents not us

Penis!

[Minicabbae]

or its ment to say or

Checked/De-Spam'd

[Muppet]

Couldn't agree more. Downloading kills good music and the music business is going down if they don't come up with other ways to make money.

The price for a concert ticket is way higher now than it was just a few years ago, at least where I live. That's not cool.

[Joey JoJo]

Downloads could have been a way for the industry dinosaurs to take advantage of a new medium. But as they seem to be set in their archaic ways (selling goods in a retail environment), they missed the boat. Notice how it's only majors and already established artists moaning about it too.

I suggest everyone have a read of the article "When Pigs Fly - A Brief History of Record Industry Suicide", because that guy puts it better than I could.

[walkon123123]

...says multi-millionaire Gene Simmons.

[machineslave]

thats ok I aways thought that kiss was the gayest band on the planet. this just confirms it

[euan_soad]

Draken wrote:

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

They didn't sell out, they have always been about the money.

[Lumeister]

How many bands have lost everything from one kid downloading some music...seriously...

[whitedevil]

I don't even like KISS, but i might download their albums just to know I'm pi**ing him off

[Tool_46n2]

He has more money then he'll ever know what to do with why should he care

[zquizo4life]

Prince gave his entire newest album for free because he loves to make music. Gene Simmons makes music because he loves to make money. PITIFUL!
If I get Shannon in front of me I will nail her for FREE just to get even GENIE!

[CobenBlack]

i dont think its bad to want to make money out of music. if you dont make your money from it, you need to get a job which takes huge amounts of time away from being able to play. if you love your instrument, then you want to be paid to play it, so you can spend every hour doing it. steve vai gets paid, so he can spend 8 hours a day or whatever practicing. think he could if he didn't get paid? no, how would he afford a house then? theres nothing rong with what simmons has said

[ComradeCarlos]

Yup Gene is right, because music is allll about the money

[Gnarlysock]

luvmygibby wrote:

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

have you not seen how much it costs to buy music legally?

[thefuzz454]

Yeah, Gene Simmons is right. Just like he invented the devil horns thing. And Pants.

[Chaingarden]

I agree 100% with him. All you theiving bastards should be sued out your asses. No matter how much you try to justify downloading music, at the end of the day, it is stealing a product you didn't pay for. Cut the ****ing bullshit, it's just as bad as stealing hundreds of CDs from a record store, probably worse because you don't even have to get up off your lazy ass to do it. I don't care how rich a person is, they have a right to the money they earned, end of story.

[IainDavies_2]

I find it wrong when someone just downloads everything and never buys the albums. what i tend to do is download a couple of the songs from an album to see whether i think the band sound decent and then buy, because hardly of the stuff i want to listen is easy to get hold of unless you buy the cds. if i were an artist , i would understand that someone may not like all my songs, but a certain selection. yes they could buy the singles, but there's no harm in downloading a few songs, these bands still get wnough money. i buy a lot of cds anyway so its not a problem for me.

[The Black Salts]

Gene is right--too many people download music. Most of my friends download everything onto their ipod and never buy albums.

On the other hand, Gene probably doesn't care about the music industry as much as he claims and only wants attention as usual.

It's true that downloading music is a cheap way of checking out bands before buying their work, but for the most part people just abuse it.

People also need to stop pretending that money isn't a factor even when you're doing what you love. We all need to make a living and just because musicians do it more for the music doesn't mean they don't want to get paid.

[Wylde_Fan_925]

I agree with Gene actually. People need to buy their music, although I dont think he needed to go that far with saying every kid should be sued off the earth.

[The Extremist^]

got to love the guy. xD

[richardm80]

Think I'll download a few kiss albums now...hehe ;-P

[peaknumber1fan]

gene does not do the jew stereotype any good

[adamdrulz]

lets cut the crap, everyone who is pro download is just trying to justify being selfish
Very very few bands make enough money to live on from music, only bands that have a couple gold albums can do that, most bandmembers have other jobs to support them, and yes i am talking about bands on labels.
if you want lower record prices at the store, stop downloading music.
GENE RULES

[Donkey Fly]

Correction....Gene Sucks...


And you know shit all about how bands get big nowadays...

[zoastev]

puppetmaster917 wrote:

not gonna stop me from downloading my music.

some people just don't get it
yea i do it to, it's wrong, doesnt mean I can't quit
besides i can't download Iron Maiden for free i can't find it lol

[Greenday4Life]

i dont wanna read every comment here so im sure this has alrdy been said..but...

Wasnt there a time in every bands beginning that it was about the music, and not the money and fame?

[bamann]

imagine that. gene simmons who has single-handedly ripped off most of this country and the world by selling out a washed up sorry excuse a rock band. and then a failed tv reallity show. he would probably sell his kids if the price was right. please people give it a break. the future is in our faces. new and creative ways to market music r needed now. 2 blame anyone for (college kids, little kids) technologys advancement is utterly insane. leo fender and les paul didnt have any trouble "downloading"(in a different eara) each others technology. a fool could only wish and expect people 2 stop downloading music. how out of touch is that?

[rhakiath]

try lowering the price of cds for starters, quit bitching and play some live shows in affordabl venues.
and kiss sucks the cock, I'm surprised that he ever made money in the first place. you cannot be a whiny bitch on top of your pile of money unless you have talent.

[Andras5soul]

Gene and Lars should have an ego-off!! ... or a pajama party..

[5250]

StenTheAwesome wrote:

Looks like he'll never escape his inner jew.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Mr. Chaim Witz, of Haifa Israel, aka "Gene Simmons" has always been about the mighty dollar!

[Black Revolver]

alright for him to Buy music seems he was in that shit band for so long

[NNDEAN]

I don't download any stuff by smaller bands who really need the money and sales to get of the ground but when some fag like Gene goes around acting as if he's really poor it just sickens me. I'd never download Kiss's music but that's just cos they're shit.

[macfan90]

First of all Kiss is a horrible band. And Gene Simmons is a dumbass because hes in it for the money no the "music" which I think is obvious right here. Also, Im 17. I buy more music on CD than download anything. The man is making generalizations that everyone downloads when in fact more people buy music.

[Kapalen]

You know cd prices are on the rise because downloading is also on the rise, so they have to make up the cost. I f a band is popular they make enuff albums to supply their fans, but then when they download it they have to make up the money they wasted on albums they thought would sell and would have if not for illegal downloading. I'm gonna go listen to my KISS albums now.

[Kapalen]

NNDEAN wrote:

I don't download any stuff by smaller bands who really need the money and sales to get of the ground but when some fag like Gene goes around acting as if he's really poor it just sickens me. I'd never download Kiss's music but that's just cos they're shit.

Did he act poor? No, just because someone is rich doesn't mean they didn't earn that money. Gene Simmons is an example of the American dream. He was a poor 8 year old kid when he moved to America and now he has EARNED millions of dollars. He's entitled to want his money and be pissed when people steeal from him as we are.

And yes he is all about the money, he played bass instead of guitar because he thought it bwould be easier to get a job. SO what

[Korzack]

Well to be fair, I can see both sides of it - It's just that the music 'business' of things could REALLY do with a better champion than Gene bloody Simmons. You'd have gotten a better response if it was Simon Cowell saying about it.

[Jondy]

Kapalen wrote:

NNDEAN wrote:

I don't download any stuff by smaller bands who really need the money and sales to get of the ground but when some fag like Gene goes around acting as if he's really poor it just sickens me. I'd never download Kiss's music but that's just cos they're shit.

Did he act poor? No, just because someone is rich doesn't mean they didn't earn that money. Gene Simmons is an example of the American dream. He was a poor 8 year old kid when he moved to America and now he has EARNED millions of dollars. He's entitled to want his money and be pissed when people steeal from him as we are.

And yes he is all about the money, he played bass instead of guitar because he thought it bwould be easier to get a job. SO what

so what? so it's not about the art with him. that's a legit criticism. poor 8 year old who became a millionaire and now has forgotten what it is like. He'd be downloading music today had he not fell into such cash.

[stueey]

cudnt expect anymore from that ****in sellouts mouth. everyones like "oh i dont like a band coz they sellout" i dont like bands that want nothin but money. i respect that fact he mades and is still makin alot of dosh. but **** off will i ever bye kiss shit, they give music a band name. its not about gettin rich. i respect band that can make a livin, but not bands like kiss (more gene simmonds) that are out to take all ur ****in money. people will steal music from massive bands like it or not, if u sue some1 from who loves ur music but cant afford it u are a tosser. leave the kids who cant afford music alone or put on a ****in gig. i love the fact bands have to make most of their money from gigs and merch now. you get awesome shows, and some cool merch. i love the fact that bands have to try harder.

Kapalen wrote:

NNDEAN wrote:

I don't download any stuff by smaller bands who really need the money and sales to get of the ground but when some fag like Gene goes around acting as if he's really poor it just sickens me. I'd never download Kiss's music but that's just cos they're shit.

Did he act poor? No, just because someone is rich doesn't mean they didn't earn that money. Gene Simmons is an example of the American dream. He was a poor 8 year old kid when he moved to America and now he has EARNED millions of dollars. He's entitled to want his money and be pissed when people steeal from him as we are.

And yes he is all about the money, he played bass instead of guitar because he thought it bwould be easier to get a job. SO what

you dont relize how much greedy he is do you?

[OneEyedMan]

HOw about he learns about unsigned independant bands who play to crowds, prove that their music is worth listening to and then have cd's for sale for under ten bucks?

Record labells should be shot imo. A bunch of them get paid to do shit all.

[Mcut202]

I download music but I also buy up to two or three albums a week and own over 200 CD's. Should I be sued off of the face of the earth?

[cj878]

not like it matters, kiss is garbage anyway.

[the.spine.surfs]

Yes, let's sue the children. For a stronger America!

[B3low3mpty]

The record industry doesn't have a f*cking clue how to make money.

^Says a millionaire working in a multi-billion dollar industry who hasnt been popular for 20 years. Thank god for reality TV, eh Gene?

[MetalHead73]

Wow, you people just argue too much.

You drive me away from UG.


But for my 2 cents, if it wasn't for downloading, Gene, I wouldn't listen to your music.

[Moonman13]

We wont stop unless they take down all p2ps and torrent sites, go to the source retards (RIAA) ****ing idiots

[Brain245]

Alright, Gene, so what are we gonna do about it? I mean, it's wonderful that you can point fingers and say "I told you so," but how are you going to solve the problem?

The only statement he said that I can really agree with is "The record industry is in such a mess."

[LakeboDom]

If people feel bad downloading from a band....just buy merch from the bands =).I dont get this though,why get 15 bucks for an album that took months to create and get 20 bucks for a shirt that was made effortless? If anything cds should be more expensive...

[Moogman]

LOL this old man makes me chuckle. Has he been living under a rock or something?. Radiohead, thats all I need to say.

[DaniDementia]

What a ****ing sellout. If your music is good, play live shows, that's how you make money. And if your fans respect you, they'll go out and buy your albums regardless of limewire, kazaa etc.

Record labels are bloodsucking monsters, the less revenue they generate, the better.

And as for you Gene, thank god I never bought anything of yours, you greedy queer. Sue kids? Go f*ck yourself.

[billab0ng]

Wow, all he cares about is money... that comes as a real shock. No wonder his music sucks. There's no devotion to art in it, just love of money.

And record companies don't know how to make money? Are you retarded? Charging $25 for a CD where the artists themselves make like $5? Fuck off, Simmons. we should wipe every trace of your shitty music, tv show, and career off the planet.

[piratemetalhead]

Music=Art, not a product. God, Gene Simmons is real pathetic now.

[cuminmymouth]

Dont get mad at the downloaders get mad at the people who put music up for downloading

[UhmG0st]

I thought making music was about sharing what you created with the world/your fans? Not about making as much money as possible..Guess i was wrong

[ibanezbass27]

i bet you his kids and grandkids download music for free haha

[CosyNinja]

C'mon guys. I really don't think the argument should be about Gene. Whether he is speaking for himself or not, he still is being a spokes person for those who aren't rock star millionaires. And people keep using the radiohead argument about how they profited with selling their last disc at any price. Well thats radiohead, their well known, do you honestly think an unheard of band would profit like that?

There is more to this debate than just Gene and his money. The music industry isn't just rockstars and corporate executives...thats just a fraction.

[Scotdizzle]

People, music is primarily an art, but it is also a business. To defend downloading by saying it's art is just silly. Just because it's a form of artistic expression doesn't mean it is ok to steal, and it doesn't mean it is not ok to sell. If you worked hard on something that you loved and you could duplicate it and sell it to everyone I am pretty sure you would take the oppurtunity. Grow up and leave your self-righteous little rooms and go into the real world. Everybody needs money, and it is more than just superstars who get it from record sales. I remember when my favorite CD store went out of business, do you? Remember from the $25 CD $5 goes to the artist. The rest does NOT go to "your mortal enemy" with the suit. It goes to promotion for the band, without which noone would ever hear them, production of the bands music, studio costs, engineers etc, and believe it or not the guy with the suit actually plays an important role! He has to make sure everyone is doing what they have to do, which can be the hardest job on earth. Plus all the shipping fees, packaging, and a multitude of other things, the artist pay ends up being a nice chunk of change, especially considering they do what they love for a living.

Ok Im done ranting.

[HendrixIzKing]

wow gene simmmons has to be one of the richest people in AMerica so he needs to stfu, with downloads and stuff online music interest is higher than its ever been, i mean c'mon so artists make a couple million dollars less in endorsements, big deal! they make more in endorsements and concerts and stuff now cause advertisting and shit is better plus gene ur retarded 100,000- to a million people- thats a range of 900,000 people? those two numbers arent even close thats ^like the size of Fucking Indianapolis i doubt that many people are out of a job

Checked.

[Zero111]

this is probably the most likely person to even care about downloading.
I encourage you all to download KISS music. If he really was a musician he would want his music heard, not just money earned off it.

[stratupyourass]

blame technology not the people downloading music..he should sue the companies that make sharing media software.

[TheBurningFish]

I'm not bothered about downloading, the music industries brought it upon themselves.

No one wants to pay £8 for an album everytime they want to hear some new music, nor do they want to go into the city centre to go buy it, specially when it sure as hell didn't cost 8£ to make.

No sympathy here.

[nds711d]

gene isnt talking about getting himself money. he's talking about the younger not famous musicians that are trying the break through and finally get signed and what not. but when people download so much music the companies dont have enough funding to run their facilities as much and cant afford to have younger less famous acts. trust me. i know this first hand.

please buy music.

[Metal Massacre]

Somebody's got their panties in a wad.

Since WHEN is money a problem for KISS?

KISS sucks anyway.

[60CycleHum]

[Quote="Slashrulz"]In rainbows[/quote]

[smileyface]

well that's cause Gene Simmons was never about music and always about the business aspect. Take away that side, and he doesn't care about the music. Good artists make music to create something thats been in the pit of their soul. Gene Simmons doesn't care about younger artists, he cares about himself. Whether his argument is right or not, it's coming from the wrong place. As far as I'm concerned I hope those kinds of artists quit. Weeding out the crap makes downloading worth it almost. I buy albums by any artist I could care less about. Which is a lot of music. I'm broke

[Page/Rhoads]

Gene is right. How are bands going to make money if they don't sell albums? And just because Gene is rich doesn't mean he can't make money. He wrote and recorded the songs and deserves to be rewarded for it. KISS RULES!!!!!

[zapatista89]

because kiss didnt make enough money

i hate that bastard

[zapatista89]

Page/Rhoads wrote:

Gene is right. How are bands going to make money if they don't sell albums? And just because Gene is rich doesn't mean he can't make money. He wrote and recorded the songs and deserves to be rewarded for it. KISS RULES!!!!!

you do realise there robbin you blind yeh? your money goes to millionaires, not the bands, unless you sell your soul to merchandisers as mr simmonds did

[zapatista89]

Scotdizzle wrote:

People, music is primarily an art, but it is also a business. To defend downloading by saying it's art is just silly. Just because it's a form of artistic expression doesn't mean it is ok to steal, and it doesn't mean it is not ok to sell. If you worked hard on something that you loved and you could duplicate it and sell it to everyone I am pretty sure you would take the oppurtunity. Grow up and leave your self-righteous little rooms and go into the real world. Everybody needs money, and it is more than just superstars who get it from record sales. I remember when my favorite CD store went out of business, do you? Remember from the $25 CD $5 goes to the artist. The rest does NOT go to "your mortal enemy" with the suit. It goes to promotion for the band, without which noone would ever hear them, production of the bands music, studio costs, engineers etc, and believe it or not the guy with the suit actually plays an important role! He has to make sure everyone is doing what they have to do, which can be the hardest job on earth. Plus all the shipping fees, packaging, and a multitude of other things, the artist pay ends up being a nice chunk of change, especially considering they do what they love for a living.

Ok Im done ranting.

it doesnt go directly to that bands promotion, it'll go to the bigger hitters on that label

[Hanrahan]

I lived through the 80's- I spent a LOT of cash on very VERY bad music. The record companies are getting what they deserve after the decades of ripping off not only the fans, but the artists too. The fact is, there is no longer a need for the record 'industry'. There IS a need for talented artists and producers and everyone else (NOT including the greed driven executives), who are supposedly out of a job.

This is the new era of music. Get used to it. I, for one, am sick and tired of buying a full length compilation and getting one or two good songs, and 10 wastes of space.

[Brad52]

thebigbadburn wrote:

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!

yea does anyone know his e-mail?

[Page/Rhoads]

Zapatista89, I'm not getting ripped off if I like the music.

[useasdirected]

band's dont even make that much money off records.

[nik_I]

the more people you sue, the less people are going to buy albums. You can't sue yourself out of problems. There's always a way around buying something, and no matter what's done, people with continue to find a way to avoid paying.

[reizig]

Start downloading quickly; remember everyone, the minute we stop pirating there's a chance Gene Simmons might release new material.

[2mins2midnite]

simmons is right, look at ozzy- millionare and look at the modern rock artsists, some of them sould be millinoares but are not, becasue downloading is aviable these days, unlike in the 70's etc...

[2mins2midnite]

plus if u really like the music tht the artist put out you should buy the record, all downloding buissness's should be destroyed

[2mins2midnite]

but then again, if they realese 1 or 2 songs for free to download at elast it gives the fans a preview and if they like it they can buy the record if not then they wont

[2mins2midnite]

TheBurningFish wrote:

I'm not bothered about downloading, the music industries brought it upon themselves.

No one wants to pay £8 for an album everytime they want to hear some new music, nor do they want to go into the city centre to go buy it, specially when it sure as hell didn't cost 8£ to make.

No sympathy here.

but it took alot of time and effort, and the transport/bills/food/etc... cost, im sure it cost more than £8
if it was like 20 quid -thts a rip off

[1llusionz]

$20 CD's are too much for young adults and kids to buy, (hell, it's too much for anyone to buy). I can see why some of them download. But the majority of record sales do not go to the bands. Bands make most of their money by selling things one cannot download.

Downloading music is justifiable. You wouldn't buy a house without looking at it and inspecting it. You wouldn't buy a car without test driving it. Everyone here wouldn't buy a guitar/bass/drum kit without playing it. So why should albums be any different? Test an album, if you like, then buy. If not, then delete. I also download because I like to listen to different artists. Especially old artists and brand new artists. Old artists because my friends don't listen to anything old, and wouldn't know any albums or songs to recommend for a certain band. Newer bands, because no one heard of them yet, and if they are really good, I would like to be a fan. If I buy a CD and burn a copy for my friend, I guess I can be sued too?

[gunnabefamous69]

in a way i agree with gene because if EVERYONE in the world starts to download music then there will be no hope for future bands becasue they wont be able to find a record deal and produce albums... but downloading is jsut soooo much easier and cheaper thats why i do it... but i still understand why famous musicians get mad at this

[Jonny02]

Its easier for millionares to bitch about downloading music, they can have as much of whatever they want. Its human nature to go with the best option, pay over a tenner for a CD, or get it for free???? tricky one. More artists should ADAPT to the climate, like Radiohead, who gave a realistic option to consumers, pay what you want. They still made millions from it! Gene needs to stop bitching, if he has no motivation to do new music then hes ****ing past it.

[mcyeah]

maybe i'll download the entire kiss discography, burn it.....move towards cd player..wait.. NAH throw it in the garbage instead!!!!!
the cd would've costed me maybe 1.00 which is all i'd consider spending on a kiss album anyway.

eat me gene you rich duechebag

[mcyeah]

im sure any newer band probably had napster or limewire at some point

[VoodooChild15]

I love how just since some people would download it illegally, he "sees no point in making new music." He might as well just come out and say "ALL THAT MATTERS IS THE MONEY."

[erasmorpheous]

Man, I really hope he for some reason stumbles upon this page and takes the time to read every comment. Then he will finally realize and just give up. His time is gone now and he probably got used to making his gagillions of dollars he made back when they were "good".

But you have some musicians who say they don't care when people download there stuff illegally because it helps get their music out there, but they don't like it when unfinished stuff gets leaked.

Also i bet not many people download his music because "kids" are the only ones to steal. Kids didn't live 30 years ago old man. For up and coming bands who are underground it helps to buy their albums, but not for gagillionares. I think I made my point.

[pinkhaze29]

Money, money, money...

[dalamas]

god forbid he doesnt get any money

[Handparty]

The old ways are gone- it's only record companies who lose ultimately with P2P and I say sucks to them, they've been ripping us all off for long enough.
Musicians will always write and pay and make plenty of money if they're good enough and people enjoy their stuff.
What hopefully might change is that mediocre, over-hyped and over-marketed crap like Kiss won't get as much airplay- and people might be able to find the good oil more easily on tv or the radio.
You can't stop propgress: it's just a tussle over cash and won't affect music itself.

[guitarLG2087]

if i really like a band, i do go out and buy their album

[anybodyhome]

phoenix_88 wrote:

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

fukeneh

[WFMedia]

Hmm.... I think I'm gonna go download some KISS songs....

[GuitarHero0715]

RIP Simmons
I think hes dead now.
Right after he got pissed.

[BennyStruggle]

Kapalen wrote:

You know cd prices are on the rise because downloading is also on the rise, so they have to make up the cost. I f a band is popular they make enuff albums to supply their fans, but then when they download it they have to make up the money they wasted on albums they thought would sell and would have if not for illegal downloading. I'm gonna go listen to my KISS albums now.

I see those crappy albums in the bargain bin at Safeway or Walmart for 2.99 so why does Gene even care..his music is terrible and doesnt sell anyway.

[Jondy]

CosyNinja wrote:

C'mon guys. I really don't think the argument should be about Gene. Whether he is speaking for himself or not, he still is being a spokes person for those who aren't rock star millionaires. And people keep using the radiohead argument about how they profited with selling their last disc at any price. Well thats radiohead, their well known, do you honestly think an unheard of band would profit like that?

There is more to this debate than just Gene and his money. The music industry isn't just rockstars and corporate executives...thats just a fraction.

an unheard of band isn't going to be downloaded illegally. there wouldn't be enought demand to keep the torrent going.

[SeverTheJets]

Wow. Gene Simmons sure loves to sue people. He practically stole Alice Coopers act, then he sued King Diamond because he said his facepaint was too similar.

[Leonheart]

a7xsoad wrote:

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.

Something tells me you're not making in a band/doing live shows/making music for others.

[JimPrenier_11]

How can you be so arrogent gene!? You penny pinching bastard! those people make mega bucks I woudn't be worried about downloading music

[XenititesX]

phoenix_88 wrote:

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

true that...if that was illegal,id be screwed!

[JoeFro]

Wait, why does Gene care? Hes got enough money to last him.

[latinosuperstud]

AmazinAzian014
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.

see thats what i thinking is ****ing retarded about the industry... honestly im 16 years old and i have recorded a whole album by myself...with a mexican classical my grandma bought me, a 30 dollar pair of headphones, a computer, and free software....

that cost me a total of thirty dollars, from there i pay $15 for a hundred blank disks and start copying for a day... sell them for 5 dollars... $455 profit assuming people buy...of course i have to get it copy righted but thats not the point, i mean sure these things go on a larger scale , but if i can make a quality recording with that i cant see why record labels have to charge so ****ing much.

[Xx_banx]

try to sue me, old man! i should download your face off!
kiss isn't even good. in my humble opinion. which means absolutely nothing. just like everyone else's comments!

i sure hope some smartass quotes me and says something clever/abusive.

[emoleafsfan]

whys he complaining? they milked the money out of kiss by making every friggin thing they could.

kiss condoms! i mean, theyre a band!

isnt he richer than pretty much every other musician? why does he NEED the money?

he even has an effing tv show! hes a business man, why wont my friends listen!?!

[Kuri]

Whatever happened to music being just music and not a source of cashing in money?

Its just sad nowadays how some people choose to make music for the money rather than for the love.

I think that if Beethoven and Bach were to be alive, they could care less if they are making a penny for their songs. I'm sure they got paid for their performances, but they did it for the love of music, not the money.

[latinosuperstud]

^and the german nationalism of course...long live bismarck

[psychoskin473]

What bands lose in cd sales they definately make up for in Ticket sales, t-shirt sales and exposure for sure. But i still pick up the cd if i like it enough. He should stop bitching because Kiss is dead and everyone knew that since 1998

[1llusionz]

I guess his Kiss Kondoms and his $300 Guitar Hero controller isn't selling as much as he originally thought. :P

[organic remains]

Hitler was right...

[l)ragonForce]

the most of the music i listen to is shit quality like some of you have said u do it, it just to test to see if u like it if u dont then throw the download away if u do go buy the damn cd.

IMO it seems that people download only the popular songs that are hits, and usually those people are already rich with cash so they shouldnt care...

[TheSixthWheel]

haha his metaphors are shit.

[Raven91487]

I understand where Gene is coming from. We'd be bitching about the same shit if it was our music being downloaded and we weren't getting our money. however, of all the people to be annoyed by this, shouldn't Gene be the last one...I have seen family jewels a few times and didn't Gene buy a ****ing island?? I do agree with some posts here though, when i do download music i only do it to see if the cd is worth buying and it helps me prioritize which albums to buy first and so on. I usually delete the album i downloaded within a day or two just so i don't get caught and get sued. If i ever got caught i'd only be caught with like one downloaded album so i wouldn't be as ****ed as the people having to pay millions...

[soapalot]

Piss off Simmons, as if you need more money

[cynicaldeath666]

Piss off Simmons, as if you need more money

This is so true.
One more reason to hate Gene.

[Mental Hop]

luvmygibby :
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 reason I bought, Bouncing Souls, Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Johnny Cash, Bad Religion, Dropkick Murphys, Alan Jackson, Minor Threat, Anti-Flag, Aquabats, Authority Zero, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Dead Kennedys, Hank Williams Sr., Hank Williams III, Jerry Reed, Jim Croce, The Misfits, NOFX, Pennywise, The Ramones, Rancid, Social Distortion, Stray Cats, Sublime, Tiger Army, The Germs, and The Who are because I downloaded them first to see if I liked them or not. So don't you tell me what the truth is. Not to mention, I have about seven Johnny Cash cd's, four Dropkick Murphy cd's and three Social Distortion cd's. I would have never known of any of these bands if it hadn't been for downloading them first.

[JanB]

the problem the music industry had/has is that it is ruled by dinosaurs who failed to see and adapt to a changing landscape and revamp their business model to take advantage of the internet... you look at sites like Oink (even though its dead) and many many other sharing sites that have provided users to create a vibrant community with a library assured quality music that you can't find walking into the HMV... many people would pay for a site like Oink but thats too radical for people who want to gauge you 20 bucks for a CD (and most mainstream CDs today are crap and i don't understand why a lot of people don't notice)

the trouble is that all business, and gene simmons, care about is money

so to gene simmons: go fornicate with a disco ball you bloomin' sell out... i think i'll go download all of the kiss albums, put them onto a DVD, put it in a bag filled with dog shit and light it on the steps of your mansion's front door

[JackWhiteIsGOD]

This isnt about the money, youre simply using this as an excuse for not buying the album. Gene, as every other musician, is an artist. and if you wanted to seeif you like an album or not, just listen to the previews on itunes, napster, or rhapsody.I dont now of any popular or free music site that doesnt offer that feature. Would you go to a concert without having paid for a ticket? This is robbing of them of their art, this is how they make their living. Think of where some of your favorite older artists would be now had nobody paid for their album and just stolen it. They would never have gotten past their first album. Its not a love of music vs. money, theyre not going to just quit playing altogether if they dont make money, but its going to get pretty difficult to get anything publicily available from them if theyre not going to be paid for it. They would have to get a normal job, putting their art away as more of a hobby.

[chieftanec]

lots of bands approve of dling music so what do you have to say about that gene?

[Guitar_Poet]

lol, we deserve to have everything--our houses, our cars, our college money, etc--taken away because weve downloaded 100 songs that only cost $1 if we actually paid for them? or we deserve to have all that taken away because every dollar we dont spend on HIS music, means that he doesnt get ANOTHER house, or ANOTHER car... what a puss.

[Guitar_Poet]

JackWhiteIsGOD wrote:

This isnt about the money, youre simply using this as an excuse for not buying the album. Gene, as every other musician, is an artist. and if you wanted to seeif you like an album or not, just listen to the previews on itunes, napster, or rhapsody.I dont now of any popular or free music site that doesnt offer that feature. Would you go to a concert without having paid for a ticket? This is robbing of them of their art, this is how they make their living. Think of where some of your favorite older artists would be now had nobody paid for their album and just stolen it. They would never have gotten past their first album. Its not a love of music vs. money, theyre not going to just quit playing altogether if they dont make money, but its going to get pretty difficult to get anything publicily available from them if theyre not going to be paid for it. They would have to get a normal job, putting their art away as more of a hobby.

well, the fact is that most people pay for tickets to concerts; they also purchase merchandise. and, most people will actually purchase a band's CD if they REALLY like their music... if you dont really like someones music, but maybe you like one song they made, whats wrong with downloading it? youre not TAKING money from them, youre just not giving them any in the first place because you dont like their music enough. do we PAY $1 to listen to every song on the radio? no, we dont... and downloading a song is basically like listening to it on the radio, except you can control when each song is played.


i agree that downloading a bands entire CD, without intention to buy their CD later on, isnt right. but i dont think everyone needs to bitch about their "#1 single" or w/e being downloaded... a single song thats downloaded, or even two or three that are downloaded, really doesnt matter.

[Thin Ears]

gene simmons may be a dick about it but he admitted it didn't affect him in the original quote, and "said" he was worried about the kids wanting to make it in todays industry.

[nodice182]

this makes me want to download the entire kiss back catalogue out of spite.

the reason i like half the bands i do, and therefore want to buy their shirts/concert tickets/dvds/cds/etc, is because i could check them out for free first.

downloading music also means that disposable pop acts will fail to sell records, while people in it for a love of their will not be fazed by the idea of a lack of commercial sucess. it makes music more sincere and gives it more intergrity. call me idealistic.

[Ace Frehley]

He is a ****ing Juish!He would anything for money that's why he cares so much.He does not care about the music anymore.And if they want us to buy their albums why not make them a lower price.Instead of giving 22 euros for an album make it 12 or at least 15.

[Decembero]

emoleafsfan wrote:

whys he complaining? they milked the money out of kiss by making every friggin thing they could.

kiss condoms! i mean, theyre a band!

isnt he richer than pretty much every other musician? why does he NEED the money?

he even has an effing tv show! hes a business man, why wont my friends listen!?!

I agree.

Theres too much to say on this issue, Gene is being a retard, you have to check a band out for free first, and if u like them then go buy and album or see them live.

Downloading music for free increases band's fanbases. Bands who sue their fans are w*nkers who dont deserve any. Thats what pissed me off about Metallica.

(luckily I really love Metallica's music so I dont hate them completely, just sueing their fans is sh*te)

[daniel c b]

G.R.E.E.D.Y. F.U.C.K.I.N.G. S.E.L.L.O.U.T!

[Metalhead3333]

chris_kedro wrote:

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

Well said, well said!

[xplorer007]

fkn moron....

[guitarnoobie]

The record industry is losing money, but its not because of file sharing. Its because of the way its done business in the last 6 years or so. Hyping the living shit out of one song months before the album's release date. Constant radio play until you're sick of song/artist/album and not pushing the industry to change for the worst. The record industry and its greedy executives dug their own grave, downloaders are just simply shoveling the dirt.

[Skirvy]

i agree with him

[bwilde]

Anyone played emogame? enough said.

[Charlie4]

The reason people download music is obvious: Music is expensive - I have all my respect for a hard-working musician who deserves his cut.
Eg. A musicstore buys an album for $10 and they sell it for $20, making at least 100% profit. They rip people off and the music industry "suffers" - Billion dollar industry.

[RockDragon]

It doesn't freaking matter how much money you make from CD sales anyways.

Touring is where the money is.

[Anarchy_Ant]

StenTheAwesome wrote:

Looks like he'll never escape his inner jew.

Roflmfao. Pure quality.

Yeah like many of you, i download to basically get a taster for the CD, if it's good, i'm the first to buy it.

[d von]

You need a new jacuzzi ?

[MaGgOt_13]

didnt he buy the copyright for the phrase "OJ" as in orange juice aswell? its so obvious he just wants more money.being a multi-millionaire OBVIOUSLY isnt enough. tbh i wouldnt want to be sitting on the 'pan with nothing to wipe my arse with either. but i tend to use toilet paper, not the moneys ...in conclusion, what a wanker =D

[Bonorly]

The Man Himself wrote:

"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.

You'd probably get an oscar if you said that on tv

[kfong03]

haha screw gene (not literally), downloading music is the way to discover good, new original stuff

download 4eva

[grinspoon69]

god i hate him

[MacDDT]

"There is nothing in me that wants to go in there and do new music" the guy is a total clown , they should get sued for lip syncing their cheap pop songs

[gibson_lover_ga]

I agree with him. Completely.

[ChucklesMginty]

f***** hell, too many comments.

[smewings]

"There is nothing in me that wants to go in there and do new music"

well there's one bonus of downloading.

[leftajarandy]

gene simmons is a BABIDIK
what's point in crying about it

[Bendybaws]

I agree...if you download Kiss you should be sued.

[Saintanger20]

I totally agree with Gene Simmons. If it's your own material that you've put SO MUCH time into. So much YEARS into, then whoever downloads it off the net for free should be sued big-time. It doesn't matter how much money you make off the song(s). I'm a solo artist just starting out, I sure as hell don't want noone freely downloading my material. Peace!

[Livid89]

Radiohead is offering their cd 'inrainbows' for free download on their website... some bands/artists care... some dont.

[baki]

oh,you are really poor and i'm really sorry for that...**** you gene!

[Aziraphale]

I agree 100% with Gene, making music and getting it out to people through touring, promoting and so on is both labour intensive and expensive, and takes a lot of studying of both music and the business. How can anyone say "Rockstars are overpayed"? They get paid accordingly to how much their music can appeal to people, it's not like they're getting tax money or anything. They get paid exactly as much as people are willing to offer them. KISS have millions of fans so who are you to tell them they can't pay for music they enjoy, just because Gene Simmons might get "overpayed"? Gene always had a good sense for marketing and business and was always meticulous about business decisions and contracts and that's why he's prospered. Combine that skill with Paul Stanley and you get one of the most successful bands in history.

[bundas74]

its aaaalll about balance. i download, but i also buy. the kids that sit at home and download band discographies and thousands and thousands of songs are ****ing it. its unrealistic to expect people to buy every cd; especially when its twenty bucks for 11 tracks! personally, if im just finding out about a band and i think i like them, ill download a couple songs. then if they're good and their albums are cheap, ill buy one. oh, and could you all stop blaming genes greediness on his being jewish!? ****in skinheads.

[Dreadnok4life]

The bottom line is illegal downloading is stealing. Make all the excuses for it that you want, it is still stealing. When I was young I would earn money from lousy jobs and then go down to the local record store and buy an album. Now kids steal the music off the internet and then become upset when someones objects to it. Whether a musician is a millionaire or not is irrelevent. Wealthy people can be victims of crime too. Stealing music is no different than crawling through your neighbor's window and stealing his television.

[Saintanger20]

If someone wants to know how, (for example) a song on some bands upcoming album sounds like to make a decision on if they'll like the album or not then download bootleg tracks from a random website like Metallica does for their fans. You don't have to download illegally. In my honest opinion, not to piss anyone off here, I think downloading studio recorded music freely is like stealing something valuable from someone.

[Saintanger20]

By the way, I totally agree with this dude above me. Right on!

[Saintanger20]

Typing error! Dreadnok4life, I mean. I dumb.

[Raven91487]

Downloading music is also good for albums that are very hard to find. I will occasionally download a cd that is damn near impossible to find, just so i have it and then I'll buy it later when and if i ever find it. To be honest though, if it's that hard to find is paying the money for it really gonna make a difference to the band or company??

[devin_g94]

i agree 100%. but i still do it every once and a while. If it stops a new kiss album I am re-thinking it.

[Godsmack_IV]

It reassuring to know that Gene does it solely for the music like a real musician would. /sarcasm

[sillybillym]

spoken like a true sell out..

[MuffinMan]

[QUOTE=Gene Simmons]There is nothing in me that wants to go in there and do new music.[/QUOTE]
Thank God.

[hells bassist]

it doesnt matter no one downloaded his **** anyway end of.

[oddhawk676]

He should actually have more fans if people download his music, because not everyone has buying an album on their list of priorities.

[ohshizabear]

Musicians don't even make much money off of the record sales. They make a bulk of their money off of the shows.

I think the downloading is great for the musicians. Now if you're looking at checking out a new band, but you're not sure if you want to spend money on it, download it. If you like it, go check out their show, where they make most of their money from anyways.

Support the band, not the record company.

[Ibanez_Tom]

Gene is stupid. You have the choice between the two: Buy a band's new album for 10 quid, or download it off the net for free. Cmon.

Oh and Gene, a lot of people enjoy making music, not making money from it.

And to add to all that, KISS sucked.

[freakypop]

dude if u guys are downloading ur killing your own carers

[Klayy]

I AM DOWNLOADING KISS DISCOGRAPHY RIGHT NOW AND DELETING IT AFTER

seriously
stupid greedy idiot
if cds weren't so expensive, Id buy them
does gene expect every college student to pay 15$ for a cd they might not even like?

[Meths]

Klayy wrote:

I AM DOWNLOADING KISS DISCOGRAPHY RIGHT NOW AND DELETING IT AFTER

seriously
stupid greedy idiot
if cds weren't so expensive, Id buy them
does gene expect every college student to pay 15$ for a cd they might not even like?

What an outrageous suggestion! How dare he suggest that you purchase things illegally rather than stealing?! What kind of sick world do we live in where you can't steal without someone criticising you?

What Simmons said was perfectly reasonable. Stop trying to justify your theft by saying CDs cost too much. I can't afford a car, I'm not going to go and steal one because I don't have enough money. If you don't have enough money, tough shi[/b]t, go get a job and earn some you bitchy little kids. Downloaders are theiving and should be sued. If you don't respect someone else's intellectual property, I see no reason why the law should not allow the owner of the property to sue your fucking ass off.

sillybillym wrote:

spoken like a true sell out..

How is it selling out to complain that people are robbing you?

[Aziraphale]

So what if Gene is a "sellout", he never denied the fact that he's in it for the girls and the money. Can he be a great musician anyway? Yes, he happens to be just that. Sure most of the other members in KISS were more creative and musically inspiring than Gene, but he's not that bad. Btw justifying stealing by saying "it's expensive!" is just retarded.

[Jondy]

Aziraphale wrote:

So what if Gene is a "sellout", he never denied the fact that he's in it for the girls and the money. Can he be a great musician anyway? Yes, he happens to be just that. Sure most of the other members in KISS were more creative and musically inspiring than Gene, but he's not that bad. Btw justifying stealing by saying "it's expensive!" is just retarded.

ok, so he's an honest sellout. it's still a legit complaint. can he be a great musician anyway? he could, yes he could, but he chose not to. didn't you read? there's nothing in him that makes him want to go in there and record music because people will just download it for free.

[mccann685]

at least we ar bothering r ass to download the music!ur rich anyway so shut up

[Styx]

Well as a musician i understand hes point and he has the right to be that angry. But dude not evybodya can't afford to pay every record that comes out we got bills to pay, plus theres some record that only have few good songs not worthy of spending your money , so we will continue to download music.

[TCkarlos]

douchebag

[spyinks]

The established bands will never accept paycuts, the bosses will never accept paycuts, the managers will never accept paycuts.

The technicians, fresh producers and fledgling bands are FORCED to accept paycuts, because they're not "necessary".

This is the f***ing kick in the arse that the record industry needed. NO we do not want the same profitable bands releasing overpriced albums again and again. This is a musical revolution! evolve or f*** off and die.

[Alex The Red]

emo=Fights=yay wrote:

i agree with alex the red but not all famous bands are in it for the money.

Yeah, David Gilmour/Pink Floyd being one of them.

That's why I'm so ashamed I haven't ever bought a Pink Floyd album.

It isn't something I can really help though, I'm as poor as dirt, and all my spare change is going to my guitar fund.

[Saintanger20]

Well, I personally think downloading isn't right. (Change of subject) I have never liked KISS. They just don't appeal to me at all. On day, I was remodeling my room and I found my late brother's KISS card he'd had from the 80's. Even though I hate KISS I wish I'd kept the card. I probably wouldn't been worth alot. I burned it, (lol, OOPS!)

[Saintanger20]

OOPS! another type error. Sorry. The card probably would have been worth alot, not wouldn't have been.

[RabbitGuitarist]

i im gonna bitch and moan all nightttt....


and not make money today...

[GILBERTRULES]

gene simmons is and always will be a dousche and a crappy bass player in a crappy gimmicky band

[scottk]

well now i know hes alive, and that he hates kids becuase the majority of us arent a member of the kiss army. man up you bitch

[rock.freak667]

Don't fans of a band usually buy the cd's if they can get it? I mean where I live..you can't even find any good cd's..I mean if I want to find an AILD cd or a ATR cd or even Nile...there is like 98% chance that I won't be able to find it...so downloading is my only option

[withgunstoglory]

mp3stalin wrote:

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.

my guitar teacher was telling me how he used to do that with Led Zeppelin tapes...but then again Zep would actually be worth buying, seeing as they're actually good and all

[david_highland]

rock.freak667 wrote:

Don't fans of a band usually buy the cd's if they can get it? I mean where I live..you can't even find any good cd's..I mean if I want to find an AILD cd or a ATR cd or even Nile...there is like 98% chance that I won't be able to find it...so downloading is my only option

Matt stone and Trey Parker have determined that people that download music and tv shows probably wouldn't have bought it in the first place. They came to this conclusion when people started downloading their show for free, and their profits hardly sufferd at all.

[Child Of Maiden]

Don't worry Gene... NOBODY wants you to go in there and "do new music"

Plus, what a travesty it would be for a celebrity with plenty of money who's living rather comfortably (much more so than the teenagers who are downloading the music) to write and produce music for the love of making music and not to get a fat paycheck. /sarcasm

Gene Simmons officially goes on my list of people who need to go away. KISS never did anything I gave half a shit about anyways.

[punkalaskan]

why was this article on punknews.org? kiss isnt even close to punk

btw suck my nuts gene simmons

[PsYkO_kiLLa90]

there is so much more to making music than money. people who make music just for money should go in a pit and die. music should come from inside you and let you express your emotions, not just quick cash.[quote]david_highland wrote:

rock.freak667 wrote:

Don't fans of a band usually buy the cd's if they can get it? I mean where I live..you can't even find any good cd's..I mean if I want to find an AILD cd or a ATR cd or even Nile...there is like 98% chance that I won't be able to find it...so downloading is my only option
quote]
and dude how do u have trouble finding that? i see that shit in fye all the time, and if you cant find it use the internet.

[rock.freak667]

well because...I don't live in america... and such things would be hard to obtain in the caribbean where i live

[ike123]

wow, gene simmons is so right, the music industry is definately not rich enough, or better yet, gene simmons and his former playboy center fold wife definately are not rich enough.
Gene Simmons is the last person to be bitching and moaning about money, that cheap jew has marketed everything and anything he could, a ****ing kiss coffin that plays "rock 'n' roll all night" !? what a ****ing pompous prick, to think that people would actually want that.
In addition to that, music is only "stolen" from the internet, big corparation department stores are always being stolen from, Walmart now doesn't even prosecute you unless what you stole is valued at $50 USD or more, so what's stopping a couple of teens swiping a few cd's everyday?

"every freshly-scrubbed little kid's face should have been sued off the face of the earth." - Gene Simmons

Fuck you too Gene

[Child Of Maiden]

Meths wrote:

Klayy wrote:

I AM DOWNLOADING KISS DISCOGRAPHY RIGHT NOW AND DELETING IT AFTER

seriously
stupid greedy idiot
if cds weren't so expensive, Id buy them
does gene expect every college student to pay 15$ for a cd they might not even like?

What an outrageous suggestion! How dare he suggest that you purchase things illegally rather than stealing?! What kind of sick world do we live in where you can't steal without someone criticising you?

What Simmons said was perfectly reasonable. Stop trying to justify your theft by saying CDs cost too much. I can't afford a car, I'm not going to go and steal one because I don't have enough money. If you don't have enough money, tough shi[/b]t, go get a job and earn some you bitchy little kids. Downloaders are theiving and should be sued. If you don't respect someone else's intellectual property, I see no reason why the law should not allow the owner of the property to sue your ****ing ass off.

sillybillym wrote:

spoken like a true sell out..

How is it selling out to complain that people are robbing you?

Gene Simmons is getting robbed? REALLY!? When has he EVER produced ANYTHING worth buying? What idiots like you fail to realize is that the bands are getting paid. The bands are getting their dues. They get paid to sign with a label and write a certain amount of albums for them which the label turns around and sells to make their money. But the bands get an almost non-existent percentage of the actual sales. So it's not the artist that's being "robbed" it's the labels that are getting a swift kick in the nuts because the difference in figures of what they're making from record sales and what they initially pay the band to write the record is grand canyon-esque. If the artist was getting upwards of 50% or more of album sales then yes we might as well be reaching into the artists pockets but that is not the case by a long shot. That's what record companies would like you to believe. And they use tools like Gene Simmons to try and reinforce that way of thinking.

The labels are robbing the bands and making more money than the artist is by selling the artists work and in turn we are robbing the labels. And in the end none of these people, I mean NOBODY from the labels have been reduced to living out of their cars by any means. So stfu plz.

"There is nothing in me that wants to go in there and do new music." --- Oh, no! What ever will we do!?

[apm505]

anyone notice how really its only the older generation protesting downloading. most of the up and coming acts and younger artists have embraced it really (look at radiohead). its just change that people like gene fear. lets just not give them a mic, theyll be gone in a few years anyways.

[psilocyndreams2]

like the record industry needs to make more money.it costs maybe 40 cents to make a cd and they sell them for like $15, where they get more of that money that the artists themselves. i thought the point of making music was to get it heard, no to make as much money as possible. and for the record gene simmons is a prick.

[metalmilitia90]

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

those kids are the ones buying your albums so you can live in your huge house with your caravan of nice cars and your closet full of expensive clothes.

[synth002]

YOU GUYS DONT HAVE A CLUE DO YOU?! MAYBE MR SIMMONS IS GREEDY BUT THINK ABOUT ALL THE NEW ACTS TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING IN MUSIC WHO HAVN'T GOT LOADS OF CASH... DOWNLOADING MUSIC IS KILLING THE DREAM, IF YOU'VE JUST RELEASED YOU FIRST ALBUM, WORKING YOUR ASS OFF TRYING DESPERATELY TO GET A SOLID CAREER IN MUSIC.. PEOPLE DOWNLOADING YOUR ALBUM ARE ROBBING YOU OF YOUR CHANCE TO SUCSEED, YOU DONT MAKE THE SALES YOU SOO DESPERATLY NEED AND NEVER MAKE IT.

MAKING MUSIC IS SOMTHING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT BUT TO DO IT SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF IT TO LIVE.. SO ALL YOU IDIOTS SAYING IT SHOULDNT BE ABOUT THE MONEY DON'T KNOW SHIT, LIVING AT HOME WITH YOU PARENTS.. WHAT A DAMN JOKE..

GENE ISNT AND OTHER HUGELY SUCSESSFUL PEOPLE LIKE HIM ARN'T JUST MOANING BECAUSE THEY'RE GREEDY, THEY KNOW HOW HARD IT IS, THEY ARE A VOICE FOR ALL THE SERIOUS PASSIONATE MUSICIANS OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE IT..

[garden of grey]

Cruel and unusual punishment anybody?

Gene seriously has always only cared about the money, it's ridiculous.

Not to mention not all of us listen to cheesy pop that can be easily be attained.

[Jondy]

synth002 wrote:

YOU GUYS DONT HAVE A CLUE DO YOU?! MAYBE MR SIMMONS IS GREEDY BUT THINK ABOUT ALL THE NEW ACTS TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING IN MUSIC WHO HAVN'T GOT LOADS OF CASH... DOWNLOADING MUSIC IS KILLING THE DREAM, IF YOU'VE JUST RELEASED YOU FIRST ALBUM, WORKING YOUR ASS OFF TRYING DESPERATELY TO GET A SOLID CAREER IN MUSIC.. PEOPLE DOWNLOADING YOUR ALBUM ARE ROBBING YOU OF YOUR CHANCE TO SUCSEED, YOU DONT MAKE THE SALES YOU SOO DESPERATLY NEED AND NEVER MAKE IT.

MAKING MUSIC IS SOMTHING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT BUT TO DO IT SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF IT TO LIVE.. SO ALL YOU IDIOTS SAYING IT SHOULDNT BE ABOUT THE MONEY DON'T KNOW SHIT, LIVING AT HOME WITH YOU PARENTS.. WHAT A DAMN JOKE..

GENE ISNT AND OTHER HUGELY SUCSESSFUL PEOPLE LIKE HIM ARN'T JUST MOANING BECAUSE THEY'RE GREEDY, THEY KNOW HOW HARD IT IS, THEY ARE A VOICE FOR ALL THE SERIOUS PASSIONATE MUSICIANS OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE IT..

you don't get it do you? noone downloads new acts!

[synth002]

Jondy wrote:

synth002 wrote:

YOU GUYS DONT HAVE A CLUE DO YOU?! MAYBE MR SIMMONS IS GREEDY BUT THINK ABOUT ALL THE NEW ACTS TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING IN MUSIC WHO HAVN'T GOT LOADS OF CASH... DOWNLOADING MUSIC IS KILLING THE DREAM, IF YOU'VE JUST RELEASED YOU FIRST ALBUM, WORKING YOUR ASS OFF TRYING DESPERATELY TO GET A SOLID CAREER IN MUSIC.. PEOPLE DOWNLOADING YOUR ALBUM ARE ROBBING YOU OF YOUR CHANCE TO SUCSEED, YOU DONT MAKE THE SALES YOU SOO DESPERATLY NEED AND NEVER MAKE IT.

MAKING MUSIC IS SOMTHING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT BUT TO DO IT SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF IT TO LIVE.. SO ALL YOU IDIOTS SAYING IT SHOULDNT BE ABOUT THE MONEY DON'T KNOW SHIT, LIVING AT HOME WITH YOU PARENTS.. WHAT A DAMN JOKE..

GENE ISNT AND OTHER HUGELY SUCSESSFUL PEOPLE LIKE HIM ARN'T JUST MOANING BECAUSE THEY'RE GREEDY, THEY KNOW HOW HARD IT IS, THEY ARE A VOICE FOR ALL THE SERIOUS PASSIONATE MUSICIANS OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE IT..




you don't get it do you? noone downloads new acts!

Im right, your wrong

[Child Of Maiden]

Jondy wrote:

synth002 wrote:

YOU GUYS DONT HAVE A CLUE DO YOU?! MAYBE MR SIMMONS IS GREEDY BUT THINK ABOUT ALL THE NEW ACTS TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING IN MUSIC WHO HAVN'T GOT LOADS OF CASH... DOWNLOADING MUSIC IS KILLING THE DREAM, IF YOU'VE JUST RELEASED YOU FIRST ALBUM, WORKING YOUR ASS OFF TRYING DESPERATELY TO GET A SOLID CAREER IN MUSIC.. PEOPLE DOWNLOADING YOUR ALBUM ARE ROBBING YOU OF YOUR CHANCE TO SUCSEED, YOU DONT MAKE THE SALES YOU SOO DESPERATLY NEED AND NEVER MAKE IT.

MAKING MUSIC IS SOMTHING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT BUT TO DO IT SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF IT TO LIVE.. SO ALL YOU IDIOTS SAYING IT SHOULDNT BE ABOUT THE MONEY DON'T KNOW SHIT, LIVING AT HOME WITH YOU PARENTS.. WHAT A DAMN JOKE..

GENE ISNT AND OTHER HUGELY SUCSESSFUL PEOPLE LIKE HIM ARN'T JUST MOANING BECAUSE THEY'RE GREEDY, THEY KNOW HOW HARD IT IS, THEY ARE A VOICE FOR ALL THE SERIOUS PASSIONATE MUSICIANS OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE IT..



you don't get it do you? noone downloads new acts!

Pretty much. What synth002 fails miserably at realizing is that the labels pretty much pick and choose who they want to make starts out of. So I guess he's content with paying money to hear an artist that some fat ass in a suit tells him is good.

[Child Of Maiden]

synth002

Im right, your wrong

FAIL of the day.

[rock.freak667]

Don't bands get payed for touring? And the money made from the cd is used to repay the label companies?

[Do Re Mi]

Gene Simmons = noob.

[jambase130]

Music is about passion, its an art. Musicians should perform to express themselves. Their recordings are meant to give the consumer an idea of what the artist is all about; it should be just a glimpse of the capabilities of music. If musicians really are losing incredible amounts of money from loss of expensive record sales, they will simply be forced to give MORE live performances. In a way the downloading industry has brought life back to music by demanding an artist to put on sucsessful performances in order to make their money. Hopefully this will weed out those who really have no musical talent. Obviously Gene Simmons has become to jaded by the large amounts of money he has consumed over the years to understand the beauty of experienceing art in action.

[`NeXxuS`]

Gene Simmons is the crook... look at all the money he took from people even though he was making shitty, shitty music.

[pmcg35]

I download music...If i like the band ill go see them on tour, buy their shirt, and tell my friends about them...a lot of up and coming bands are using the internet and free music as a huge advantage. **** gene simmons hes and old piece of shit with no talent. anyone who calls going into a studio to record songs that you wrote "work" is an idiot. if hes so obsessed with money he shoulda gone to med school or something...

i cant even talk about this anymore...lets just assassinate him..

[augustus_gloop]

gene simmons still thinks it's the 70's

[Dyers]

i know that when i like a band i will download a few of their songs but i will still buy their album

[Fender_Tele'71]

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

i agree

[hells bassist]

Alex The Red wrote:

emo=Fights=yay wrote:

i agree with alex the red but not all famous bands are in it for the money.


Yeah, David Gilmour/Pink Floyd being one of them.

That's why I'm so ashamed I haven't ever bought a Pink Floyd album.

It isn't something I can really help though, I'm as poor as dirt, and all my spare change is going to my guitar fund.

ALEXISONFIRE!!! there like the best band ever and there not in it for the money. i saw them at brixton and everyone shouted 1 more song , they came back and played 3. there my favourite band and i found them from downloading. Ive now order there cd's so thats proof that bands can make money out of downloading.

[Flying Afros]

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.

actually, it does hurt the people in the music business.
as for kiss, they've always been sellouts and i dont like them anyways. glad to see they still dont want to make new a record because they wont make any money. i hope they disband and all end up on the street.

[Sledge89]

The only people losing out is probably the record labels, they take a massive percentage as far as I'm aware, most artists make money out of TV appearances and performing.

I guess it is annoying if you put a lot effort into something only to have it taken from you with no reward, but then again Gene only puts effort into being a dick nowadays and theres' no reward for that.

[duke2446]

Gene Simmons! just because you aren't making that much money anymore and were forced to do an crappy tv show that lasted a month doesn't give you the right to complain, if kids couldn't download your music most of them wouldn't go buy your cd. they would just live Kiss-free lives. stop trying to blow up a problem just beause you need money.

[coquet]

Gene Simmons is a no-talent assclown. He admitted that he doesn't think music is an art and that he only did KISS to make money and get ass. I hope he burns in hell.

Cite: http://erim.net/misc/GeneSimmons_TerryGross.mp3 (I think this opens in Internet Explorer but not Firefox).

[IbanezPlayer27]

Like he doesn't have enough money, Gene Simmons is the biggest sellout to be in the music industry EVER. He has made just about everything you can make with his band on it..now he just wants more money from albums but people download them..face it Kiss sucks, your washed up, you have enough money, quit bitching.

[Chriscon90]

pop metal just means metal that's designed to be popular. and Gene Simmons is a fascist.

[*Juno*]

Wat a douchebag....just goes to show all he ever cared about was the money...not that KISS deserve to live anyway...

[zachman106]

what a queer. i never really liked KISS to begin with, but now i hate them. and he couldn't be in it for the msuic, because whatever KISS was making was not music.

[ollie_carr]

How does my downloading make a difference? I purchase every album I want, and simply download stuff that I wouldn't have bought anyway. It's opened me up to a world of music that i wouldn't have ever listened to. It's even made me a fan of bands that I hadn't intended on buying in the first place. Good on Radiohead, I paid 4 pounds 20 (about 12 NZD). Sure downloading is bad, but at $20 a cd how else are we supposed to get emmersed in this beautiful market?

[michhill8]

well, he has a point, the industry is on the way down. I don't think there will be 100,000 to a million people out of jobs. Well, if the record industry is screwed at least I know I'll be able to buy a KISS Coffin for when I die! (Someone likes to merchandise)

[nightmare10999]

Holy shit! This is a long comment list. Well, here's my take on this stuff. Yeah, damn, it's wrong to download music for free. This does take money away from the record industry, but they have put out so many crap ass albums in the past few years compared to the few good ones that I don't really give a damn. And I swear to god, if one more person bitches about how downloading music for free takes money away from bands, I'm gonna scream. Almost all bands make most of their money from tours and merchandise. I personally have no problem with downloading music for free AS LONG AS if you like the songs you hear from a band, YOU GO OUT AND BUY THE F***ING ALBUM the music is from. Buying the band's actual album is a sign of support, just like wearing their t-shirt or going to their concert. And for the record, this interview really hurt my respect for Gene Simmons. I always knew he was a money *****, but now I know that he is an ******* to boot. Rant over.

[RVM]

Good to see he's not in it for the money! Seriously though, what a prick. Make music because you want to. Music should be free anyway. "wHy should I make music if I can't make money from it". Kiss are a shite band anyway

[aguynamedlarry]

I JUST DOWNLOADED EVERY KISS ALBUM TWICE, AND I HATE KISS. KISS MY ASS GENE!! IM AS FREE AS A BIRD!!!!! ****IN SELLOUT!

[peachygnr]

metalfanatic07 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 AMEN!

[Longshanks]

Musicians have to make a living somehow too you know. Illegal downloading of music is just a part of it; the record companies are also thieves.

[cbur]

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.

that sounds kind of inefficient...

[angelsairwaves3]

hes the kind of musician im glad doesnt make music anymore. He obviously was never in love with music, it was all money and a clown face paint act. F**k you gene simmons

[cbur]

plus how will he know if you've downloaded it or not

[cbur]

break me in- you are an idiot

[Dave Gilmour]

What a bitter, whiney man.

[Dave Gilmour]

He's making it sound like it's the record companies' fault entirely... What the hell can THEY do about it?

[PlayMeSomeFloyd]

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

I agree, downloading opens people up to new music that they may not have found otherwise and keeps the consumer from spending money on cd's that may have one good tune on them. I think it's very fair to download a handful of songs and check out someone's stuff. If they are good it is also only fair that you support them afterward by buying cd's, merchandise, and/or concert tickets. A good band or artist deserves the money. It's much harder work than most of us could ever realize.

[Mutant Corn]

Chewy120 :

wow this worst than metallica

Lars...not metallica. Please don't confuse the two. ^_^

[denied]

ill start buying cd's when their not so ****ing expensive.

[TheDewManchu]

Ive hated kiss ever since I found out they released both a shitty movie and a disco album. A DISCO ALBUM FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!! F*ck Gene Simmons, his family, his band, his new material, his f*cking sh*tty reality show, and his money. what ever happened to the days when people made music because it was fun? the fact that he would only make an album if he could make a f*ck-ton of money off of it disgusts me. why cant people like this just go die already?

[jake_blakeley]

kiss has way too many greatest hit albums and gene simmons has gotten too cocky. Besides i download songs to listen to the artists before i decide to buy their album, i dont like download the whole album

[6touch6of.evil6]

sure we download but we also pay a shit load of cash to get into their ****ing concerts

[iStrato]

lol. "Every band wanted to be the Beatles; KISS wanted to be coca-cola" that's proved right here. gene: STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE F***ING MONEY!!! YOU"REPRETTY WELL OFF!!!

[I<3Pie]

ugh...I dunno. I personally hate kiss, and Gene Simmons always acts really annoying, and I don't necessarily agree with him. Downloading music is illegal, and there's no if's and's or but's about it. You may not like it but that's how it is, yanno, the speed limit is 30 by my house, now, I can speed through there every single day, never get caught, and it could never hurt anyone, but does that make it legal? No, I've just been breaking the law and not hurting anyone from it, but, if I did get caught, then I'd have to pay a fine. I may not like it, but it's the law. You can't just say, the law is wrong, so I'm right. That doesn't make it any less illegal. Personally, I think that...downloading is really really bad, but something should be done to make an alternative to downloading, like, possibly offering an mp3 on your band's site for free download, and a song or two also that is only like, streaming. I'm an aspiring musician, and I'm selling cd's on my own, and it's only costing me 270 bucks to get the actual blank cd's, the guy at the studio we're recording in will burn them for free, and we are getting to record for free because our drummer's dad is best friends with the man who owns the studio...and personally, I'd hate it for people to steal my music, but I'd probably give them some if they just asked me for it...

[simonzwaan]

Get a haircut
not like gene needs any more money anyways
I would like to have some
[and his daughter]

[barbquebutt]

i swear, every word that comes out of that man's mouth is dumber than the one before. what 100,000 people are losing their jobs, i wonder? certainly not him. I have about 20 Kiss songs on my computer that were "illegally" downloaded. but you know what? i'm still a 9-to-5er who lives with my parents, and he's still a has-been that lives in a multi-million dollar home with his playmate girlfriend.

so really, does he have any valid points? or is he just bitching and making a big stink again so people will think he's still important to the music world?

[simonzwaan]

I love how everyone is bashing Gene
Thats what I call Teamwork *high five

[Pertenozzo]

To me he is right, and all you people against paying for a record are ****ing losers. Seriously, I download too, but people have become lazy and comformists in such a way that it is ****ing disgusting. What the **** is going to happen to the music industry ? All you ****ing nerds playing metal songs in your living room should think about it and stop dreaming of being recognized shredders one day. Besides the fact that IT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

I hate comformism.

[!normajean!]

i hate gene simmons so freaking much.
hes such a selfish fag.
music is about MUSIC!
your a MILLIONAIRE!!!!!
SHUT UP YOU LOOSER!!!!!
NO ONE LIKES YOU!!!!

[Relax]

thats it gene you crossed the line I'm not watching your T.V show from now on..

[UrMomsMom]

Pertenozzo wrote:

To me he is right, and all you people against paying for a record are ****ing losers. Seriously, I download too, but people have become lazy and comformists in such a way that it is ****ing disgusting. What the **** is going to happen to the music industry ? All you ****ing nerds playing metal songs in your living room should think about it and stop dreaming of being recognized shredders one day. Besides the fact that IT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

I hate comformism.

Dude wats your problem? Most of us play songs because we enjoy too not to become the next paul gilbert or alexi..

[Battery.]

LARS SIMMONS!

[Vinura]

blame the college kids...

[Harry Krishner]

Maybe he's just burned out, and he write anything worthy of an illegal download!

[Harry Krishner]

Maybe he's just burned out, and he can't write anything worthy of an illegal download!

[GuitarJunkie]

maybe Gene Simmons should actually know what he's saying before he opens up mouth to talk about a topic that he obviously knows very little about.

Yes, sue every little college kid...good idea. Because it's a good thing that I don't know anyone who goes to school full time, has a part time job, and was sued by the RIAA, and is now been forced to selling drugs to pay the settlement fee of 4,000 bucks on top of paying his tuition. Good job Gene, way to think.

[GuitarJunkie]

synth002 wrote:

YOU GUYS DONT HAVE A CLUE DO YOU?! MAYBE MR SIMMONS IS GREEDY BUT THINK ABOUT ALL THE NEW ACTS TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING IN MUSIC WHO HAVN'T GOT LOADS OF CASH... DOWNLOADING MUSIC IS KILLING THE DREAM, IF YOU'VE JUST RELEASED YOU FIRST ALBUM, WORKING YOUR ASS OFF TRYING DESPERATELY TO GET A SOLID CAREER IN MUSIC.. PEOPLE DOWNLOADING YOUR ALBUM ARE ROBBING YOU OF YOUR CHANCE TO SUCSEED, YOU DONT MAKE THE SALES YOU SOO DESPERATLY NEED AND NEVER MAKE IT.

MAKING MUSIC IS SOMTHING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT BUT TO DO IT SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF IT TO LIVE.. SO ALL YOU IDIOTS SAYING IT SHOULDNT BE ABOUT THE MONEY DON'T KNOW SHIT, LIVING AT HOME WITH YOU PARENTS.. WHAT A DAMN JOKE..

GENE ISNT AND OTHER HUGELY SUCSESSFUL PEOPLE LIKE HIM ARN'T JUST MOANING BECAUSE THEY'RE GREEDY, THEY KNOW HOW HARD IT IS, THEY ARE A VOICE FOR ALL THE SERIOUS PASSIONATE MUSICIANS OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE IT..

you know whats cool...when people write in all caps hoping that people will actually read what they have written as opposed to just quoting their post without reading it and then criticizing them for writing in caps.

I have done the latter.

[mash1089]

Ya know...Gene Simmons is too ****in money hungry, not to mention he says he invented ****in everything, we all know if it wasn't for Gene none of us would drink the water he created or, the air we breathe, not to mention, come on man...patenting the phrase O.J. Your ****in serious! There, I just made you a nickle, enjoy. Calm the **** down, same thing happened years ago w/ tapes, and CD's it's just a new technology, and we're taking advantage of it. CALM THE HELL DOWN GENE!

[GuitarJunkie]

Aziraphale wrote:

I agree 100% with Gene, making music and getting it out to people through touring, promoting and so on is both labour intensive and expensive, and takes a lot of studying of both music and the business. How can anyone say "Rockstars are overpayed"? They get paid accordingly to how much their music can appeal to people, it's not like they're getting tax money or anything. They get paid exactly as much as people are willing to offer them. KISS have millions of fans so who are you to tell them they can't pay for music they enjoy, just because Gene Simmons might get "overpayed"? Gene always had a good sense for marketing and business and was always meticulous about business decisions and contracts and that's why he's prospered. Combine that skill with Paul Stanley and you get one of the most successful bands in history.

I stopped reading when i saw "I agree with 100% with Gene"

[GMPX]

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

Spot on!, too many times I've handed over $20 for 2 worthwhile songs, if I get something that is worthy of several listens I will always buy the CD in the end.....Kiss ain't one of them

[cky22191]

did anyone see him do this rant on the rollins show?
it was kinda funny watching henrys face cus he obviously hated what gene was saying but trying to be a polite host

[Snipe]

This is why downloading music is good, shitty bands like KISS and Metallica (yes, they're shit now) don't want to do music anymore while good bands, like Radiohead and PUSA, get just a little more press from it.

[hailsatan]

Its so easy for a band to make money if they dont suck. Its simple you tour in an opening spot or on a festival if your band actually has some talent and is able to perform live and supplies energy then in a crowd of 10,000 maybe at least 500 to 1000 people enjoy and pick up your cd for 7 bucks at the merchandise table then badabing you just got yourself a brand new fan and its all cause your band didnt suck live

[hailsatan]

someone broke into my car and stole all my cds and that sucked i was sad

[In_This_Moment]

Omg, this man is a ****ing Grade A Idiot.
I would have more respect for what was said if it was someone else, someone that wrote remotely half decent music, but no.

Downloading music tends to actually tends to make bands more popular and some acutally like it that much they want to CD, good for you..

This tosser needs to get over himself.

[justinforrest]

what a douche. no body cares LOL

[Jonbagga]

wow, im like the only person who agrees with him, i never downloaded music except off itunes, and never will
if someone spent hours recording and writing songs and albums, its just respect that should stop you from downloading, if not, you should lose your hearing as karma

[Kuri]

I'm not going to lie. I download but for bands that I absolutely love, I do buy their albums to support them. But there are some bands that are overseas that makes it a tad difficult to support because not only are their cds sold online but its between 30-50 dollars. An album mind you. In due time, I'll get all the albums i've downloaded and still support those artists.

Fin.

[SicSeb]

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

Well spoken, same here ^^

I download music from a lot of different bands and/or groups so you can check them out instead spending money on random cd's which might suck. I don't just go to a musicstore and buy different albums from bands I have never heard of, but with downloading I do. If I like a band I will always buy the original albums, friends of me do the same thing, they wánt the albums when a band is good, to support them and because we don't have a mp3 players in our cars
So which brings me to my next point: It's easier for up and coming bands to promote their music. Look at Myspace for instance, a shitload of bands are on internet communitygroups spreading their music. With downloading, more people in less time will hear your music and are likely to check you out at a venue or buy your debut album. So eventually, you will sell more records (as a beginning band).

For big band like Kiss from the old days it would be different though, same with Metallica or others. Back in the day, they would have to buy your cd or lp to check you out. And sold is sold. So I can understand why mr. Simmons is kind of pissed off, because people can hear your songs first before they would buy your album. But he shouldn't complain because he already has a name in the musicindustry, promoting his albums wouldn't be a problem and downloading music from the internet is a blessing for up and coming bands!

[scott316]

that's a lot of rubbish what Simmons says. Most people who download do so cause they are only downloading single random tunes. I agree that there are people who rip the arse out of it and download albums and sell the music as pirate copies for profit at knockdown price, that's the criminals, not people who want to share a single file so they can obtain a song they like without buying a whole new album that might suck. We'll always buy the albums of the bands we love, no matter what cause of allegiance to them. I always buy my favourite artists albums on release day, or even pre-order it. And for the record Gene, where do you think the songs come from for download ? Someone's gotta buy the album and post it for sharing, so you are berating your own fans ! And the guy claims to be intelligent, just remember who made your money, not you, your fans who bought into your cheesy band !

Just as the music world evolved from LP through to CD, the revolution in Internet/Music Downloading started years ago, wake up Simmons !

[BennyStruggle]

I just wanta know why PunkNews.org commented on this...why didnt WashedUpRockersActingSenile.org report? They woulda been more accurate.

[DANNY K]

Suck my dick Gene, no one downloads ur music anyway!

[FunkasPuck]

so theres no incentive to make music that thousands of people will love other than the money?

so you cant add another wing to the mansion that you share with your softporn star girlfriend?
boo hoo.

suck a cock you rock dinosaur.

[veepirate]

if i didn't download music id still be listning to manson and linkin park and other pop mainstream crap thats on mtv(and maiden but i only knew about them through my brother, yes he actually shared powerslave with me, i acually didn't buy it for myself!)

thanks to the internet in general im listning to some great metal acts like amon armath ,opeth, celtic frost, devildriver and the list goes on

and believe me (simmons) no collage kid wants to listen to kiss.... sober at least

[veepirate]

*college

[DropDeee]

I downloaded The Crystal Method's 'Tweekend', after seeing a snippet of them on a late night music show, and since then, i've bought every one of their albums. Me downloading has paid off for them, because they make good music. Simmons, however... simply crap music. Wouldn't waste my money.

[vannaXcurses]

gene can suck it. kiss sucks. i win. the end. im gonna go download some more

[janelleguitar]

well since hes retarded and cant figure this out i guess i have to write it, "how are you going to get paid for it..." well gene, if you were in a lesser shitty band youd realize money comes from merch and shows the band has. just cause someone doesnt buy the music dont mean anything. i have always been a metallica fan and they influence my writing alot. and yes ive downloaded and burned 2 or 3 of their albums, BUT you jackass, ive seen them live 4 times and own atleast 8 t-shirts from them. so wheres the money coming from? if your album is good enough the money will still be there. and if not your doing it for the wrong reasons cause it should be for the people not the money. atleast thats how my band works. famous or not. the music industry needs to pull their upity heads out of their a$$!!!

[IRONxPANTERA]

what a selfish ass hole...




All he cares about is money

[StuckNMove]

kiss sucks anyways, i kinda wan't them to come out with a new album, just so i can download it....

[MyNameBeMikal]

Oh my God! That's too cute! He think the reason people don't buy his crap is because they download it! HAHAHAHA! Oh Gene, you card you... No one wants it, silly!

[nightwalker903]

i download music but it aint my only source of getting hold of music.

last thing i downloaded was critical acclaim and almost easy by a7x because the album wasn't released and once it was i walked straight into hmv and bought it. if i hear a song on radio kerrang myspace etc and i like it ill download it and if it just a one off because im not a big fan of a band ill leave it at that. if im into the band ill download songs i like and then eventually get the album because if i like them i like to have a solid copy of the album i can enjoy.

fair do's if my band made it and we were losing money because of high levels of downloading id be pissed. if we were just starting out and should be selling say 50,000 copies and only sold like 10,000 because everyone was just illegally downloading id be annoyed because i wouldnt have the security of money coming in but if i was a multi millionaire and didnt need a to write another song in my life and i could live on whats in my bank account at this very second, yeah id be pissed but i think i could deal with it.

[messypunk]

...he can suck my balls! i'm gonna continue downloading! i've always done it and I will! besides...it has helped me know so many more bands...from every genre too and I would buy any album I really like..so really...simmons...if u read this...my advice to you is to go use ur cash 2 get some dick! (since cash is all that matters!)

[saint.anger]

Since i seem to be the only one to agree with gene on this one, i guess i'll have to speak up. All you little faggots need to get it through your head, sittin at your tohusand dollar computers in your moms basement on the internet for ten hours a day, get a ****ing life! it only costs, what, 15, 20 bucks to by a new cd, and most of you have the money to buy it anyway. What do you think funds touring and shit,the money from album sales! You dumbass prep mother****ers are ruining music fer all the rest of us. How would you feel if someone just stole the music you worked your ass off to make!

[Kotie]

If the record industries didn't stress bands to produce singles that sound nothing like the album, I feel that people would download less. It's a really pissy thing to hear a song on the radio and then buying that band's CD only to find that it sounds almost like a completely different genre! And then you have bands who come out with a couple good singles, but the rest of the album is all filler. Why would I want to waste money when I don't even know what the CD really sounds like?

The record industries ripped us off first.

[nibsabbath1825]

It seems that these pompously parading people fail to comprehend one certain fact:

Musicans.

I think we all understand what a musician is. One who plays music. Okay, we made it that far. Now let us delve deeper, shall we?

Do Not Make Money.

Sounding a little racy, I know but keep with me, fellows. It gets a tiny bit more difficult after this but we're over halfway through the base fact.

From Album Sales.

Now it is time to combine the three parts of the sentence in order to derive a meaning.

Musicians do not make money from album sales.

Okay, now we get to the crux of the situation. Now that we understand the parts of the fact we must translate it into terms that some of these bumblers can understand.

People who make music do not make spendy-things from the sales of their shiny frisbees. (or CDs).

That is about as elementary as it gets folks. I hope this cleared up some confusion for those of you who are on the "Musicians are losing money" bandwagon. I, in no way, condone music downloading as a sole source of music attainment, only as away to preview what you may consider buying in the future. It has been said already: download music to preview, then buy. If you find that the music you downloaded is not satisfactory, delete it and be on your merry way.

Incidentally, I am, as stated before, a musician. I have no issue with people downloading my music. If you were to visit my Soundclick page, you would find that all of my music is available for free download. Those of you familiar with Soundclick know well that you can charge for your downloads. I am unconcerned--I want my music to be listened to. I do not care about someone buying it.

[lord of stones]

Gene Simmons suck big time, he fcking thinks he is kiss, no wonder they stopped producing music together.

[holiwood420]

ok i'll probably catch hell for this but kiss was my favorite band when i was a kid. BOUGHT every single 1 of their albums...imports included...now that i am 33 and i can get music for free via downloading, i'm going to. if it wasn't for us gene would have nothing to bitch about. we are the 1's who made him rich by buying cd's, merchandise, pinball machines, lunchboxes. sorry gene but saying everyone who should who downloads music should be sued is utterly asinine. i never heard a peep from anyone when cassettes were popular and everyone and their mother was making mix tapes or dubbing an entire album...the only difference now is that my friend won't have to snail mail me cd to burn. plain and simple....u want your money back gene? put the make up back on AGAIN and tour....oh wait u've already done that. apparently the $80 ticket prices wasn't enough...i'll never stop downloading music, partly because MY inner jew doesn't like WASTING money on sh#$ bands (i'm not jewish, just a tightwad) and i can pre-screen sh#$ before i waste my money. lastly, and most importantly, if i do like your music you can bet your ass i WILL go to a show, as long as you don't rape me with your ticket prices. so in a nutshell, gene is either A). a greedy S.O.B., or B). an attention *****...since it's multiple choice, i'm going with C). all of the above.

[scott316]

Prime example....download Someday by Nickelback. You buy the album, are you going to be the same person who is going to enjoy Because of You ? Flat On The Floor, Throw Yourself Away ? My guess is not. Therefore download is an advantage as you wont buy an album you dont like in the mainstream. The same could be said for Stone Sour....Through Glass, Silly World, Zzyzx Rd....i know people who hate metal and hard rock who love these songs, they bought the album and their opinion was lessened of the band "their shit but those songs are good".

[metalcore123]

i ****ing hate gene simmons and that guy can suck my nuts. He's such a pompous jackass that seriously is a poor example of a human.

[winningdays]

I guess this is what happens to you after you become a commercial success off of a ****ing stupid gimmick and then sell your face to anything with a pulse. Another thing, isn't the whole downloading debate done with? I remember reading a report actually posted on the news section of this site that stated that downloading did not actually effect cd sales.

[slash4lyf]

you should be able to download to a limit. thats how you discover bands by downloading. but if you appreciate the artist buy their music. thats what i do therefore its a win win. and metalcore123 your the dickhead, gene simmons is a rock n roll legend, so metalcore SUK A DIK YOU GAY EMO FAG...ROCK On'

[JL_Shredder]

I strongly disagree with illegal downloading. I mean really! You can get an entire album from a legal download site for like 8-15 dollars depending on the number of songs. Illegal downloading is what it is. Stealing! I don't really agree with Gene on this issue as to how far he goes with punishment. I think if someone is caught downloading illegal music, they should just have to pay the worth of the music plus like 50% or so.

It is understandable, however, if the music downloaded is rare. As in you can't go to your local record store and buy it, but even that should have a price. But that's just my opinion.

[-XII-]

Maybe he's run out of money and missing the blow...

[KenpachiZaraki]

Just curious, have any of you possibly thought about it? Say your boss said "Sorry your doing such awsome work where just not gonna pay you anymore, BUT where still gonna keep you working for us!! Awsome isnt it!?" Thats what your saying about your bands, some of you anyway, your fav bands, dl there music, so when your boss stops paying you well, sucks to be you .

Sure Gene just might be in it for the money, but who has a job that your not? More times then none you do your job for the MONEY not cause its fun, Some do, some play music for the fun, but not all of 'em. Like if any1 ever worked at a fast food resturant, "Yea im flipping burgers cause its fun!!!" Well, thats my opinion...

[Misterhustle24]

hmmmmm, I think I'm going to go download some kiss albums now

[stevo_92]

shit don't you have enough money already?

[Eddie616]

stevo_92 wrote:

shit don't you have enough money already?

too true...

[ace man]

Gene has enough money as it is, when is he going to stop? It went too far when he stuck thayer in the makeup.

[mrjiggyfly122]

Kiss blows

[pdq13]

Grab your suitcase an your guitar and go to work mother****er!Tour.

[HexaDakota]

All musicians are all about the money. Why do you think they work so hard? To get a job as a musician. Sure, they're doing a job they have a passion for, but it's still a job. How many engineers could honestly say to themselves, "I don't care about the money at all, I just really love engineering." The whole fantasy mentality that REAL musicians don't care about the money and are only in it for the music is the biggest load of bull ever thought up. Any CD that people on this site own comes from a band that cares about the money.

[theused101]

yea.
kiss pretty much sucks

[Harley Fay]

Ya know I'm a huge Kiss fan. Kiss is what actually inspired me to play music. I know what he means about ppl not making money but yet in the same sense if they quit charging so f'n much for everything it would probably slow down downloading. I'll admit I download music to check it out and if I like it I buy it.

kiss pretty much sucks

Well as far as you Kiss haters out there, you didn't grow up back then, hell I didn't either, Kiss was huge back then. I will always be a Kiss fan so you can kiss my irish ass!

[evil_armada]

isn't like less then 5% of cd sales given to a band when there signed up from a record company anyway, so wouldn't it be the mega rich record company's doing bad, not the talented musicians. Sounds like a bit of a knob to me , and sounds like he was in it for the money, but really, what are you gonna do