Source

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Gene Simmons is a busy man. The legendary KISS founder fills his time with a variety of projects. There's filming for "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," the reality show entering its third season on A&E. And there's an animated show on Nickelodeon called "My Dad the Rock Star."

Simmons is writing his third book -- "Ladies of the Night," a "personal and historical overview" on the profession of prostitution -- coming this spring via his own publishing company, Simmons Books. He also has Simmons Comics, with three comic book series based on characters he's created. The list goes on.

Simmons recently chatted with Billboard about KISS and the music industry.

YOU'VE GOT THE THIRD SERIES OF THE KISSOLOGY DVD COMING OUT NEXT MONTH. IS THERE MUCH MORE WE CAN EXPECT COMING?

There'll be 10. No one -- and that includes the Beatles and Elvis -- can touch our (KISS') merchandising and licensing. Nobody. Outside of the music world, it's only Disney and Lucas. But in the music world, they can't shine our shoes.

ANY TOURING PLANS?

We'll tour a few dates next year. We don't have anything to prove to anybody or do press to convince anybody we're important. We're doing KISS festivals around the Indy car racing series. Simmons Abramson Marketing (his business partnership with entertainment industry veteran Richard Abramson) markets and brands Indy cars. I came up with the I Am Indy brand, by the way. They go on the night before. We'll do 15 dates or so. We'll also go to Australia and New Zealand and maybe to four to six shows -- but nothing comprehensive until we feel like it.

IT HAS BEEN NINE YEARS SINCE WE'VE SEEN A NEW KISS ALBUM. ANY PLANS TO GET BACK INTO THE STUDIO?

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? I will be putting out a Gene Simmons box set called "Monster" -- a collection of 150 unreleased songs. KISS will have another box set of unreleased music in the next year.

The record industry doesn't have a f---ing 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. How can you pick on them? They've got freckles. That's a crook. He may as well be wearing a bandit's mask.

Doesn't affect me. But imagine being a new band with dreams of getting on stage and putting out your own record. Forget it.

BUT SOME ARTISTS LIKE RADIOHEAD AND TRENT REZNOR ARE TRYING TO FIND A NEW BUSINESS MODEL.

That doesn't count. You can't pick on one person as an exception. And that's not a business model that works. I open a store and say "Come on in and pay whatever you want." Are you on f---ing crack? Do you really believe that's a business model that works?

SO WHAT IF MUSIC JUST BECOMES FREE AND ARTISTS MAKE THEIR LIVING OFF OF TOURING AND MERCHANDISE?

Well therein lies the most stupid mistake anybody can make. The most important part is the music. Without that, why would you care? Even the idea that you're considering giving the music away for free makes it easier to give it away for free. The only reason why gold is expensive is because we all agree that it is. There's no real use for it, except we all agree and abide by the idea that gold costs a certain amount per ounce. As soon as you give people the choice to deviate from it, you have chaos and anarchy. And that's what going on.

Reuters/Billboard

"The only reason why gold is expensive is because we all agree that it is. There's no real use for it, except we all agree and abide by the idea that gold costs a certain amount per ounce."

So, the only reason the "music industry" works (...and, might I point out, ONLY for the RIAA enslaved few) is due to the artificial scarcity of unfair corporate dominance over the free market?

Gene, you are a monopolist PIG and an egomaniac with a dictatorial fetish.

F**k Off! We don't need ya!

What a grade A douchebag. College kids downloading isn't destroying the market as we know it. What IS destroying it still has everything to do with the internet though. People are able to find independent local bands that they like and can relate to, and support them rather than than talentless circus sideshow phonies and glittery ego-divas who have never touched an instrument in their life.

That's the revolution that's destroying the RIAA business model, their own mediocrity, and listeners' newfound ability to look for alternatives. I haven't heard any small indie labels complaining or going out of business because of p2p.

What we're finally seeing is the socialization of the music experience, a decentralized market where musicians can be closer to their fans than ever, and with no lure of becoming a multi-millionaire playboy dangling in front of their faces, the class war (at least in the music industry) will be won, as the elites crumble.

Burn baby burn...

Gene Simmons, you are an egotistical, greedy, out of touch pig! I was a Kiss fan until I read your deluded ravings. I won't watch another fucking show on any channel you are on, and all the Kiss junk that I have been carefully collecting, is going in the dumpster. It scares me that idiotic people like you have the right to vote. Fuck you!

Hehe. Gene, you're sooo good at building up market share the old way...it's like bragging about making it to the highest point on a SINKING SHIP!! Congrats old boy!

While you're bitching that your little box sets aren't selling, I'll be creating music and posting it on Myspace. (Psst...you can SELL your own songs on Myspace now too! How 'bout that, eh?)

I have four-or-so friends locally who also produce music and who're starting little record companies of their own. But if I ever decide to get more serious, I'll just get in touch with TuneCore and sell my own tracks directly through iTunes.

Killing the music business indeed. As you can see, the music industry is alive and well. However Gene, these companies you bench for are not doing so well because they're OLD and OUT OF TOUCH, just like you. Now go retire or something!

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.

Yeah, that'll make them buy more records.

No one -- and that includes the Beatles and Elvis -- can touch our (KISS') merchandising and licensing.

Elvis is dead. So are half of the Beatles. Glad you can compete with them for merchandising because your band doesn't deserve to be compared with either of them on the basis of musical talent.

Outside of the music world, it's only Disney and Lucas. But in the music world, they can't shine our shoes.

Miley Cyrus is 14. She can't shine your shoes because she's too moving your merchandise off the shelves to make room for the newest Hannah Montana stuff.

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

If only he'd said that in 1975...

Sorry if I've offended any youngsters who were KISS fans. Saw them in 1975. My initial reaction was that they were three-chord costume characters with a public persona that said "Fuck you. We are better than you."

Simmons rant here is proof that they never evolved. Neither has my opinion.

And now we see why dinosaurs became extinct. Bye, bye, Mr. Simmons. KISS is about as significant in the history of music as the Starland Vocal Band. Or maybe a better comparison would be Tiny Tim. Costume characters, indeed.

Shannon Tweed should go on a diet.

And Gene could trim off some of the b.s. he's toting around.

Gene had this to say about the prospect of deviating from the established business model for music (taking the side of the RIAA, to wit): "As soon as you give people the choice to deviate from [the status quo], you have chaos and anarchy."

Actually, what happens, Gene, is that there can be a chance for change that's desperately needed . . . for the betterment of artists, including indies.
Well, most artists, that is, who aren't sold out to the cartel's position like you are.

Go eat a rock, Gene.
__________________________________

And, regarding:
"Simmons' rant here is proof that KISS never evolved. Neither has my opinion."

Super stuff from a super writer, that's George Z. for you.

He might be totally wrong - but the man could sell ice to the inuit and has no shame about being a corporate capitalist egomaniac. He would derive pleasure from the insults put on here and he ain't exactly poor from following his business model, even if it is selfish and deplorable. I actually find his misguidedness amusing. Like any college kid cares about what Gene Simmons thinks, most of them wouldn't even know who he is !

Let me be more objective then. And I'll even turn my sarcasm off.

There is an article just a few positions down from this one, where Bob Lefsetz is saying that only the "supremely talented" will ever make any money.

Then Gene Simmons says a few words. He makes a lot of money. Supremely talented? Absolutely.

As leedsquietman said, "[T]he man could sell ice to the inuit". I think we can all agree that this is a tremendous talent. It's certainly a skill I do not possess.

But if I were to sit down and make a list of the most supremely talented bassists, he's just not going to make the cut even if the list is pretty long. There are too many at the very top of the list who already died without ever becoming rich. As always, your rating may vary.

To generalize a little further, if the goal is to become rich, the ability to sell yourself is far more important than your ability to entertain a crowd or the pure awesomeness of your musical excellence.

You can exhibit both of the other two on a regular basis and never become rich. Many of these acts are playing the Indian casino circuit. They'll play somewhere until the night they die because they can't afford to stop.

Getting rich does seem to require a supreme talent. Just not the one(s) I thought Lefsetz was talking about. Maybe it's what he meant all along.

Naw, our friend Bob has always been a little confused about which talent he means.

The reason I post him so frequently is that he WRITES so often and has an opinion (not always right) about on-topic issues.

Yes, you need supreme talent to get rich (aka rip off your loyal fans with a blinder of a marketing gimmick). No?

Hey Gene, Kiss my gold!

Lee, he actually would do it if you paid him enough. I saw an episode of his Family Jewels TV show where he was happy to catch bull semen from a live humping bull in a jiffy bag because it was worth thousands of dollars ... eww !!