Dear Gene Simmons: Rock ISN'T Dead, Shut The Fuck Up 

It’s January 5th, this is already the best video I’ll see this year 👌

Gene Simmons alone is the reason I stopped listening to Kiss. Why in earths name shall I contribute to that greedy weasels wealth when he continues to say the things that he does? I haven't listened to Kiss in over a year and I don't regret it in the slightest. I agree with everything you said in this video. I admit: I am not particularly invested in modern day rock and metal but that's simply because that era of music doesn't interest me at the moment. I am so busy discovering classic stuff from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s that I simply don't have time for newer bands. Maybe that'll change with time, but that's where I stand right now. I'm not going to be a nostalgic poser and say that the golden days of rock and metal is in the past, because you and other content creators continues to show me that it's not the case. The fact that rock and metal isn't popular on the charts anymore doesn't mean anything since the music industry doesn't care about rock and metal more than as a nostalgic phenomenon there for re-experience. If there is one thing I've learned in latter years it is that rock and metal doesn't need mainstream success to be successful, and while I'm not familiar with the things that's going on at the scene today I still respect the current bands and artists for keeping the faith alive and carrying the torch that their precursor has left to them. I am certain that rock and metal is healthy and in the right hands.

"Rock Is Dead!" Ok so AC DC, Slipknot, Metallica, Testament and others didn't release new music!

Slipknot in just one music video: Unsainted, and in just one year made, 92 million Views, and The other track: Nero Forte has: 27 million views! That shows that Metal/ Rock is still alive! 🤘

I think it is also important to note that due to the rise of the internet the music scene has been highly decentralized, which is in my opinion an amazing thing. Who the fuck needs another giant band everyone listens to, if there are thousands big, small and medium sized bands that innovate in ways that weren't possible in the 70s, 80s and 90s

The Beatles (as much as I love them) were much more of a SOCIAL phenomenon than a musical phenomenon. If it wasn’t for the social climate in America, the Beatles would just be a really cool weird rock band from the 60s. Like they 100% broke down barriers musically, but it was a perfect example of right time right place for how HUGE they got

IMO, its very difficult for a rock/metal band to be popular in today's time for two major reasons. One reason is like you said, a lot of "boomers" and others are so stuck in the past, they don't accept anything new or different. The other reason is that it seems to be nearly impossible in today's time for a rock or metal band to reach platinum level popularity and still maintain a high level of respect within the community without being labeled "posers" or "sellouts." Pantera was able to pull it off in the 90's, but I can't think of a lot of bands in the past 20 years that have been able to reach their level of success and still be highly respected among the majority of fans.

Nice rant man. Gene’s boomer meter going bing bing again.

its funny cause i've been in metal shows and concerts before 2020 hit and everyone was having a good time. i don't know if we will ever go back to the glory days of 80s metal, but to blindly assume that its dead because its not popular really shows how arrogant he is. your an awesome dude for standing your ground to jerks like Gene.

Saying that a genre is dead is always wrong, no genres really dies

Great rant 👌

I approve of this message. Also to any rock writers out there, please stop interviewing Gene Simmons for quotes. He just wants to stay relevant, whatever that means at his age.

As much as I can't stand Gene Simmons, rock is still relevant today especially with the growth of bands being inspired by the greats of music from the 60's, 70's etc with the impact of the genre itself grown to be a thing since the music of rock and roll. It may be different today but the history is still important as always as it is when it came and formed. I like some new modern rock to be honest but rock as a whole is one of my favourite genres. Yet there are some great albums from the genre that came out today for me.

I've found more rock and metal bands in the past two year than before, there's so many up and coming bands hitting charts and tons of independent and small time bands that have more visibility than ever before thanks to Bandcamp, RU-vid and other social media. There's tons of bands dedicating themselves to classic heavy metal sounds, too. Blue Oyster Cult came out of freaking no where with a new album and it fucking rips. If a band like them can still make music and be relevant, then rock isn't dead, but Gene Simmons soul is.

It's not dead, there are still a lot of fans, but it is not as dominant as in the 70's, 80's, 90's and early 2000. I don't know in the US, but in my country (Belgium), the teens love pop and rap/hip hop music. And i can see that at live shows, there are not a lot of teens... The biggest issue is that the fans are aging and the young generation are not into rock and metal... pop and rap/hip hop are wayyy bigger. So it could be dying in the futur (I mean in 10 or 20 years...)

I love KISS, they were the band that got me into rock, and I still like their music, but I agree with pretty much everything you say here. Rock may not be as big as it was back then, but it’s still around and there are lots of great bands out there like the ones you’ve mentioned. Gene Simmons needs to just shut up and retire at this point. KISS hasn’t made anything noteworthy in years other than how many things they’ve put their logo on.

Rock and Metal is not dead....🤘🤘🤘 Slipknot's new album: We Are Not Your Kind, went on number one in youtube trending. I mean the songs: Unsainted, and All Out Life went on youtube trending! And Slipknot is a metal band! 🤘 Even bands like: Jinjer, Lamb Of God, Avatar, Korn and Slipknot have lots of listeners.

If Rock and Metal is dead, then explain the comradery at a Sabaton/Kreator show in 2018 with kids who are at their very first metal show to see Sabaton be welcomed with open arms with veteran Kreator fans and everyone just having a the time of their lives.

Don't waste your time and anger on a lonely and bored old man who stirs up shit so that people won't forget him.

I love Danny and NSP.

"Name one band who is as big as The Beatles this modern day" Two words. Linkin Park

the way he claims there haven't been any huge, culturally influential rock bands since the eighties... it must've taken a massive dose of benadryl to sleep through the back-to-back nu metal and metalcore crazes like that, sweet jesus

I find it almost impossible to believe anyone can like Kiss unironically.

Just seeing the titlecard and the title itself, made me have faith in Rock living longer! 🐼🎨📼

Cheers to the new age of rock and heavy metal 🥃

I fucking love Kiss man, I was Made for Loving You is probably my latest memory of hearing ... MUSIC. Like this is probably the one single song that Ive knew forever. And I probably dont fall into the "old guy" category" since Im fucking 21, but hey, I love Kiss, but Gene just pisses me off. Hell, Paul too. I love their music, but the only Kiss member (former) I can tolerate as a human being in interview is Ace

I love the fact that you mentioned Halestorm they are one of my favorites

Gene Simmons has some pretty terrible takes. There are plenty of great new bands out there carrying the torch and flying the banner of rock n roll. The most recent bands that come to mind are Ghost, Starcrawler, Amyl & the Sniffers, Skating Polly, PUP, Dirty Honey, the Chats, Mommy Long Legs, Greta Van Fleet, Chubby and the Gang, the Oozes, Bob Vylan, etc. If you think crappy bands like Imagine Dragons are the face of rock music right now maybe turn off the radio Gene. Old school bands like Guns N Roses, Misfits, Pearl Jam, Bad Religion, Alice In Chains, AC/DC, Anthrax, Judas Priest, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, and plenty more are still selling out music venues and are as popular as ever, some even putting out new records that kick ass. There is a lot of great new rock music out there you just have to look a little more and turn off the radio. Dudes a straight up Boomer and is so out of touch with the music scene. Yes I do miss buying CDs and hanging out at the record shop and the digital age has changed the way we listen to and discover new music but it’s honestly more accessible than ever

Hate Kiss, hate Gene the most, and this statement is not only dumb, it’s just flat out wrong. Say what you want about mainstream rock radio, and some of the stereotypes that are associated with it, but rock/metal is still evolving. Bands like Code Orange, Deftones, Swallow the Sun and Boris (to name a few) have been toying around with metal for years now, and none of that has changed with their newest material. There are bands out there that are willing to experiment and try new things, even if they may not work (the effort is still there). They might not be the most mainstream, but the magic of finding something you love is to follow the road less traveled more often than not. And even if that weren’t the case, what about radio stations that still play classic rock and metal music? Hell, throw in the metal in fashion argument and even that would be damning against Gene’s point. Also, Ghost puts on a helluva show and aesthetic and are another band that are keeping rock alive. Had the pleasure of seeing them a few years back. Didn’t know if something this stupid is worth arguing, but I’m fast balling my hat into the ring on this one.

this is coming from a guy who said to Graham from Loudwire that The Ramones aren't successful because they're not rich

Rock is far from dead ,but maybe Kiss is dead wait what am i saying kiss is dead the bands been dead for years

Excellent video!! You really hit the nail on the head as far as Gene Simmons attitude goes. This guy has singlehandedly taken a band that was at their zenith in the mid to late 70s and made them sound like a bunch of money hungry blowhards! Their last album, 2012s "Monster" was actually a fairly decent album, IMHO, but I'm not going to spend a couple hundred dollars to see a band that's riding on the coattails of songs that are more than 40+ years old!! I may be older than 50, but their are PLENTY of modern rock I enjoy very much that are cutting edge and very innovative. Among them are: Ghost (phenomenal band), Steel Panther, Alestorm, Stratovarius, Sabaton, Primal Fear, Treat, Tokyo Motor Fist, Andy James, and DragonForce! And that's just a small handful. Those outfits prove Rock/Metal aren't dead, and never will be!! Keep up the good work!

I think gene Simmons is mad because he’s the one who isn’t relevant anymore. Kiss was never that great anyway. I know people in their 50’s and 60’s that like modern metal and rock. You know why? Because they’re open minded.

Gene.Still thinks very highly of himself I see 😹😹😹

Don't be angry at Gene for making money every which way he can. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were fucked by their respective record labels, so the way I see it, the man wants to own as much of his creation as he can. If he doesn't do that, somebody else will, undeservedly. Whether Gene gets the money or the label, you will STILL have to pay for that shirt, CD or ticket. Wouldn't you think it's only fair that HE gets the money and not some parasite?

He recently did say that rocks dead due to file sharing etc, Bands have to tour to death to earn, and it doesn’t pay for enough for all the road crew etc etc.

No comparison. Totally different.

Consider if Ace wasn't ever there?

All of those bands you mentioned are good but not great. Greta totally sounds like Zeppelin and Bring Me The Horizon sounds like Evanescence meets Nickelback or many other 90-2000 bands. We need innovation and catchy songs to keep rock at the forefront. Rock isn’t dead but it needs something new.

Approving nod with a clap... clap... clap...

The tech has ruined the rock scene. Fans are not to blame!

Here's 5 bands that keep hard rock alive 1 dust coda 2 greta van fleet 3 airbourne 4 dragonforce 5 steel panther

Eminem is the reason Machine Gun Kelly is making pop punk. He kicked MGK out of hip hop with one song

Gene Simmons is just salty because kiss is irrelevant now there not doing anything original or even new at all he's old knobody cares about him or kiss anymore

i love your shirt so much

I get his point cuz metalcore exist

Artists such as BabyMetal, Greta Van Fleet, Bring Me The Horizon, Tame Impala, Mac Demarco, Code Orange etc. can play sold out shows anywhere. They arent conventional artists, but they're still technically Rock artists. Rock hasn't been dead since Buddy Holly, so Gene Simmons can pound sand. KISS sucks.

And that's not real rock. And it went! We could've lived without some of them.

Oasis were as big as anyone for a period in the 90s.

Boomer: "SHUT THE HELL UP! YOU DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ROCK OR METAL MUSIC! YOU'RE A POSER! *Checks channel* *Sees his Metallica ranking video* (Also including the fact that he's referenced time and time again to legendary albums in reviews from bands like Deftones and In Flames.)

Is Gene Simmons worrief if Rock is dead or not ? Why ? He jumped out of the rock ship in the late 70s by recording playing lots of disco music , He ,Paul and others used to go to studio 54 !! When he should be going to CBGB's .....how can an " artists " who plays " the firé starter" can Say he loves rock ? Who says the rappers are the new rockers ? Which is the great song Made by Gene ??? Gene ,You can fool lots of fans ,until they discover which are the real rockers !!! Gene Simmons ' rock ability is already dead

No Rock isn’t dead, but the way a band gets noticed and paid has. Lord knows you don’t make shit on streaming so bands are forced to tour to make any real money. In the past the tour was simply promoting the album for more sales, if a tour made money it was an extra bonus. At East that’s how it was explained to me by a former recording artist and rock song writer. Name withheld. LOL.

Sorry for the blah blah but it had to be done... Gene only cares about his own profit and as you stated that does nothing to save rock n roll in comparison to other old rockstars who actually support the new generation... If something has been keeping rock/metal alive since fucking forever is that the older legends support the up and coming artists.... Elvis supported the Beatles, who supported Led Zeppelin and so on and so on... Where would Metallica be if not for the help of touring with Ozzy fuckin' Osbourne, would death metal have any impact if the thrash giants of the time refused to join forces with them? In the late 90s/early 00s there was not scene for rock and heavy metal and people started to think this genre is dead because that started to slowly stop. Gus G, Michael Amott and Alexi Laiho were the 00s guitar heros and them along with many artists could carry the torch but found so little support... Fortunately, I see that rock is coming back, and this is because old giants and new talents coexist to the point where people are finally paying as much attention to Rival Sons, Enforcer, Suicidal Angels and Power Trip as to Uriah Heep, Saxon and Testament.

Gene Simmons... the boomer Fred Durst

As much as I hate to admit it, Gene is right in a sense. Although all of these bands you mentioned have chart topping hits, none are social mainstays that have shaped the majority of youth culture the way it was until the 2000s. Most kids under 25 now are more socially influenced by modern EDM, Trap, Club Rap and mainstream pop. That doesn't mean they don't listen to rock bands, it just means they don't visibly support them, talk about them as much or try to emulate them socially with fashion styles or behavior coda. New bands like 21 Pilots who I don't even consider rock are coming and going quicker than cheap toilet paper. Rock is not dead, true, but it has definitely taken a quiet back seat to aforementioned genres. It's lost it's edge with pansy ass indie rock that's boring as shit because they keep trying to rewrite 80s & 90s post-punk & indie formulas without an edge of danger or originality. A roadie for Interpol came into my store the other day and I told him to tell his band that Joy Division called and they want their sound back, he genuinely had a good laugh and had to agree. Indie rock since 2000 has just been a rehash of 1977-1999 underground musically for post punk/art rock/indie. Metal is rocks last hope for true rebellion at this point. Metal has been keeping it real and evolving youth culture but not mainstream rock necessarily as much anymore. Shit, even country trap/rap seems more trendy than mainstream rock in certain cities/regions of our country. It's been toooo long since a rock band like Kiss/Led Zeppelin/Van Halen/Nirvana/NIN/Red Hot Chili Peppers/Rage Against The Macine/Foo Fighters (shit these bands are over 40-20 yrs old now) have changed our zeitgeist and had a stranglehold on a generation. Its sad but true. Now Metal....well that's another story, that's where the true raw youth of today still has hope!!! But as far as 'Rock'?, yeah, it's been far too safe and quiet for far too long. You make a lot of true statements though still that I can't argue with, but even these new popular rock bands from the last ten years alone shrink in comparison to the social influence and revenue that modern rap, pop & EDM bring in. But all in all yes, Gene Simmons is a dumb ass, you nailed it by asking WTF is he doing to help rock (nothing), great vid, keep em coming, Cheers!

There is just no scene like back int the 60´s; 70´s, 80´s 90 ´s , nur rock/metal was the last big movement , yes rock/metal is fadin away

One word. Radiohead.

Let's be honest. Kiss always sucked, they're just a gimmick glam rock band who have had no lasting influence.

Kiss was never into music really they just ripped off the kids based fans they was and are greedy. As hell and never was really relevant anyway worldwild in France we hearded of them when they made their shitty. Disco song before that we didn't know who they was. When you make an album and only one or 2 are acceptable sorry but gene simmons is a great musician and an excellent song writer only in his mind 😏

That end remark against Gene Simmons was uncalled for, say what you want about the man but don’t call him that!

I mean i dont know why everyone gets so butthurt about this, Gene always talks about it from a mainstream perspective so yes Rock is very much dead. However the underground scene is very much alive.

Rock is so dead that it's even absurd and surreal to listen to this now. You're young boy... 😂

He is correct. I am a child of the '80s and I don't know of any rock band of the time who's known widely at all... Might hurt your feelings or frustrate you, but it is true.

Wow kiss is amazing, you are so disrespectful to the legends of rock