ASKING GENE SIMMONS NOT TO BE AN ASSHOLE IS LIKE ASKING A DOG TO WALK ON ITS HIND LEGS
Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 10:32am by Axl RosenbergWhich is why I would never engage in a debate with Gene Simmons about anything. It’s the same reason I rarely respond to comments left on this site. If I post about a band I think is great and someone’s response is “Ur a faggit,” what the fuck am I supposed to say that? My IQ could drop just trying to communicate with that person, so I don’t.
But music biz guru Bob Lefsetz must love a Sisyphean task when he encounters one, because he’s been feuding with Simmons for the past week. The whole tiff started when Lefsetz criticized Simmons in his newsletter (of which both Vince and myself are avid readers) for a speech Simmons gave during Canadian Music Week about various ways in which the music industry might stay afloat; Simmons responded with his own e-mail, in which he made fun of Lefsetz’s name. Seriously. This is the level of of maturity and intelligence with which Lefsetz is trying to engage.
The feud culminated in a public debate last week, which you can watch below – or don’t. Simmons’ opening argument rests not on any proof of acquired business acumen (and beside the admittedly phenomenal success of Kiss, it’s worth noting that 9 out of 10 Gene Simmons ventures fail – see exhibit A, Detroit Rock City), but, rather, on a bald joke. Which tells you pretty much everything you need to know.
After the jump, you can watch a clip of Lisa Lampanelli roasting Simmons on A&E last year. Which is considerably more entertaining than the video above.
-AR
LOL, I love reading about Simmons making an ass of himself.
Agreed, Lefsetz’ newsletter is a must read for people looking for an insider’s critical view of today’s music business.
To me, that looked like a gnat asshole trying to fight a hawk asshole.
Ha, Gene is such an asshole, it’s the primary reason I watched his show, I found that an interesting dynamic with both that family show and the Osbournes.
Ozzy is nice, fun guy, so his family evolved in opposition to him, they’re all manipulative hardcore pricks.
Then you get Gene, and his being a douchebag, and his family evolved around him into decent people that don’t behave like pampered assholes, well, aside from his wife being a shop-a-holic.
Watched the stupid clip, typical Gene nonsense, KISS had so many problems because he’s just such an ass.
I agree that KISS dude is a major shareholder in Massengil, but it’s not as if Lefsetz hasn’t done his share of prickish things in the past.
*sigh* I’m a lifelong KISS fan. But Gene has been a constant source of embarrasment for quite sometime. He never misses an opportunity to make a complete jackass of himself.
Gene Simmons didn’t look as bad as the MS people tried to make him out to be, although he really is a money-grubbing asshole. That being said, that jew that he was arguing with was just as much of an asshole if not moreso.
worst.roast.ever
Lisa Lampanelli is a stupid fat bitch that is not funny at all.
This asshole offends me as a bassist, a musician, a business man, and a human being. Granted, I didn’t get lucky and make it popular off generic pop-rock shit wearing makeup, but I rather drown in sub-mediocrity than achieve Gene’s level of supreme spiritual douche-ness.
The only thing good behind the name SIMMONS is a fucking mattress.
Granted, Gene can be an asshole. But at the risk of sounding immature myself, Leifetz started it. What did he expect after going out of his way to post a lengthy trash-talking post on his blog? And the fact that he’s stunned that Gene wouldn’t even shake his hand? Please. If someone talks trash to me and then expects me to shake their hand over it, they can fuck off.
The only thing I disagree with is the headline. Asking Gene Simmons not to be an asshole is like asking a dog to walk on its forelegs while eating through it’s ass and shitting out it’s mouth. I only say this b/c some dogs can walk pretty well on there hind legs on the other hand it’s impossible for Gene to be a normal decent human fucking being for even a millisecond.
“Lisa Lampanelli is a stupid fat bitch that is not funny at all.”
Says a guy still dick-riding an unfunny meme from 4 years ago.
It’s true that Gene Simmons is a greedy asshole. But you have to give credit to a man that is honest to himself and to his fans in all his “assholeness” when he says he really likes the money besides music.
He and the guys in Kiss took the risk of embarassing themselves for life with the whole make up/ rock-and-roll-superheroes concept, and they keep it going until it worked.
This Leftsetz guy really has a good point in all his comments about the sad, sad state of the corporate music industry today, but Gene also has a point: does this guy ever tried to make it in the industry? does he plays an instrument? Writes songs? Produced a band?
It was naive from him to mess with a guy Simmons.
Gene you are the most ingnorant person I ever knew, Wake up to a reality check and get real. Also your hair is like steel wool, I bet you could jump in a swimming pool and your hair wont be wet. Leftsetz is right on the money about you. Gene only cares about Gene. Please people stop buying anything with kiss.