Gene Simmons insults Radiohead - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

Hawkwise

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 31 2008
Location: Ontairo
Status: Offline
Points: 4119

Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:43

Yawns

*frinspar* View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 27 2008
Location: Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 463

Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:39

GoldenSpiral wrote:

It's just Gene being Gene. He didn't really insult their style, so much as point out the difference between a Kiss show and a Radiohead show. One features good music, and a good light show, and the other is a circus. It would be like Dee Snyder saying Thom Yorke wears boring clothes. Obvious, yes, when you're wearing spandex and mascara.

Absolutely. And if you read between the lines, it's Gene doing what he always does, and that is promote KISS at every opportunity. He's making sure people don't forget about KISS and their fiery, loud and entertaining shows. I would let Gene sell anything for me. LOL

I think for any band, there should be some room for spectacle. Otherwise, I agree, seeing a group live and having people barely move doesn't really excite me. I might as well buy the live album. Which is why I just don't have such a desire to see live shows anymore.
Bands play live to be able to connect with fans. Not to simply play live. A reasonable amount of interaction should be an important part of the show.

micky

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46833

Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:39

hahahah...

compared to KISS.. who wouldn't be boring live hahahhah

The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip

darkshade

Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: November 19 2005
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
Points: 10964

Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:37

if this thread lasts for more than 3 pages, then, well, that'll be just sad...

My Last.fm

1800iareyay View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: November 18 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2492

Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:37

You know guys, I'm with Gene on this one. I don't shell out anywhere from 25-100 bucks for a ticket to basically watch 5 guys stand around like I'm watching footage of them in the studio. It's why I'd kill for Bruce Springsteen, King's X, and Peter Gabriel tickets but didn't really get excited when Porcupine Tree came to town. PT's live DVD is one of the best live prog DVDs, but only because of the music. Visually, there is no reason for me to watch my TV screen while it's on. While Gene is certainly just doing this to be Gene, he's got a point and if you look at the more commercially successful prog/related groups (Rush, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, etc.), the majority of them put on a killer show. Now, commercial gain shouldn't be the reason for doing it, but perhaps if more artists brought an energy to their live shows prog would have been or would be bigger.

Guests

Forum Guest Group

Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:22

The T wrote:

When there's a reality-show based on an artist's family life, it should be a general rule to strip that character of every inch of credibility.

I enjoy KISS music. But please!

Anyway, I don't think he was insulting or anything. But you don't have to worry that much about what he says... He has a reality show based on his family life, for Who/whatever-you-believe-in's sake!

Now if Bret Michaels from Poison would have said that about Radiohead, then we would have to rally behind the...

Bret Micheals is 1000 times worse than kiss which are already pretty bad.

Edited by jwxlite - June 13 2008 at 17:22

The T

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: October 16 2006
Location: FL, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 17493

Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:16

When there's a reality-show based on an artist's family life, it should be a general rule to strip that character of every inch of credibility.

I enjoy KISS music. But please!

Now if Bret Michaels from Poison would have said that about Radiohead, then we would have to rally behind the...

The Quiet One View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: January 16 2008
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 15745

Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:07

TGM: Orb wrote:

What's the insult, really?He thinks that visuals are an important element in a live show. I, to an extent, agree. He also thinks that Radiohead's live shows are lacking the visual part. Big deal. He admits he admires their music/other competence, but thinks they should take themselves a little less seriously in shows.Frankly, his comment is fine by me, and basically uninsulting. He's not 'slamming' Radiohead at all, he's criticising their live visual performance, and he's not doing it specifically to Radiohead, just generally for bands he feels lack the needed live visual elements.

I do agree. But also in some way Gene cannot expect from a prog band extravagant stupid circus show. I dunno about Radiohead really, I saw their clips and the voice is quite pittiful, but that's another topic. What I say is that Gene can't expect a "prog" band playing live like Kiss. There's no need. Ok you can do it the Genesis style, or Yes, or Floyd or even ELP, but the Kiss show is for clowns as Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Guns, etc.

If it was another guy like Dave Gilmour or Peter Gabriel, etc telling that I would be fine, but Gene Simmons telling that it's quite

Evans

Forum Senior Member

Joined: July 15 2006
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 3004

Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:40

Kiss gives me a bitter taste in the back of my mouth. Gene Simmons himself slightly less so, but he's not exactly cheese on a plate, so to speak.

'Let's give it another fifteen seconds..'

Atavachron View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Online
Points: 65254

Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:34

I thought it was fine, he states up front he admires them and then explains why he (and many others presumably) feels the visual is a s important as the music.. what's the big deal? For Simmons it seemed fairly tame, and I see his point.

fighting sleep View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 04 2007
Location: U.S.A
Status: Offline
Points: 155

Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:34

Ahh to think that the spirit of such theatrical performers/bands as Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, and Yes lives on in such an unworthy vessel.

WalterDigsTunes View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 11 2007
Location: SanDiegoTijuana
Status: Offline
Points: 4373

Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:34

Extroverted 70s rocker dismisses some boring band's boring stage show. Nothing to see here, folks.

TGM: Orb

Prog Reviewer

Joined: October 21 2007
Location: n/a
Status: Offline
Points: 8052

Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:33

TGM: Orb

Prog Reviewer

Joined: October 21 2007
Location: n/a
Status: Offline
Points: 8052

Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:33

What's the insult, really?

He thinks that visuals are an important element in a live show. I, to an extent, agree. He also thinks that Radiohead's live shows are lacking the visual part. Big deal. He admits he admires their music/other competence, but thinks they should take themselves a little less seriously in shows.

Frankly, his comment is fine by me, and basically uninsulting. He's not 'slamming' Radiohead at all, he's criticising their live visual performance, and he's not doing it specifically to Radiohead, just generally for bands he feels lack the needed live visual elements.

KeleCableII View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 30 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 275

Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:32

I wonder what he would have thought of a Gabriel-era Genesis show, haha.

GoldenSpiral View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: May 27 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3839

Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:29

It's just Gene being Gene. He didn't really insult their style, so much as point out the difference between a Kiss show and a Radiohead show. One features good music, and a good light show, and the other is a circus. It would be like Dee Snyder saying Thom Yorke wears boring clothes. Obvious, yes, when you're wearing spandex and mascara.

http://www.myspace.com/altaic
ALTAIC

"Oceans Down You'll Lie"
coming soon

moreitsythanyou View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

VIP Member

Joined: April 23 2006
Location: NYC
Status: Offline
Points: 11682

Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:27

When the worst band ever insults the best band ever, all you have to do is just turn the other cheek and let those talentless hacks humor themselves. Ying%20Yang

<font color=white>butts, lol[/COLOR]

Statutory-Mike View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: February 15 2008
Location: Long Island
Status: Offline
Points: 3737

Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:24

Kiss star Gene Simmons has slammed bands including Radiohead, who he believes put on boring live shows.

Simmons said that bands have a responsibility to provide a spectacle for their fans and shouldn't just stand static with a guitar.

"I admire bands like Radiohead, but the idea of being that serious? f**k that, get up on stage and blow sh*t up,” Simmons said.

Simmons went on to compare live performances to films, saying that they require audio and visual elements.

“If you're not fulfilling the visual part it's like watching a movie with your eyes closed,” he told WENN.

"One of the biggest compliments we get is (when people say), 'I f**king hate their music but that's the best show I ever saw in my life.'"

Radiohead were criticised by music fans earlier this week who called the opening nights of their European tour “terrible”.

I just copied this from www.ultimate-guitar.com

Opinions? I think that he was completley out of line saying something like that, and should keep his mouth shut, but at the same time their shows aren't that exciting from what I've heard. I still think Gene Simmons was pretty out of line by saying that.