Gene Simmons named his second solo album Asshole, released in 2004, and bewilderingly, it includes a cover of The Prodigy's "Firestarter" featuring Dave Navarro. To this end, at least Simmons knows to offer exactly what's on the tin, as his latest comments regarding hip-hop and its inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame help solidify his status as one of the biggest sphincters in music.
In an podcast interview with Legends N Leaders, Simmons offered the following nuggets of wisdom:
“The fact that, for instance, Iron Maiden is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when they can sell out stadiums, and Grandmaster Flash is… Ice Cube and I had a back and forth — he’s a bright guy, and I respect what he’s done. It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language.”
So we're just saying the quiet part out loud, are we, Gene? Hip-hop isn't inherently ghetto music, and even then, the humble beginnings, rags to riches stories that often feature among hip-hop artists are about as American as it gets, all told.
It gets worse. Repeating prior remarks in as many words, Simmons went on to state:
“I said in print many times: Hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, nor does opera, symphony orchestras… it’s called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But [Ice Cube] shot back and said, ‘No, it’s the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.’ OK, fine … I just want to know when Led Zeppelin’s gonna be in the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.”
mean, if we want to get pedantic, "Kashmir" was remixed into Puff Daddy's "Come With Me" for the Godzilla soundtrack in 1998, never mind that said track also had Tom Morello on guitars and bass, so again, there's precedent here. But the less said about the artist we now know as Diddy, the better.
In any case, it's another example of a musician from yesteryear not being able to evolve with the times, instead holding onto what used to be. Perhaps it's because KISS never had that team-up like other rock legends did, like Public Enemy and Anthrax on "Bring Tha Noize," or Run DMC and Aerosmith on "Walk This Way." It comes off as sour grapes for the sake of sour grapes, an old man bitching about something at his local kaffeeklatsch to an audience of who gives a shit.
If you really wish to hear ice-cold takes from a dude who clings onto relevancy like a bug clinging onto a windshield, the video is below, with Simmons' remarks on the Rock Hall beginning around the 37 minute mark:
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