After A Whole Decade, Gene Simmons Still Think “Rock is Dead”

Back in 2014, KISS bassist Gene Simmons declared, “Rock is dead.” Nearly a decade later, his stance hasn’t changed. In a recent interview on The Zak Kuhn Show, Simmons revisited his infamous proclamation and explained why he still believes it holds true today.

Why Simmons Says Rock Is Still “Dead”

Simmons’ argument hinges on a key premise: the golden age of rock, from 1958 to 1988, produced an unmatched lineup of legendary artists and enduring music.

“It is [still dead],” Simmons said. “And people don’t understand how I can say that when we all have our favorite songs and we love our favorite bands. But let’s play a game… From 1958 until 1988 — 30 years. What came during that period? We had Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, and so many more.

“Now compare that to 1988 to today, which is nearly 40 years. Who are the new Beatles?”

Shooting Down Modern Rock Comparisons

When podcast host Zak Kuhn suggested Nirvana, Simmons quickly pushed back.

“Stop. We are blinded,” Simmons said. “I’m a major fan [of Nirvana]. But if you walked down the street and asked a 20-year-old, ‘Who’s the bass player in Nirvana?’ they wouldn’t know. Or, ‘Can you sing a Nirvana song?’ No. The Beatles, and to a lesser extent The Stones and Elvis, were universal. Even if you hated rock music, you knew who they were.”

Simmons continued, saying even widely loved bands like Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters don’t reach the same level of cultural impact.

“Ask a young person to name someone in Pearl Jam or hum a song by them. They can’t. And it’s not because these aren’t great bands — they are. But they haven’t crossed over in the way bands of the earlier era did,” Simmons said.

He pointed to Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl as an exception, noting Grohl’s visibility in commercials and media, which has made him more recognizable beyond music.

The T-Shirt Debate: A Sign of the Times

Simmons also brought up the now-familiar “T-shirt debate,” recounting a story from his son, Nick.

Nick had approached a young woman wearing a Rolling Stones T-shirt. “He said, ‘Oh, so you’re a fan?’ And she said, ‘Of what?’ He pointed out the band name, and she said, ‘Oh, I just like the shirt,’” Simmons explained.

Nick even tried humming classic Stones hits like “Satisfaction,” but she’d never heard them. When he mentioned Mick Jagger, she replied, “Oh yeah, Mick Jagger — the serial killer.”

Simmons used this anecdote to illustrate how knowledge of rock’s greats isn’t as universal as it once was. “Anything you think is commonplace that the masses know, they don’t. Very few things everybody knows anymore,” he said.

What Does This Mean for Rock?

For Simmons, the lack of widespread cultural icons in modern rock underlines his claim that the genre has lost its mass appeal. While fans and musicians may cherish the music, he argues that rock no longer dominates the cultural landscape like it did during its heyday.

Despite his critique, Simmons’ reflections aren’t entirely dismissive. They’re a call to recognize how much the musical landscape has evolved — and perhaps, how much has been left behind.