Gene Simmons Criticizes Bass Slapping, Says He ‘Can’t Remember Anything Flea Plays’
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Gene Simmons, the legendary KISS bassist, recently made headlines with his candid views on music and television. In an interview with Guitar World, Simmons, 75, shared his thoughts on bass playing, naming Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers as someone whose style he finds unremarkable. “There are an awful lot of amazing bass players, like Jaco Pastorius and the jazz guys. Or guys like Flea, who is really good on his instrument, but I can’t remember anything he plays – and I also do not like the sound of a bass being slapped,” Simmons said.
Simmons’ Views on Music and Controversial TV Appearance
This criticism highlights Simmons’ preference for memorable music over technical prowess. He admitted, “I don’t like show-offs in music. I’m much more attracted to things that are memorable. It’s part of the joy of music for me.” He added, “You can be a jazz player and be respected by musicians, but the rest of the world doesn’t care.” Simmons emphasized his point by stating, “All due respect, but that music is intended to show off how well you play – but I don’t care about that. The hardest thing to do is write a good simple song or riff. That’s really hard.”
Simmons recently made waves outside the music world, too. Earlier this month, he appeared as a guest judge on Dancing with the Stars. However, his appearance on the dance competition’s Hair Metal Night wasn’t without controversy. During the show, Simmons made several remarks about the contestants’ appearances that were criticized by viewers. After watching former NFL player Danny Amendola and his partner Witney Carson perform a Paso Doble to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” Simmons commented, “This is a brand new experience for me and it’s difficult to look at you and to figure out which one is more hot, hot, hot.” He added, “Danny, I’m telling you, you’re right next to somebody, one of the more beautiful women on the planet,” referring to Carson, who appeared confused by the comment.
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Viewer Backlash and Simmons’ Response
Simmons also commented on another pair of dancers, Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong, after their Jive to Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” He stated, “You move me, not just with your gyrations and so on, but your beautiful face and how you were into the emotion of it.” These comments led to backlash from some viewers who found them inappropriate.
After the show aired, Simmons responded to the criticism in an interview with the Daily Mail on Oct. 10. “I stand by every word I said,” he told the publication. “I had a great time. The contestants were great. The show was great. Watch the show. It was a lot of fun.” He reiterated, “Everybody’s got something to say. Watch the show. It was a lot of fun. Everybody had a great time.”
Despite the backlash, Simmons has not publicly addressed the controversy further, and representatives for the rock star have yet to comment. Meanwhile, fans and viewers remain divided over his remarks and his strong opinions on both music and television.
