KISS icon Gene Simmons recently claimed that California rock bands have nothing on groups from the United Kingdom. Simmons said, “California has more people than your island and has the fifth biggest economy on the earth and yet other than the Beach Boys, California doesn’t have much. You have The Beatles, The Stones, U2 and Queen and the list goes on and on. What you have given the world is so much more than the music that America has given you. So, I am so thrilled to be coming back to play in the very place that gave the world so much great music.”
Now iHeartRadio have taken a shot at Simmons for disrespecting California rock icons like Axl Rose and Guns N’ Roses, who they reference in a new statement on their website. They wrote, “KISS bassist Gene Simmons is the first to admit that he’s a loud mouth and often doesn’t think before he speaks to the press. Simmons’ latest comment that has us scratching our heads is one in which he impugned the musical impact of the State of California during an interview with U.K. publication The Northern Echo. The God of Thunder was attempting to highlight the incredible musical legacy of the United Kingdom, but as is his habit, did so while also taking a swipe at something else.”
Simmons hit back on Twitter, “I stand by my words. The Beatles, the Stones, Queen and many others, took rock ‘n’ roll to heights American artists never did, even though America invented rock, blues, rap and so on. The UK simply does it better. End of story.” Gene Simmons called out a ‘stupid’ KISS impersonator yesterday.
There have been many iconic bands to come out of California including Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen, Blink-182, Green Day, Jane’s Addiction, Stone Temple Pilots, The Eagles, Linkin Park, Metallica, Tool, Motley Crue, The Offspring, Slayer, Queens of the Stone Age, and Weezer.
I stand by my words. The Beatles, the Stones, Queen and many others, took rock ‘n’ roll to heights American artists never did, even though America invented rock, blues, rap and so on. The UK simply does it better. End of story. https://t.co/gSRvcVLDOs
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) July 17, 2019
