Gene Simmons recently addressed the growing political divide in the United States, saying he hopes people can put aside their differences.
The KISS bassist expressed frustration with the current political climate and urged people to stop attacking one another over their beliefs.
“It’s nobody’s business who you support,” Simmons said on CNN. “Nowadays, people engage in, ‘So are you pro or,’ and my first question is, ‘Who the f*ck are you? Who are you?’ Since when does who I support or not support is the business of anyone except my conscience?”
“But literally, have a sense of humor,” he continued. “Take a pill, shut up and stop worrying what your next-door neighbor believes or doesn’t believe. It’s their America too.”
Simmons’ comments came during a recent visit to Capitol Hill, where he was advocating for the American Music Fairness Act.
In his speech, Simmons emphasized the importance of requiring radio stations to pay royalties to the music’s copyright holders.
“I’m here to kindly ask all of you, both Republicans and Democrats, to help us remedy a situation — an injustice. Let’s call it for what it is. An injustice that’s been ongoing for many, many decades. I’m gonna tell you what I mean,” he began.
“Bing Crosby recorded perhaps one of the biggest songs of all time, ‘White Christmas’. […] Everyone received money — the radio station sold advertising, the plumber who fixed the plumbing got paid, the disc jockey got paid. The only person that was never paid for the airplay was Bing Crosby, which is astonishing.”
Simmons continued, saying in part: “We are gonna pass this bill. It is bipartisan. You will do the will of the people because 70% of the United States of America in a recent poll said, ‘We want this injustice cured now and once and for all.’ Getting close to the finish line does not work… We’re only talking about AM and FM radio and paying our Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion […].
“How do we dare come in second to Russia, an alleged country led by a despot when they do a better job of paying our king of rock and roll, and we’re gonna stand by and not pay today’s artists and future artists, because, let’s face it, our children are tomorrow’s stars. […] If you are against this bill, you are un-American. You cannot let this injustice continue.”
