Gene Simmons, the iconic bassist and vocalist of KISS, has once again emphasized his controversial stance that “rock is dead.” This bold statement comes amid the rise of hip-hop and other genres that have overtaken rock’s dominance in recent years. While rock has historically been the king of the music scene, Simmons believes its popularity has waned, eclipsed by the success of pop, hip-hop, and EDM.
Simmons addressed rock’s declining relevance during a recent appearance on The Zak Kuhn Show, where he was asked if he still stands by his assertion that rock is “dead.” His response was unequivocal: “It is. And people don’t understand how I can say that when we all have our favorite songs and we love our favorite bands — you and I and everybody else.”
He went on to explain that from 1958 to 1988, rock music experienced an extraordinary golden age, producing timeless artists and bands. “From 1958 until 1988, that’s 30 years. 30 years. So what came during that period? Well, we had Elvis [Presley], we had THE BEATLES, THE [ROLLING] STONES, Jimi Hendrix, all that, PINK FLOYD, the solo artists, David Bowie and just music that lasts forever,” Simmons recalled. He also noted the presence of influential acts from various genres, including disco (Madonna), heavy guitar bands (AC/DC, Aerosmith), Motown, and even the rise of Prince. “It was a very, very rich musical menu,” Simmons said.
However, when asked about who could be considered the new Beatles in modern times, Simmons voiced his discontent with current music trends. “From 1988 until today, it’s something like almost 40 years, certainly 35 years. Who are the new BEATLES?”
When host Zak Kuhn mentioned Nirvana, Simmons quickly dismissed the idea, arguing that younger generations are largely unfamiliar with the band. “Stop. We are blinded. I’m a major fan. If you walked down the street and asked a 20-year-old, ‘Who’s the bass player in NIRVANA?’ they wouldn’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. “If you ask somebody who’s 20 or something, there’s a generation gap, ‘Name a song,’ they wouldn’t be able to tell you. ‘Who’s the bass player?’ No idea.”
Simmons compared this generational disconnect to the widespread recognition of classic rock icons. “THE BEATLES and, to slightly lesser extent, THE STONES and Elvis, everybody knew THE BEATLES,” he stated. “If you hated rock music, you knew about them.” He also referred to his belief that KISS is one of the most recognized faces worldwide. “I’ve tried this before. You walk down the street, randomly ask people, ‘Who’s on Mount Rushmore?’ They’ll say, ‘Uh, Elvis.’ They won’t get it, but they know those four faces anywhere you go.”
In an amusing anecdote, Simmons shared an experience involving his son, Nick. “My son, who’s no longer in his early twenties, told me a story about a girl he met. She was wearing a Rolling Stones t-shirt, but when he asked if she was a fan, she had no idea who the band was. She said, ‘Oh, I just like the shirt.'”
Simmons continued, “Nick asked her, ‘You must know Satisfaction.’ She said, ‘Never heard it.’ He tried a few more classic songs, but she didn’t recognize them. When he mentioned Mick Jagger, she replied, ‘Mick Jagger? Oh yeah, yeah. I heard… the serial killer.’”
Simmons’ story serves as a stark reminder of the generational divide in music knowledge. “Anything you think is commonplace that the masses know, they don’t,” he concluded. “Very few things everybody knows.”
