"Respectfully, the internet is almost useless."

"Respectfully, the internet is almost useless." - Gene Simmons.

This just goes to show how much Gene's opinions are without any value. He might as well be giving us medical advice, he is just as qualified.

Check out a few more great quotes from his Letters section.

"file sharing has succeeded. And the result is the end of a chance for a new band to have a chance." - I agree, they have no chance if they try to embrace the old music business. If they are willing to evolve and try something new they can succeed.

"New bands don't have a chance or an industry to support them. And the same people who love the music, killed it." - They have a new industry to support them, and they have their fans -- if they treat their fans with respect and don't threaten to sue all of them. Don't put the blame on the fans I am sure there are some old, high payed record executives who have some fault.

"The fact is, an entire generation has decided to steal the music and the result is, over a million people are losing their jobs in the record industry. Literally." - Again, I would love to know where this over a million lost jobs comes from.

Just Keep Suing the Fans

Tech Policy Central

Gene Simmons on Digital Music

Nov 15, 2007

Gene Simmons, the outspoken and outlandish bass player from rock band Kiss, talked trash about the digitalhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif music business during a recent interview with Billboard magazine. It seems that despite his band's rebel image, he's not a fan of kids downloading digital tunes without paying for them.

Here's Mr. Simmons' rant, in his own words:

The record industry is in such a mess...It's only their fault for letting foxes get into the henhouse and then wondering why there's no eggs or chickens. Every little college kid, every freshly-scrubbed little kid's face should have been sued off the face of the earth. They should have taken their houses and cars and nipped it right there in the beginning. Those kids are putting 100,000 to a million people out of work. How can you pick on them? They've got freckles. That's a crook. He may as well be wearing a bandit's mask.

He also gave Billboard an earful when asked about other artists like Radiohead or Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor trying alternative business models.

That doesn't count. You can't pick on one person as an exception. And that's not a business model that works. I open a store and say "Come on in and pay whatever you want." Are you on f***ing crack? Do you really believe that's a business model that works?

End of Article

First Prince, now Gene Simmons. You have a problem and your answer is to just sue them, that will make it go away. Gene is that your answer to everything? Wake up! The genie is out of the bottle, file sharing is here to stay. Maybe if the fat, lazy record labels had not ignored file sharing this problem wouldn't be as bad as it is. Oh, and let's not forget about the overpriced crap they have been releasing. Business must evolve, it it doesn't then it deserves to die. Bands must grow and evolve or they deserve to die. This is not the 70s or 80s, what you grew up with Gene is dead, that way of doing business is over. Don't like? That's your right, but you aren't going to change things. You could release music and you could make money doing it. You are releasing DVDs; guess what I can just as easily rip and share your DVDs as I could a CD. Why are you releasing DVDs? Did somebody advance you some money, I bet so. You are free to run your business as you like, but shut up and don't bitch that the fans are the reason for the way things are today. Everybody has an opinion, but your opinion on technology means nothing more than your medical advice. You are not an expert in this area.

"Those kids are putting 100,000 to a million people out of work." What! Where do you get these numbers, back it up? Blame the kids, don't blame the labels for running a bad business that refused to evolve.

Hey, do you know that when you release your Monster box set it will be shared? Why are you releasing it, did somebody give you an advance so you don't care as much about how it sells?

Gene Simmons Now Appearing at 7-Elevens

So this is what it has come to http://www.franksenergy.com/

If you live in Vancouver you can meet Gene Simmons at 3 7-Elevens today. Gene will be there promoting Franks Energy Drink.

There is something not right about the once mighty Demon making appearances at 7-Eleven. I wonder if Gene will be yodeling?

Rest Easy and Get Well

I was at the Soboba show and was proud to see how Gene, along with Tommy and Eric, rose to the top under the challenge of a very difficult situation. Gene, everyone could feel your deep concern for Paul. You did an amazing job leading the show and leading the KISS Army. I enjoyed the show, amd will remember this show above all other shows, but there was clearly a hole on stage. A hole that only someone with Paul's voice and presence could fill. Paul, do what you need for your health. You have given us all so much that I would hate to see you jeopardize your health for a performance.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Paul and the band.

Rest easy and get well.

Report on the KISStoric Show, July 27

KISSONLINE.com

By Louis Antonelli, Jim Lunger & Keith Leroux
WIth photos by Hiro Shiga

Last night an extraordinary page was written in KISSTORY. At the Soboba Casino in San Jacinto, California, last stop of the band’s 2007 ‘Hit & Run’ mini Tour, KISS performed as a TRIO for the first time ever. Immediately following the band’s sound check, Paul Stanley suddenly fell ill, with what was later determined to be a “cardiac event”.

Once it was determined by emergency medical staff that Paul could not perform, there was talk that the show would need to be canceled. It was Paul himself, who insisted that the band play the show without him. Paul was concerned that fans had traveled long distances and because of the band's individual schedules the show could not be rescheduled.

KISS Manager Doc McGhee then took the stage to announce to the crowd that Paul was sick and unable to perform but that Gene wanted to speak with the fans. Gene asked the audience if they wanted him, Tommy & Eric to perform. The crowd responded with a defeaning chant of yes, yes, yes. With that, Gene announced that the concert (If they could pull it off), was a tribute to “The Greatest Voice in Rock and Roll - Rock God Paul Stanley”.

With Paul en route to the hospital - Gene,Tommy and Eric played their hearts out in honor of their stricken leader! The set list evolved as the night progressed and KISS blasted their way into the hot night air - valiantly trying to hold it together minus the band’s heart & soul. In an emotionally charged moment, Gene told the crowd that he was an only child, but nevertheless had a brother – Paul Stanley! ‘Christine Sixteen' brought 11 invited fans onto the stage to help perform the song, and added a bit of lighthearted fun to the pensive night.

The trio went on to perform a full set including classics and rarities - ‘Watchin’ You’, ‘Goin’ Blind’, ‘Nothing to Lose’, ‘Black Diamond’, ‘Cold Gin’, ‘She’, and ‘Parasite’. The sold out arena was filled with dedicated fans who appreciated what a unique night this really was, despite its bittersweet nature, and rocked hard & loud. As the final chords of ‘Rock & Roll All Night’ were struck, and the last jets of flames and confetti shot into the night sky, everyone realized what they had just witnessed was simply great music performed by dedicated, extraordinary musicians who really gave it their all, and then some.

Another thing every KISS fan at the show last night realized - is just how lucky we are that our favorite band, led by the greatest front man in Rock N Roll PAUL STANLEY, cares so much for us fans!

Get well soon Paul - we all love you!

01. Deuce
02. Cold Gin
03. Calling Dr. Love
04. Christine Sixteen
05. Nothin' to Lose (Eric on vocals)
06. I Love it Loud
07. Goin' Blind
08. Watchin' You
09. She
10. Parasite
11. God of Thunder
12. Let Me Go, Rock 'n Roll
13. Black Diamond (Eric on vocals)
14. Rock and Roll All Night

It's Scripted, But Still Fun

So, back to the topic of reality tv that isn't reality.

Gene Simmons Family Jewels is a fun and entertaining show, I don't miss an episode. But, it's not entirely reality. Just looking at one episode... when Gene was in NYC for MTV TRL and the hotel misplaced his costume.

That happened the day after the MTV filming. The hotel manager, not. Just an extra. If it had been reality, Gene would have been traveling with a road manager who would be responsible for Gene and Paul's activities and schedule, making sure everything is handled. They would have checked them into the hotel, made sure the luggage was all accounted for and delivered to the proper suites. They would have traveled with the bags. IF, there was a problem it would be the road manager who would have been dealing with Gene and then working with the hotel to locate the bag. It would be the road manager who would get his ass chewed out.

Think about it, if you check into a hotel and your bags are to be sent up to your room, if they don't almost immediately arrive (or at least within 30 minutes) you are calling. In the episode Gene seems to have had time to sleep (or nap) and eat and then he noticed he had no bags. Wouldn't you pay attention to something as important as your trademark costume? It makes for a great story, but please... not real.

As for the employee trying on the costume, sure it could happen. But really, if they had found a bag with a demon costume in it they would have contacted a manager asap.

I love the show, but not everything you see on TV is real. Even if they say so. Just like the internet.

When Reality is Not Real?

What happens when reality TV is no long real? Does it just become a sitcom? Do you remember so long ago when reality TV was a fresh breath to the stale programmed humor of the sitcom. Well it seems that in the quest to get the laugh, to hook the viewer more reality TV shows are turning into scripted, pre-planned sitcoms. Not real.

My next post will take a look at one show that has fallen into this trap, Gene Simmons Family Jewels on A&E.

Real, Dangerous, Rock and Roll

Remember this band? What happened to them? This was real, it was dangerous, it was rock and roll. Today it is just safe, a tribute to a once mighty band.