Gene Simmons Comments On Addicts And Depression; Draws Backlash From Nikki Sixx

Gene Simmons has been in the press quite a lot lately as his comments on various issues from taxes to the one percent have drawn a lot of criticism. The rock icon from KISS never hesitates to speak his mind (although we seriously question his opinions) but nonetheless, Gene is a very, very wealthy and powerful rockstar-he’s happy to tell you about it. But let’s face it, not many people can relate to or agree with any of Gene’s statements. A lot of his statements and opinions lean extremely far to the right (maybe even too far right for others sharing his political views).

The whole issue arose during an interview that contained segments about Gene’s relationship with ex-KISS member and if he still was on cordial terms. What followed was his opinion of people who were alcoholics, drug addicts or those people who have dealt with depression. In the Songfacts.com interview, Gene shared his thoughts on some of the subjects. The KISS frontman said this, “I don’t get along with anybody who’s a drug addict and has a dark cloud over their head and sees themselves as a victim. Drug addicts and alcoholics are always, ‘the world is a harsh place.’ My mother was in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. I don’t want to hear f*** all about ‘the world is a harsh place.’ She gets up every day and smells the roses and loves life.”

Gene went on a tirade about how people’s depression was based on themselves and their own actions as opposed to being a serious condition that required treatment. Sadly to say a lot of KISS fans and all music fans use music as a source of therapy and help, to have such insolence towards a group of your own fans only furthers the divide between rockstar and rock fan. Gene added this about depression, “For a putz 20-year old kid to say, ‘I’m depressed, I live in Seattle.’ F-you, then kill yourself. I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff. I’m the guy who says ‘jump’ when there is a guy on top of a building who says, ‘That’s it I can’t take it anymore. I’m going to jump.’ Are you kidding? Why are you announcing it. Shut the f-up, have some dignity and jump! You’ve got the crowd. By the way, you walk up to some guy on a ledge who threatens to jump and put a gun to his head, ‘I’m going to blow your f-in’ head off.’” Harsh words indeed.

His comments on depression were definitely a bit insensitive and drew Nikki Sixx’s fire via his radio show. Sixx had this to say, “It’s pretty moronic because he thinks everybody listens to him, that he is the god of thunder. He will tell you he is the greatest man on earth, and to be honest with you, I like Gene. But in this situation I don’t like Gene.” Sixx’s comments were spot on, we feel, but a bit diplomatic. We wonder if there will be anymore backlash on Mr. Simmons from those sharing the same adverse opinions to him.

You can download the interview with Sixx here.