Gene Simmons: If You’re Depressed, ‘F-You, Then Kill Yourself’
Kiss singer Gene Simmons has no tolerance for those addicted to drugs or who suffer from depression.
When asked by SongFacts.com if he still gets along with Criss or Frehley these days, Simmons responded, “No, 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,” Simmons added. “I don’t want to hear f— all about ‘the world as a harsh place.’ She gets up every day, smells the roses and loves life. And for a putz, 20-year-old kid to say, ‘I’m depressed, I live in Seattle.’ F— you, then kill yourself.”
Simmons continued on his pro-suicide theme: “I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff. I’m the guy who says ‘Jump!’ when there’s 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.”
mmaynard119 August 1st, 2014 at 4:41 pm
I have no tolerance for someone who would pimp out his family in doing
a “reality show”.
R.J. Carter August 1st, 2014 at 4:48 pm
That’s just about everybody these days, isn’t it?
(By the way, what time is yours on?)
mmaynard119 August 1st, 2014 at 5:00 pm
I’m on right after the test pattern on your deepest VHF channels.
Eric Trommater August 1st, 2014 at 10:17 pm
Uhhh it’s called Facebook!
R.J. Carter August 2nd, 2014 at 12:27 pm
Ohhh, one of those 24/7 shows!
Carla Akins August 1st, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Gene sounds like he’s having a “you kids get off my damn lawn” moment. I respect Kiss for their position in music history, him not so much. He’s an entitled, boorish misogynist that treats everyone around him poorly. You’re not that special Gene.
Crooked Bridge August 1st, 2014 at 5:03 pm
Respectfully disagree. Kiss is not known for producing “good” music, they are simply known for blending theatrics and music. Regardless, Simmons is simply using his celebrity mouthpiece to remain, a celebrity. At the end of the day, in his final moments, there will most likely be very little he will be able to point to that really mattered.
arc99 August 1st, 2014 at 5:11 pm
Carla did say, and I quote “for their position in music history,”.
Whether or not their music is “good” is purely a subjective matter.
However, it is difficult to dispute the band’s creativity in blending heavy metal and theatre. The corporate clones who compete on American Idol may in fact be more talented musically than any member of Kiss will ever be.
But when it comes to true creativity, which I think is the essence of being an artist, none of them hold a candle to Kiss.
There might literally be a million musicians in the world more talented than Kiss. Likewise, there may be ten million singers who are more skilled than Mick Jagger.
I doubt that any of them will have the lasting legacy of Kiss or the Stones.
But yes, Simmons is a self-centered boor and it pains me greatly to see that as I am also a bass player. I always liked to think we bassists had more class.
Carla Akins August 1st, 2014 at 5:27 pm
Yep, that’s exactly what I meant. Thank you.
Tammy Minton Haley August 1st, 2014 at 5:13 pm
…i watched that reality show of his when it first came on, maybe 4 years ago…(?)…he was a self-obsessed jerk, but i chalked that up to him being a famous person for most of his life–he’s gotten worse and worse…
his kids, though–i’m telling you, he’s got 2 kids that are really great kids–it must be shannon’s mothering…
burqa August 1st, 2014 at 6:45 pm
They glommed on to glam.
tiredoftea August 1st, 2014 at 9:14 pm
Well, he is married to a Playboy model, so that alone is sooo much better than their dreadful music and costumes.
Carla Akins August 1st, 2014 at 9:28 pm
Bwahahaha. bwahaha. You’re a mod, nana booboo.
tiredoftea August 1st, 2014 at 9:34 pm
Yeah, she’s really scrapping the bottom of the barrel now!
Carla Akins August 1st, 2014 at 9:46 pm
Please. She’s lucky to get ya!
tiredoftea August 1st, 2014 at 11:29 pm
She’s had my penis for months now! That wasn’t enough?
Carla Akins August 2nd, 2014 at 6:49 am
It’s been more than a year now, but clearly she requires more of you!
tiredoftea August 2nd, 2014 at 11:23 am
I live to serve.
edmeyer_able August 1st, 2014 at 5:12 pm
Simmons continued on his pro-suicide theme: “I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff. I’m the guy who says ‘Jump!’ when there’s 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.”
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While I respect his mother for overcoming her circumstances, I have no tolerance for anyone who would say that.
roscoboxer August 1st, 2014 at 6:43 pm
That sounds like something Ted Nugent would say. I wonder if they are buddies
crc3 August 1st, 2014 at 6:45 pm
I knew there was a reason I never liked KISS…
Eric Trommater August 1st, 2014 at 10:15 pm
Well all their songs are in the same A minor scale in the exact same order and it gets pretty repetive as well, but this doesn’t help! Take the lyrics “I was born for loving you baby, you were made for loving me and then play all the white notes on a piano in order. Repeat for each one of their songs. You will see what I mean.
Robert Johnston August 1st, 2014 at 7:35 pm
As a survivor of suicide (and someone who has fought the mental-health wars from the sharp end of the spear, dealing with schizo-affective disorder), I have this to say to Gene:
“You can KISS my ASS!”
–RKJ
tiredoftea August 1st, 2014 at 9:16 pm
Nicely done!
Eric Trommater August 1st, 2014 at 10:11 pm
In any civilized country you would be held up as a hero and an example to be emulated. Those of us who have lost family to suicide and seen the havoc that mental health issues have wracked on our loved ones have far few success stories to point to. This isn’t because their aren’t a ton of heros like you out there who successfully fight their demons on a daily basis but because of the stigma still attached to mental disorders that doesn’t allow for a candid conversation about the struggles it brings. Fight on RKJ, not just for yourself but for all of us.
tiredoftea August 1st, 2014 at 11:30 pm
Well said!
Robert Johnston August 2nd, 2014 at 1:37 am
Thank you for the kind words, Eric.
I’ve been fighting this war since my early years, and this fight will only end with my demise. But it’s a fight worth fighting…if not just for myself, then for others like me who must battle their inner demons from when they rise, until they (hopefully) sleep-and-rise again.
And when I hear yutzes like Gene-Gene The Jerking Machine run their mouths, I prefer to remind them that they can just as easily be in MY shoes without warning. His millions and his fame cannot buy his way out of becoming ill, if Fate so decrees.
I am lucky that I have the support of my family, good friends whom I can go to if I need to talk, medications that keep my symptoms at bay (and a doctor who knows his trade), and hobbies that get me out of the house (ie: photography and writing). I also take comfort in the fact that I am not alone.
The fight rages on…but I am up for the fight–to the end!
No other way to be!
–RKJ
Eric Trommater August 2nd, 2014 at 1:48 am
We need more people like you and less washed up rock star reality TV show stars. I live every day in the shadow of my twin brother’s suicide. What could have I done to save him? Why is love not enough? It’s a never ending battle against mental illness and when I remember the demons he faced I can only say that I am greatful he fought through and gave me 43 wonderful years. I wouldn’t change a thing about those years even if it may have saved his life. I am only greatful to have had him in mine.
Robert Johnston August 2nd, 2014 at 4:02 am
A part of him will always live on in you.
Fight on!
–RKJ
Anomaly 100 August 1st, 2014 at 8:38 pm
You first, Gene!
Foundryman August 1st, 2014 at 8:38 pm
What’s with these assholes who make some money and become famous? All of a sudden they don’t care about anyone but themselves? Let’s hear him talk like that before anyone knew who he was. I bet he’d be working minimum wage as a bouncer in some NY dive worrying about where his next fix will come from today. Kiss fans made him rich and famous, and he could care less about any of them or the people who helped him. He’s a big a douche as Teddy Poopie pants.
Steph August 1st, 2014 at 9:45 pm
I feel the same way about this that I did when Tom Cruise advocated treating depression with vitamins. Depression is a physical illness. Would he stand by someone’s bedside who had any other kind of illness and cheer for them to die? Depression is physically as well as mentally painful. If you have never felt that kind of pain it’s best to keep your opinion to yourself.
Carla Akins August 1st, 2014 at 9:55 pm
Oh, that made me so angry. I wonder if he realizes his remarks could have cost someone their life.
Eric Trommater August 1st, 2014 at 10:23 pm
What makes me mad is the idea that whether these people deserve to live or die seems to be directly proportional to how annoying they are to him.
fancypants August 1st, 2014 at 10:00 pm
since gene squeaked into the rock and roll hof He can now reveal his gop moronic thoughts
Eric Trommater August 1st, 2014 at 10:20 pm
RRHoF’s come with a lot more power than when Steeley Dan got one a few years ago.
fancypants August 1st, 2014 at 10:27 pm
I hear bob seger gave up and is now a ft beer vendor each year
Eric Trommater August 1st, 2014 at 10:49 pm
You hit on one of my pet peeves. How are the Beastie Boys more musically relevant than Seger? That makes no sense to me. I grew up in Michigan so maybe I don’t have a realistic view of his national reputation but are their really people out there who put Mike D above him as an import musical figure of the last 40 years? Do these people exist?
fancypants August 1st, 2014 at 11:09 pm
Im glad ozzie ozbourne made it in but at the same time im ticked off iron maiden has yet to make it. They are 10x more talented then kiss and the majority who are already inducted.
The hof (as of late ) has become somewhat of a joke on their decisions on who has real r&r talent
Eric Trommater August 1st, 2014 at 11:17 pm
I suppose it’s all a matter of taste but the awards do seem to be very esoteric lately.
fancypants August 1st, 2014 at 11:20 pm
in the beginning it was judged by gold / platinum records and popularity over the years. Today im almost convinced its all political or very close to it.
Eric Trommater August 1st, 2014 at 11:26 pm
I think they play ‘spin the bottle.’ How else do you explain Donovan? Everybody hates him, even the record executives.
fancypants August 1st, 2014 at 11:44 pm
im still scratching my head over cat stevens making it in
Eric Trommater August 1st, 2014 at 11:51 pm
The soundtrack to Harold and Maude my friend. You have to see the movie. You will forgive him everything for just how good you feel after watching it. Hal Ashby saved that man.
“And if you want to sing out, sing out. And if you want to be free, be free” There’s a million things to be, you know that their are . . . . ”
Such a big change from “lets kill Salman Rushdie because he wrote something I don’t like.”
fancypants August 1st, 2014 at 11:54 pm
lol I know Allah is great and where did I put my beer ?
johnny patrick August 2nd, 2014 at 1:13 pm
I went to a concert once when Seger was drunk and argued with his band members most of the night. It was unforgettable but not like Nat King Cole …more like the thought of hearing that Lady Gagger does a duet with Simmons or Kiss. Her album could be called “Slimey Girl does old guys who have bad wigs and lottsa plastic surgery just for the money”. (can you fit that on an album cover?
Eric Trommater August 2nd, 2014 at 1:41 pm
Do they still make album covers?
R.J. Carter August 2nd, 2014 at 7:04 pm
What’s an album?
fancypants August 2nd, 2014 at 6:57 pm
I worked front stage security during a seger concert where I swear to this day the whole thing was pre recorded / lip synced Because I could hear the electric guitar strumming and it was no where near the notes being played over the speakers.
After the concert I brought it up with our security stage mgr. and he put up both his hands while shaking his head and said he didn’t want to talk about it.
Eric Trommater August 1st, 2014 at 10:19 pm
Maybe this will have the reverse effect and the under reported epidemic of suicides that has this country in it’s clutches right now can finally be discussed in a rational . . . . oh what am I saying. An old rock star who had a reality TV show said something deliberately stupid to get attention and it worked.
rockhavenradio . August 2nd, 2014 at 8:09 pm
sounds awesome, and this asshole is coming with