At last. At long, fucking last.

KISS Legend Gene Simmons: Celebrities Shouldn’t Lecture Americans About Politics
Legendary KISS bassist Gene Simmons continues to serve as a voice of common sense and reason in an entertainment industry currently experiencing an epidemic of Trump Derangement Syndrome. I already count myself as a huge fan of the band, and I got the opportunity to see them on their last tour, which ended up becoming my son’s first concert experience. Imagine your first show being a KISS concert. What a time to be alive.

Actually, it just so happens that MY first show was a KISS concert as well: in 1976, that was, the CLT date on the band’s Destroyer tour. Somewhere around here, I should still have my advanced-ticket stub from that show, resplendent with the world-famous KISS logo and the price clearly visible underneath: a whopping six (6) bucks. Back over to Gene for more of this incredible story.

The KISS co-founder launched into his rebuke after TMZ asked how he felt about actor and director Ben Stiller calling out President Donald Trump’s White House for allegedly using a clip from one of his movies in a “propaganda machine.” The interviewers then asked the bassist with the world’s longest tongue what he thought about Hollywood stars criticizing Trump. In true rock star fashion, he didn’t hold back.

“Yeah, because everybody in the world should listen to what actors and comedians say — because they’re so qualified,” Simmons said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He then offered some pretty solid advice for stars in the entertainment field that they would do well to heed. “Basically, shut the f**k up. Do your art and shut up.”

Amen, brother! Look, celebrities can have their opinions on issues of the day. But when you work for the public — and they do — you should keep those thoughts to yourself and the people in your inner circle. Otherwise, you alienate your fanbase and hurt the work you’re trying to produce. We don’t need to hear your opinion on everything. Shocking, right?

Simmons then doubled down on his take, saying, “Nobody’s interested in your opinions — that includes me. Who the f**k do you think you are?”

The rocker added, “People in America work hard for their living and they don’t want to be lectured to by people who live in mansions and drive Rolls Royces.” This. So much this. The vast majority of celebrities are filthy rich and want for nothing. The rest of us “normal” people—the ones who form the spine of the country—have to work ourselves to death just to get by. We don’t want, nor do we need, out-of-touch celebrities telling us who to vote for or which issues matter. We already understand that.

“It’s time for everybody in the entertainment industry to shut their piehole and just do your art,” Simmons said. “Nobody cares what you think — I don’t.” Before the interview wrapped up, Simmons again mentioned Kylie Jenner and actor Mark Ruffalo with dripping sarcasm, highlighting how irrelevant their worldviews are to the public.

Well said, Mr Simmons, sir. The very last word, in accordance with Gene’s stated wishes.

I well remember that frabjous Thanksgiving day: the East Gaston High School band froze its collective keister off marching in the Carolinas Carrousel Parade, a seriously big deal for us in its own right, then everybody made a mad dash to get back on the buses, change back into street duds before we even got rolling, and scrambled on back to the dear old alma mater so we could race to our personal cars and zip back over to the big KISS concert at the old CLT Coliseum, for which the doors opened at 8PM.

Yes, you could fairly say KISS blew me away that night, why do you ask? 😉