Excerpt:
Below, Simmons discusses life after playing with KISS. He shares his views on Linkin Park’s relaunch and new vocalist, Emily Armstrong, who’s caused a stir due to her connections with Scientology. He discusses the long-awaited reconnection of the Oasis brothers, the drama surrounding Ticketmaster’s Dynamic Pricing for the band’s 2025 tour and his run-in with Liam Gallagher.
He also addresses Morrissey’s recent dismay with record label executives, the controversy surrounding his new album, Bonfire of Teenagers, and Morrissey’s claims that an offer for The Smiths reunion tour was neglected by guitarist Johnny Marr.
Specifically:
More British rock news: An interview was recently published in The Telegraph with singer Morrissey, famously of The Smiths. To simplify, Morrissey is saying that he's been silenced by record labels who refuse to release his new album, Bonfire of Teenagers. This comes after years of drama: he was dropped by BMG, then signed to Capitol Records, which he claims then shelved the record, which he then purchased back from them, but has had no success shopping.
The controversy surrounding the album is related to the record’s title track, a song about the 2017 terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester which killed 22 people. Morrissey is critical about what he sees as a culturally “woke” reaction to the killings—even mentioning what he felt was a misuse of Oasis’ hit “Don’t Look Back in Anger” as a song of solidarity and hope in the city.
I'm curious what your thought is on the idea of labels withholding a major artist's music over political stances. Morrissey has likened it to them holding his art hostage, but also says he refuses to self-release the album.
Morrissey and I have exchanged pleasantries. He’s a great artist, terrific. It's funny to look at a gift horse in the mouth. We're all alive, and every artist and every human being has a right to express their opinion. “Here's my opinion on that. I think you should be angry”—or not. And that's his opinion.
I happen to agree with it. By the way. “Wokeism” intentionally means well, but there's a lot of garbage and bulls*** involved with it and basically browbeating anybody who doesn't agree with you, you know, like a baker who doesn't want to make a cake because religiously he doesn't agree with your lifestyle. At what point do your individual rights stop and you have to bow down to somebody else's thing? Democracy is a messy thing.
I say more power to [Morrissey] for speaking up. And by the way, if you want to take advantage of capitalism, which is to have a record company give you money, you can't blame him.
Morrissey said: “Every major label in London has refused my album while also admitting that it is a masterpiece.” He claimed that label executives are worried that the media would make their lives hell if they release his music and support his message.
Well, look, record companies are a business. They're not here for a social tool. And when you go through a jungle, you've got to figure out where you want to go. Life isn't easy and then you die. That's all.
He'll be okay [laughs]. His rent is covered and he's got food in his belly. He'll figure it out.
It’s hard to understand why he wouldn't just release the album himself. I'm sure he has the resources to do so…
Because it's easier to do it when somebody else takes the risk and gives the money.
That's a good point.
That’s the only point.
Morrissey also just came out recently and said that AEG made a very lucrative offer for him and guitarist Johnny Marr to reunite The Smiths in 2025. Morrissey claims that he said yes, but Marr didn't even acknowledge the offer. I’m sure he’s really frustrated right now.
In 2007, Rolling Stone reported that Morrissey himself had turned down a $75 million dollar offer. It wouldn’t be shocking to imagine that the newest offer would be upwards of $100 million. Of course, that is total speculation.
Get rid of the guitar player and get somebody off. Nobody cares. They just want to hear the songs. I keep saying this over and over again. If you go down the street, and with all due respect to Johnny Marr, you go down the street and ask the general person, “Who's Johnny Marr?” they won't know who you're talking about.
[Hypothetically], saying no to $100 million dollars would be lunacy. What other job would pay you that!? Unless you’re willing to break your back and play football or something…
Gene Simmons On Life After KISS, Sale And Avatars, Linkin Park, Oasis, Morrissey, Taylor Swift And Chappell Roan
The bassist and businessman asserts that he's "too rich to care" what people think of him. But he's still hungry for money, saying, "there's never enough."
www.forbes.com
Not someone I ever thought would go in the Wiki.
Regards,
FWD.
Update:
Later became a Morrissey Central post:
Morrissey Central: "GENE Simmons" - September 13, 2024
