Gene Simmons, the bassist for legendary, paint-faced rock band Kiss, has controversially declared that fans are killing the infrastructure of music.
Speaking in an interview with Planet Rock, Simmons said that fans who illegally download music are “killing” up-and-coming artists. The 65-year old explained that he believes that artists who wish to follow in the footsteps of their successful counterparts will be unable to do so, due to the fact that fans do not want to support them financially by purchasing their music.
“I blame the fans. Because the fans have decided en masse – in other words, the masses have decided – that they should get free music, download, fileshare,” he said. “You’re killing the next Elvis [Presley] and The Beatles and the next Kiss and the next whoever, because you have to give your music away for free. It’s disappointing, because they would prefer not to support a new band… It affects the next great band, who won’t have a chance. Why? Because the talent isn’t out there? It sure is. The fans killed it. They killed the infrastructure.”
When asked to provide advice for new artists, or those looking to enter the industry, the rocker stated;
