Posted on 02/13/2026 11:01:41 PM PST by nickcarraway
Gene Simmons is doubling down on the controversial comments he recently made about rap artists being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
During an appearance on the Feb. 7 edition of the LegendsNLeaders podcast, the Kiss star complained about Iron Maiden - "[who] can sell out stadiums" - being passed over for induction in favor of hip-hop artists such as Grandmaster Flash.
"Ice Cube and I had a back and forth [about this}, Simmons continued. "He's a bright guy and I respect what he's done. It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language, and I said in print many times hip-hop does not belong in the rock and roll hall of fame nor does opera symphony orchestras."
His comments - particularly the line about the ghetto, which seems to have since been edited from the original YouTube video at the 38:10 time mark - prompted a wave of criticism.
Simmons has found himself in this position before, most memorably with the comments he made after the 2016 death of Prince and again for his remarks about the 2025 death of his former bandmate Ace Frehley. In both of those cases he eventually apologized, but so far he's holding firm this time around.
'I stand by my words," he told People magazine. "Let's cut to the chase. The word 'ghetto,' it originated with Jews. It was borrowed by African-Americans in particular and respectfully, not in a bad way.”
He also firmly denied there were any racist undertones to his use of the word in this particular instance. “Ghetto is a Jewish term ... How could you be [racist], when rock is Black music? It's just a different Black music than hip-hop, which is also Black music. Rock 'n' roll owes everything to Black music, statement of fact, period. All the major forms of American music owe their roots to Black music."
Here's another question: Why does Simmons even care about who is in and out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? It's not like they get along. "It's become a joke," he declared in 2012. "We've been thinking about it and the answer is simply, 'We'll just buy it and fire everybody.'"
Kiss was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2019, but not without controversy. Only the four original members of the band were honored, snubbing (at the very least) Bruce Kulick and Eric Carr, who each performed on multiple platinum albums and successful tours during their decade-long runs in the band.
Compare that to, as one example, Metallica. Despite having played on just one studio album at the time of their 2009 induction, Robert Trujillo was honored alongside his bandmates.
While declaring that he only accepted the induction as a thank you to the band's fans, Kiss co-founder Paul Stanley doesn't look back on the induction fondly.
"They treated us like crap, even that night," he explained soon after. "We had trouble – how about this? – getting into the arena. We had no idea about the rundown of the show or when we were getting on stage. It was disgraceful what they did, but we won.''
What about heavy metal?
One of my favorite BBs songs!
Today is a special day.
“What about heavy metal?”
Some heavy metal has issues. Probably all of it these days. Put that kind of heavy metal (death metal) in the same category as rap. Also was weaponized.
But again, just apply these principles and you can figure it out:
Blues, rock and roll, soul, gospel and R & B are about the struggle to live and to love.
Rap and hip hop are about the urge to hate, rape and kill.
“the love I have for you is like no other love I’ve ever known”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTPzA1tZxJk
Indeed
NOT!!! Rock ‘n Roll.
Nor is it music it’s noise with background sounds.
Rock and roll (and MAGA) comes from the brotherhood between blacks and whites:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71qaX05-ArM
‘The Ballad of Curtis Loew’ tells the story of a poor boy who collects bottles to pay a local black musician named Curtis Loew to play the blues on his Dobro guitar. Through the boy’s eyes, Curtis becomes a hero—a figure of authenticity, soul, and wisdom in a world that doesn’t appreciate him. While some fans have wondered if Curtis Loew was a real person, Van Zant once explained that he was more of a composite character inspired by several street musicians and people he had known growing up in Jacksonville, Florida.
Over the years, the song has stood as a tribute to the unsung heroes of Southern music—the forgotten bluesmen whose influence runs deep in American rock. ‘The Ballad of Curtis Loew’ remains one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s most poignant and enduring works, a timeless reminder of where their sound—and their soul—came from.
https://houstonseagle.com/1639257/rock-moment-lynyrd-skynyrd-the-ballad-of-curtis-loew/
As written by Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins:
Well I used to wake the morning, before the rooster crowed
Searching for soda bottles to get myself some dough
Brought ‘em down to the corner, down to the country store
Cash ‘em in and give my money to a man named Curtis Loew
Old Curt was a black man with white curly hair
When he had a fifth of wine he did not have a care
He used to own an old dobro used to play it across his knees
I’d give old Curt my money he’d play all day for me
Play me a song Curtis Loew, Curtis Loew
Well I got your drinking money tune up your dobro
People said he was useless, them people all were fools
‘Cause Curtis Loew was the finest picker to ever play the blues
He looked to be sixty and maybe I was ten
Mama used to whoop me but I’d go see him again
I’d clap my hands stomp my feet, try to stay in time
He’d play me a song or two then take another drink of wine
Well play me a song Curtis Loew, Curtis Loew
Well I got your drinking money tune up your dobro
People said he was useless them people all were fools
‘Cause Curtis Loew was the finest picker to ever play the blues
Yes sir
On the day old Curtis died nobody came to pray
Ol’ preacher said some words and they chunked him in the clay
Well he lived a lifetime playin’ the black man’s blues
And on the day he lost his life that’s all he had to lose
Play me a song Curtis Loew, hey Curtis Loew
I wish that you was here so everyone would know
People said you were useless them people all were fools
‘Cause Curtis you’re the finest picker to ever play the blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71qaX05-ArM
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