Posted on 05/13/2004 9:25:48 PM PDT by veronica
KISS bass player Gene Simmons has caused an uproar among Australia's Muslim community by launching an attack on Islamic culture while in Melbourne.
The lizard-tongued rock god who is touring Australia with the world's most enduring glam rock band launched an attack on Muslim extremists during an interview on Melbourne's 3AW radio - including comments which were labelled inaccurate.
"Extremism believes that it's okay to strap bombs on to your children and send them to paradise and whatever else and to behead people," he said yesterday.
The Israeli-born US musician went on to say Islam was a "vile culture" that treated women worse than dogs.
Muslim women had to walk behind their men and were not allowed to be educated or own houses, he said.
"Your dog, however, can walk side by side, your dog is allowed to have its own dog house... you can send your dog to school to learn tricks, sit, beg, do all that stuff - none of the women have that advantage."
He went on to say the west was under threat.
"This is a vile culture and if you think for a second that it's going to just live in the sands of God's armpit you've got another thing coming," he said.
"They want to come and live right where you live and they think that you're evil."
Simmons said the United Nations approach did not work and the west had to "speak softly and carry a big stick".
The radio station today fielded calls from Muslims upset at the comments, including Australian Muslim of the year Susan Carland, who said Australian Muslims rejected extremism and did not fit Simmons' stereotype.
Ms Carland said she had two degrees, was doing her honours and "certainly do not walk behind my husband".
Chairman of the Islamic Council of Victoria Yasser Soliman said Simmons' comments were "very unfortunate".
"He's very famous obviously and popular and, as a result, influential," he said.
"Mixing the entertainment world with the political and religious world is a minefield."
He said Simmons had begun by talking about extremists but had gone on to vilify the entire Muslim culture.
"A number of his claims regarding women and what they are allowed to do and not do are wrong - Islam teaches the opposite," he said.
Simmons had a right to free speech, but this had to be balanced against the damage done to innocent people, he said.
"I think it would be good for overseas speakers and commentators to be given some sort of advice in regards to our vilification laws here," he said.
"They leave and go back to where they arrived from, but they leave behind a big mess that we have to live with."
The Man. The Legend.
Gene Simmons is actually one of the most intelligent men to ever spit blood and breathe fire before an audience of thousands of screaming fans. When rock stars of the 70's were ruining themselves with drugs and rock'n'roll excess, he was using his earnings to build his own business empire.
He came to America as an immigrant, and used his talents to rise to the top of the game. A role model, if you ask me.
From a life-long, unrepentant KISS fan
You live in Australia, Ms. Carland.......you moron. Try moving to Saudi or Iran or Syria or numerous other Muslim countries. If you're too stupid to know that Mr. Simmons was dead-on right, then you wasted thousands of dollars on useless "education".
ping
"I was just waxing philosophically about the great bands of the 70s: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, Rush, and Kiss. WTF was last one???"
Hmm AC/DC
Having Gene Simmons as an advocate of a favored position is not exactly candy and sweets either . . .
I was just waxing philosophically about the great bands of the 70s: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, Rush, and Kiss. WTF was last one???
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No you're not. I've never like the Eagles, either.
Mojo Nixon's "Don Henley Must Die!" is one of my personal favorites.
Nope, 'roos come with a bomb pouch...
I will read up on him. He seems to be some sort of Alice Cooper.
Interesting, close to the same theme.
I am not a KISS fan, but I like Cooper.
WTG Simmons!
The Osmonds? ;)
In the immortal words of Mojo Nixon, "Don Henley Must Die, Don't Let Him Get Back Together With Glenn Frey"
Oh yeah. "I Love It Loud!" - one of their best. Although my favorites from that particular album (Creatures of the Night) are the ballad "I Still Love You" (some of Paul Stanley's best vocal work, IMHO) and "WAR MACHINE".
I neglected that one. I hate it when I do that . . .
What damage? Which innocents? Specifics please. Thinking (wishing) it doesn't make it so . . .
Lynard Skynard
How about his "Gonna put my face on a nuclear bomb?"
Who won African-Australian of the year? Murray Goldstein?
IIRC, Simmons is a good friend of Ted Nugent, another rocker who didn't buy into the whole drug culture of the music world.
hehehe good one.
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