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Australian broadcaster Triple M‘s network head Mike Fitzpatrick has ordered the radio station to boycott all KISS tracks from their nation-wide playlists following Gene Simmons‘ “misguided and insensitive” comments about depression and suicide.
In an interview with Songfacts.com, dated 31st July, Simmons dismissed people claiming to suffer from depression. “For a putz 20-year-old kid to say, ‘I’m depressed. I live in Seattle.’ Fuck you, then kill yourself,” said the 64-year-old. “I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff.”
“I’m the guy who says ‘jump’ when there’s a guy on top of a building who says, ‘that’s it, I can’t take it anymore. I’m going to jump’,” he continued. “Are you kidding? Why are you announcing it? Shut the fuck up, have some dignity and jump! You’ve got the crowd.”
“By the way, you walk up to the same guy on a ledge who threatens to jump and put a gun to his head (and say) ‘I’m going to blow your fuckin’ head off’, he’ll go, ‘please don’t’. It’s true. He’s not that insane,” Simmons said.
His comments have since been widely criticised and today the Australian rock station has gone a step further, banning any KISS songs from their music rotation. “Gene Simmons’ recent comments are misguided and insensitive,” Mike Fitzpatrick said in a statement on Triple M.
“Depression and Suicide are not topics he should be using to further his notoriety or sell records. His desperation to use mental health issues to find relevancy in a modern age is sickening. I can only put it down to a brain fade on his part,” he adds.
“The Triple M Network can’t and won’t be playing or supporting this dickhead’s music. I put the challenge out to other stations across Australia and North America to also drop any of this nudnik’s songs until such time as he reconsiders his thoughtless and insensitive position.”
Others have also criticised Simmons’ comments, most notably Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx, who announced his disapproval of the comments on his Sixx Sense radio show. “To be honest with you, I like Gene,” the bassist said. “But in this situation, I don’t like Gene. I don’t like Gene’s words, because…there is a 20-year-old kid out there who is a KISS fan and reads this and goes, ‘You know what? He’s right. I should just kill myself’.”
“For people who are depressed there is a way out,” he adds talking about his own battles. “There are many, many ways out. I don’t want people to listen to an interview from a rock star, who’s telling you the only way out is out.”
Recently The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer‘s Huffington Post Live Q&A was crashed by Georgia group, Black Lips, who called Simmons out on his “misogynistic” brand of rock and roll, while donning KISS-like face paint.
UPDATE 11:05am 16/08/14: Simmons has taken to Facebook to issue an apology to those offended by his remarks. However, the statement appears to have fallen on deaf ears as many of Simmons’ own fans have slammed the apology as simply a “damage control” ploy by the rocker.
For help or information on suicide prevention contact Lifeline on 131 114, or visit beyondblue.org.au.
