Gene Simmons, the bassist and co-founder of the band KISS, is as well-known for his rock star antics and sharp tongue as he is for his music.
Since the band was founded in 1973, Simmons has been involved in countless feuds, easily cementing himself as one of the most contentious rock stars in history.
Originally comprised of Paul Stanley (vocals, rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar, vocals), and Peter Criss (drums, vocals), the band was known for their black and white face makeup and explosive performances which often featured blood spitting, fire, rockets, and plenty of glam-rock-style guitar.
The band was as campy as they come, with none of the musicians appearing as themselves but instead taking on personas for all their performances. Simmons went as Demon, Stanley as Starchild, Frehley as Spaceman, and Criss as Catman.
Though Frehley and Criss ultimately left the band after taking the rock and roll lifestyle to extremes (Simmons has repeatedly claimed they were fired), Simmons and Stanley soldiered on through lineup changes and even a brief stint of leaving their makeup behind.
Nearly as consistent as his commitment to KISS was Simmons’ commitment to being as controversial and difficult to get along with as possible.
Throughout the band’s decades-long run, the rock star managed to take a shot at just about everyone in the music industry, including his own bandmates.
Paul Stanley (KISS)
One of the most infamous feuds in rock history was between Simmons and his co-founder and collaborator Paul Stanley.
It was well-known over the years that Stanley and Simmons both saw themselves as the true leader of the band, and more than once, this led to backstage fights that could get physical.
Despite this, they’re the only two original members of the band to remain in touch over the years and to weather the entirety of the band’s run.
Stanley told Rolling Stone in 2014: ‘We’ve always seen each other as brothers. What we seem to be at odds about is how you treat your brother. Gene’s priority, by far, has always been himself. And he’s not one to let anyone else’s feelings or contributions get in the way.’
Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe)
One of Gene Simmons’ most publicized feuds in recent years has been with Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx.
The conflict began when Simmons made controversial comments about addiction and depression. He told SongFacts.com: ‘Drug addicts and alcoholics say, “The world is a harsh place.” My mother was in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. I don’t want to hear fuck all about “the world is a harsh place.”’
He continued: ‘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.” Are you kidding? Why are you announcing it. Shut the fuck up, have some dignity and jump.’
Sixx responded during an episode of his podcast, calling Simmons’ comments ‘moronic,’ continuing: ‘He thinks everybody listens to him, that he is the god of thunder. He will tell you he is the greatest man on earth, and to be honest with you, I like Gene. 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.”’
Later on, the feud intensified after Simmons told Newsweek that Prince’s death was ‘pathetic that he killed himself.’
He said Prince’s death was ‘a choice,’ adding: ‘His drugs killed him. What do you think, he died from a cold?’
Although Simmons eventually apologised for the comment, Sixx said: ‘We have no respect for Gene Simmons any more – nobody in rock does. I think Gene should call it a day.’
Later on, things got even worse when Mötley Crüe banned Simmons from attending their farewell tour shows.
Ace Frehley
Gene Simmons’ relationship with former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has been notoriously rocky. Frehley, who struggled with substance abuse early in the band’s lifespan, left the band in 1982 and again in 2002.
‘I had really big resentments against Paul and Gene when I quit the band the first time, and even the second time,’ Frehley admitted on Guitar Tales Podcast. ‘When I left the band… They used to say I got fired, which is complete bullshit. Both times, I left on my own accord. And they would perpetuate the myth that they fired me, which is complete bullshit.’
Simmons has routinely been dismissive and belittling of Frehley over the years, once saying: ‘The fact that Ace and Peter [Criss] are still alive is a miracle.’
He even told Rolling Stone: ‘Ace and Peter have had a lifetime of being losers. And not just with drugs and alcohol. They’re losers because of wrong decisions. You sleep in the bed you make. How many chances in life do you get? They were in and out of the band three different times. Why should they get another chance?’
Rihanna
While Rihanna is largely above petty squabbling, that didn’t stop Simmon from taking an unprovoked swipe at her.
In the lead-up to a KISS tour in 2012, Simmons insulted pop musicians, specifically naming Rihanna.
He said at a press conference: “We are sick and tired of girls getting up there with dancers and karaoke tapes in back of them.
‘What you’re gonna hear on stage is live music. The guys you see on stage playing their instruments are playing their instruments. No karaoke singers allowed. No fake bulls***- leave that to the Rihanna, Schmihanna and anybody who ends their name with an “a.” This is real stuff.’
Dave Grohl
Gene Simmons has also shared some choice words about Dave Grohl.
First, the two clashed over the use of the ‘devil horns’ hand gesture, which Simmons attempted to trademark in 2017.
Grohl mocked Simmons’ attempt, saying, ‘I think I’ve been using that hand gesture since I was about 11.’
Simmons eventually abandoned the trademark attempt, but he later took a shot at Grohl, claiming in an interview that he wasn’t a true rockstar.
He said: ‘Universal stardom is – whether you like it or not, whether you never heard a song, everybody knows Elvis or The Beatles. I love Foo Fighters, love Dave Grohl, but even today, if you walk down the street and you say who’s playing drums or who’s on guitar, they don’t have a clue.’
Madonna
Gene Simmons has never shied away from critiquing fellow artists, and Madonna is no exception.
Ahead of the Vogue singer’s SuperBowl halftime show, Simmons told TMZ.com: ‘I don’t think it’s appropriate. I love all karaoke singers.
‘You gotta have some integrity. I don’t care what your music is. Have some integrity. Be real. Or, full disclosure before the fact: hold up a sign and say, “70 percent of what you hear is fake. It’s a tape. I’m a karaoke singer.”’
Madonna has largely ignored Simmons’ remarks, but the feud has contributed to Simmons’ reputation as a truly loose cannon.
Peter Criss
Like Frehley, former KISS drummer Peter Criss has had a deeply rocky relationship with Simmons.
Criss has accused Simmons of treating him unfairly during his time with the band, particularly when it came to financial matters. In his autobiography, Makeup to Breakup: My Life in and Out of KISS, Criss detailed his grievances with Simmons and Stanley, alleging that they marginalized him within the band.
When KISS was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 Simmons, along with Stanley, refused to let Criss and Frehley perform with them, choosing instead to not perform at all rather than reunite the original lineup after Criss and Frehley threatened not to attend if they weren’t allowed to perform.
‘I have been denied a performance with Gene and Paul,’ Criss stated at the time. ‘No original performance, in or out of makeup, has been offered to us.’
Regarding their decision not to play with Criss, Simmons told Radio.com: ‘[And] when you have a cancer in your system, it’s best to cut it out as fast as you can.’
N.W.A.
Simmons has also courted controversy with his comments on the hip-hop genre.
He has been openly critical of rap music, claiming that it doesn’t belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, sparking a debate with rapper Ice Cube on X.
In 2014, Simmons said he was ‘looking forward to the death of rap.’
N.W.A. members MC Ren and Ice Cube addressed Simmons’ comments multiple times, with Ren stating, ‘I want to say to Mr. Gene Simmons that hip-hop is here forever. We’re supposed to be here.’
Ice Cube continued: ‘The question is, ‘Are we rock ‘n’ roll?’ And I say—you’re god**** right we’re rock ‘n’ roll.’
Simmons soon responded in a post on X saying: ‘Let me know when Jimi Hendrix gets into the hip-hop hall of fame. Then you’ll have a point.’
Ice Cube then responded by reminding Simmons that rock and roll has origins in Black artist’s music.
Simmons’ blunt, often provocative statements have earned him tons of backlash over the years, cementing his reputation as one of the most outspoken figures in rock history – and making him plenty of enemies along the way.
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