Gene Simmons disses Springsteen (sort of)

He didn't name Bruce specifically as a late-starter,  but during his keynote address at the Billboard Touring Conference, Simmons had this to say about bands who aren't punctual:

Above: Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons in Bonner Springs, June 2004. For $70, you got 95 minutes of the same old, same old.

"I don't care if you're Axl Rose, forgot to tie your shoelaces or your father molested you when you were three: You're a bitch if you don't show up onstage when it says 9 o'clock," he said, drawing loud applause from the audience. "You need to have the integrity and self-respect to respect the promoter who paid you the money in advance, the hall and the people who make all our lives possible."

I agree in principle about the on-time/respect thing; we dealt with that issue back in August. But I'm not completely buying the call for integrity from a band that has been charging prime ticket prices for decades for -- well here's what one fan wrote about a show this year in Australia: "The show hasn't changed much since 1980 -- a few new members and extra kilos but the same feel-good hit-fest." I'll take a 50-minute delay and a three-hour-plus show with an evolving set list any day instead of the same stock auto-tribute performance that starts on time.

Simmons also advised promoters not to lower ticket prices: "Don't do that, you're training an entire generation of people to pay less for something and then more for something else," he said. "They won't know what the value is and they'd rather pay less every time."

In other words: Time is important, but not as important as money.

Comments

[NEW]

Well Tim, there you have it. One can only dream of one day having the integrity of Gene Simmons.....

[onthemark]

Anybody else note the irony of a guy who performs in full make up and spits fake blood commenting on integrity and self respect?

[Barry]

Kiss killed Rock and Roll

[Tim Finn]

... and the last time I saw them, it sure looked like they were getting lots of "augmentation," both vocal and instrumental, including the bass player.

[Murz]

If only Gene had a gig anymore to show up to, let alone be on time...

[smartman]

Time is money! Kudos to bands like Kiss and Bon Jovi that run their bands like a business and respect promoters and customers enough to start their shows on time. A one hour delay in starting a show, (on time), can quickly add up to thousands of dollars in labor and perhaps overtime charges from ushers, police, stagehands, teamsters, etc. That all gets factored into the ticket cost...and we all know who gets stuck with that.

[Riiiiight!!!]

What we need is a punctual three hour revolving setlist artist that charges a fair price.

Heh heh heh!!!

[Heather]

Does it have to be either/or? Couldn't you have an original, hard-working band that starts on time?

I don't go see a lot of big touring acts, but I do hit a lot of local shows and smaller touring acts, and I hate -- HATE -- the fact that they don't ever start on time. Then you'll have the one random show that does start on time, and you show up in time to see the last number. I don't mind if you are going to start at 11:30, but don't say that you're going to start at 10.

[what up]

I agree with Heather

[Gig Vet]

Starting late is part of rock n roll. It gives the audience a little extra time to get their buzz on, the candles more time to burn down and adds a little extra tension and mystery to the proceedings. Nothing wrong with coming on a 1/2 hour late, but much past that is inconsiderate to the people who paid money.

[Scott]

Anyone commenting here on the negative aspects of KISS are complete morons and should get real jobs so you can afford to go see a real show! Last time I checked and=y premium band out of the 70's and 80's are getting top dollar for tickets and are giving fans what they pay for! Ignorant people should be banned from making comments here!