Gene Simmons shows his age with a touch of classless in comments about hip-hop

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Gene Simmons often seems to enjoy stirring up trouble, and it happens so frequently that it feels deliberate. Recently, he attempted to share his version of how the song “Beth” was written, but Peter Criss – the KISS drummer and co-writer of the song – corrected him.

Gene Simmons recently stirred up controversy with his views on hip-hop artists being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He does have a point, though – while deserving hip-hop musicians should absolutely be recognized, it shouldn’t come at the expense of legendary rock bands like Iron Maiden.

Gene Simmons recently expressed his frustration that Iron Maiden isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he believes this is a real problem. He shared his thoughts on the LegendsNLeaders podcast, but his choice of words caused some controversy, with one word in particular drawing criticism.

KISS founder Gene Simmons might sort of make sense with his recent comments

The offensive word was removed from the recording, but it was present long enough to overshadow Simmons’ intended message and create the impression of racism. This doesn’t necessarily mean Simmons is racist, but his word choice could easily be interpreted that way.

During the podcast, Simmons explained that he and Ice Cube had a discussion about whether hip-hop artists should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame over some legendary rock musicians. He acknowledged Ice Cube’s intelligence and respected his accomplishments, but stated he personally doesn’t connect with hip-hop because of his different background. He’s publicly stated numerous times that he believes hip-hop, along with opera and symphony orchestras, doesn’t fit within the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s scope.

The word “ghetto” is central to this discussion. While both Gene Simmons and younger people might use it, its meaning and impact are very different given its history. Simmons has explained he’s used the word before, pointing out its original connection to Jewish communities, particularly during World War II – a history relevant to him as a Jewish man.

The frontman of KISS has apologized for offensive language in the past, but he’s not doing so now. He spoke to People magazine shortly after appearing on the LegendsNLeaders podcast to address the current situation.

Simmons explained that the word ‘ghetto’ actually comes from Jewish history. He said African Americans later adopted it respectfully, not as an insult. He then pointed out the connection between rock music and Black musical traditions, arguing that rock owes everything to Black artists and is simply a different form of Black music, just like hip-hop. He emphasized that all major American music genres have roots in Black music.

Gene Simmons offered a reasonable explanation for his use of the word “ghetto,” acknowledging he might choose different language if he were younger. However, his core point is valid: all American music genres have been influenced by Black music. This connection could be a strong argument for including hip-hop in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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2026-02-15 18:00