Gene Simmons likes to drum up some drama. He must because he simply does it too much for it not to be intentional. He recently tried to create a narrative for how the song "Beth" came to be, but was rebuffed by Peter Criss, the KISS drummer who has a songwriting credit for the tune.
Simmons' latest snafu has to do with his opinion on including hip-hop acts into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To be fair, the bassist isn't completely wrong. While worthy hip-hop artists should be involved in the Hall, they shouldn't be in the place of classic rock bands like Iron Maiden.
If Iron Maiden isn't in the Rock Hall, then there is an issue, and to be sure, there is an issue. That was the point Simmons was seemingly trying to make in a recent episode of the LegendsNLeaders podcast, but his word use lacked quite a bit to be desired. It was one word, in particular, that has drawn the most pushback.
KISS founder Gene Simmons might sort of make sense with his recent comments
The word has since been edited out, but it existed in the original mix long enough to supersede Simmons' point and make him look, well...rather racist. This isn't to say Gene Simmons is, of course, but that some might see his word use as implying he is.
On the podcast, Simmons said, "Ice Cube and I had a back and forth (about hip-hop artists being inducted instead of some rock giants.) He's a bright guy, and I respect what he's done. It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language, and I said in print many times hip-hop does not belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, nor does opera symphony orchestras."
The keyword to many there is "ghetto." The difference between Simmons saying it and someone 50 years his junior is vast, though each should understand that ghetto has racial overtones. Simmons has said the word before and attempted to qualify it, saying the word was previously connected to Jews, especially during World War II. Gene Simmons is Jewish, of course.
In the past, the KISS founder has apologized for some of his word use. He isn't so far this time. He addressed the situation with People soon after his appearance on the LegendsNLeaders podcast.
"I stand by my words...The word 'ghetto,' it originated with Jews, "Simmons said. "It was borrowed by African-Americans in particular and respectfully, not in a bad way. Ghetto is a Jewish term ... How could you be [racist], when rock is Black music? It's just a different Black music than hip-hop, which is also Black music. Rock 'n' roll owes everything to Black music, statement of fact, period. All the major forms of American music owe their roots to Black music."
So, there. Gene Simmons did a decent job of qualifying his use of the word "ghetto." If he were 20 years old, he might have used a different word. His sentiment overall is not wrong, though. All forms of American music owe a debt to Black music. Maybe that is why hip-hop belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.