At a recent press conference to discuss their summer tour, Gene Simmons of KISS and Tommy Lee of Motley Crue spoke about their thoughts on the music industry today. When talking to Billboard, they didn’t hold back when they called out the “fake bulls***” available now, tossing in a dis to Rihanna.
The topic that Simmons and Lee brought to light has struck a chord with musicians from all walks of life. In an exclusive, here’s a little bit of what others had to say about reality TV, Auto-Tune, lip synching, and the music industry today.
As an artist who came up on a show like ‘The Voice’ where the performance was based solely on vocal ability, I am behind the idea of more guitars and less dancers, but let’s face it – bands like KISS were the forefathers of glitzy entertainment. They are marketing geniuses more than just rock n’ rollers. After all, we are in the ‘entertainment’ business.”
– Brian Fuente, “The Voice”
“I think that Tommy Lee and Gene Simmons are really trying to get a reaction more than anything else. They’d like to emphasize that they don’t need any help to bring out a pure rock show. The reality is that they still rely on huge budgets and top quality production for their show … rather than a backing tracks, they have automated pyrotechnics, lighting, and well-rehearsed stage movements.”
– Simon Tam, The Slants
We grew up listening to bands like KISS, Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, etc. … I agree with Simmons and Lee, that today’s pop artists have been so overly produced, so watered down, that their souls have been completely sucked out of their performances. If you’re an electronica artist, fine. But if you’re a performance artist … perform. Save the auto-tune and effects for the DJs.”
– Jim Azevedo, Rivals
Marketing Manager for Smashwords
“Yes, I agree 100% with the members of KISS and Motley Crue. In fact, they were too kind. Some of these ‘performers’ that were mentioned can’t sing a note in pitch. The public needs to hear real musicians playing real music or their only option is to listen to this crap that is being dealt from Corporate America!
– Richie Ranno, Starz
“It sucks. Nothing but a bunch of reality BS. I don’t care about how a bunch of idiots are doing living in the same house together.”
– Scott Bottomley, Etch
“I am 100% in agreement with Gene and Tommy. As a still currently performing Rock singer in the Bay Area, I am disgusted that we have come to this accepted and even expected auto-tuned/karaoke/ lip synching musical culture which has been coming full force since the days of Milli Vanilli. And it’s all simply because we have the technology to do so. It’s an insult to the musicians who have created the real music before this current culture as well as it being insulting to music fans who are being ripped off hand over fist. …”
– Timothy Bednarz, The Gundacker Project
On-air personality for commercial radio stations
“Vocal tuning has caught a bad rap due to its abuse as an effect. The truth is, it is a fantastic tool when used properly and nearly all records being released will have some sort of tuning involved. You tune your guitars, models wear makeup, movie stars perform many takes in a scene – vocal tuning is just another necessary production process.
Scott Horton – Mix Engineer
“Coming from a girl’s perspective, I think he’s right on the money. It’s disturbing how drastically downhill our demand for a full, artistic level of music has gone. At this point is it the audience or the artist and management that should be educated?”
Kristin Center
Source:
All quotes provided exclusively
