Nick Simmons Joins "Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx" to Set the Record Straight on Gene Simmons’ “Rock Is Finally Dead” Comments

LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2015 – This week on Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx, national radio host and rock icon Nikki Sixx and co-host Jenn Marino addressed the Twitter exchange between Sixx and Gene Simmons’ wife Shannon Tweed over the KISS frontman’s decision to launch a Rock radio show after recently declaring “Rock is finally dead.”  Simmons’ son Nick Simmons called in to Sixx Sense to clarify his father’s comments and set the record straight.
 
Below are a couple excerpts from the conversation, which aired on June 9, 2015.  To hear the audio, click here, visit www.SixxSense.com or tune into the Sixx Sense channel on iHeartRadio.  
 
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Sixx: “...I saw Gene Simmons, who we’re playing a show with, has decided to do a Rock radio show…so I Tweeted, ‘But Gene, you said Rock is dead. Don’t do radio for money, do it because you believe in Rock. Step back.  Money grab?’  Well, his wife went crazy… ‘Don’t attack my husband’…So we got into a Twitter fight…I believe in new music.  I believe in music.  If it wasn’t for new music, including a little band called KISS, maybe I wouldn’t be doing this. And if guys like Gene say ‘Rock is dead,’ and then wants to start a Rock radio show, and for five years I’ve been doing Sixx Sense and we’ve broken so many bands and helped so many bands, and turned so many fans on to stuff, I call that an insult. It’s a slap in the face to our whole community, to who I am as a person…”
 
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Sixx: “…I have a Rock radio show, as you know, and for five years, I’ve been breaking new bands. Not because I get paid for that. I do that because I believe we need new musicians, new artists, like your dad, like all the other great bands.  And for someone to basically sum up the music industry by saying ‘well, you know Rock is finally dead.  The death of Rock was not a natural death.’ He said ‘Rock did not die of old age.  It was murdered, ’ instead of being in a position to say I have an opinion and a way to help change this.  I’m out trying to change it. I’m working very, very hard to get new bands attention.  So when your dad says that, I’m like come on, dude.  We have enough enemies, than to have one of our own turn on us.”
 
Nick Simmons: “There’s a subtle distinction here, let me call your attention to. You hit it right on the nose. He was basically saying what is happening.  Not what he wants or should be happening. Obviously, he likes Rock and Roll.  All he does is listen to The Beatles and Jeff Beck - those are his favorite people ever. And by the way, the reason I have an opinion about this and wanted to go on your show is because I did that interview. I interviewed him for Esquire.com…what he did in the interview was he said this is the way it is at the moment, and I probably should have included one more question.  And I think there’s another quote you’ll find in that where he goes, ‘I am so sad that the next kid in Montana, who wants to pick up a guitar and turn it up to 11, will have an even harder time than I did.’  You know, that quote doesn’t get as much attention, but he’s a Rock fan. He was just trying to be honest about what the state of affairs is, not necessarily how he’d like them to be.”  
 
Sixx: “I’m glad we talked.  I’ve got no bad blood towards your dad and your mom. We’re playing a show together.  I’ve got security, cause I’m scared of your mom, whose gonna spider monkey jump at me.” 
 
Nick Simmons: “I can’t promise she’ll be as diplomatic as I’m being. I know dad has a thick skin, but I don’t know what she thinks at the moment…”
 
Sixx: (laughter) “I’m just gonna hug her.  I’m huggin’ up your mom.”  
 
 
About Sixx Sense and The Side Show Countdown 
Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx is one of the most-widely-syndicated rock radio programs in the U.S., heard nationwide on more than 130 stations as well as iHeartRadio.  Each night on the program, Sixx discusses music and lifestyle topics as he gives listeners a backstage look at the world and mind of a rock star.  Joined on air by co-host Jenn Marino, Sixx provides his unique perspective and attitude as the duo welcomes celebrity guests, recording artists and fascinating characters from all walks of life.  The show is complemented by The Side Show Countdown with Nikki Sixx.  Each weekend on the two-hour program, Sixx introduces his personal new music picks, plays an array of what’s happening on the rock charts, and shares his own special brand of talk radio with celebrities and other guests. The program airs on more than 75 stations worldwide. For more information, please visit www.SixxSense.com.  Fans can also connect with Sixx and Marino on Facebook: http://facebook.com/SixxSense, http://www.Facebook.com/nikkisixxofficial,facebook.com/jennonair and Twitter: @SixxSense, @NikkiSixx and @JennOnAir. 
 


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