In an interview with ‘Guitar World,’ the KISS musician also noted that he doesn’t like “show-offs in music”
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Gene Simmons isn’t holding back about his opinion of Flea — or the sound of the bass.
In an interview with Guitar World, the KISS bassist and co-lead singer, 75, revealed he doesn’t think the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist, 62, has a “memorable” style.
“There are an awful lot of amazing bass players, like Jaco Pastorius and the jazz guys. Or guys like Flea, who is really good on his instrument, but I can’t remember anything he plays – and I also do not like the sound of a bass being slapped,” Simmons told the publication.
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The “Detroit Rock City” musician also revealed he was “never really interested in being a bass virtuoso.”
“I don’t like show-offs in music,” Simmons explained. “I’m much more attracted to things that are memorable. It’s part of the joy of music for me.”
He then reasoned that “you can be a jazz player and be respected by musicians, but the rest of the world doesn’t care.”
Added Simmons: “All due respect, but that music is intended to show off how well you play – but I don’t care about that. The hardest thing to do is write a good simple song or riff. That’s really hard.”
Earlier this month, the “Lick It Up” performer came under fire for his controversial feedback as a guest judge on Dancing with the Stars.
On Tuesday, Oct. 9, Simmons made several comments about the contestants’ physical appearances while guest judging the dance competition show’s Hair Metal Night episode.
After former NFL player Danny Amendola and his partner Witney Carson finished their Paso Doble to Bon Jovi‘s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” the rocker said, “This is a brand new experience for me and it’s difficult to look at you and to figure out which one is more hot, hot, hot.”
“Danny, I’m telling you, you’re right next to somebody, one of the more beautiful women on the planet,” he added as cameras panned to Carson, who looked confused.
After Chandler Kinney and her partner Brandon Armstrong‘s Jive to Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” Simmons told Kinney that she “fogged up my glasses.”
“You move me, not just with your gyrations and so on, but your beautiful face and how you were into the emotion of it,” he added.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(599x0:601x2):format(webp)/gene-simmons-american-idol-2024-100324-mk-1b7fd70923854ecfa02d38def8fcc61e.jpg)
In an interview with Daily Mail on Oct. 10, Simmons addressed the backlash and doubled down on his remarks.
“I stand by every word I said,” she told the outlet. “I had a great time. The contestants were great. The show was great. Watch the show. It was a lot of fun.”
Added Simmons: “Everybody’s got something to say. Watch the show. It was a lot of fun. Everybody had a great time.”
Simmons has not publicly addressed the backlash, and PEOPLE has reached out to his rep for comment.