KISS frontman Gene Simmons ripped Prince over his recent death, calling it “pathetic” and accusing the legendary singer of killing himself.
“I think Prince was heads, hands and feet above all the rest of them. I thought he left [Michael] Jackson in the dust. Prince was way beyond that,” Simmons said in a recent interview with Newsweek. “But how pathetic that he killed himself. Don’t kid yourself, that’s what he did. Slowly, I’ll grant you… but that’s what drugs and alcohol is: a slow death.”
Though TMZ has reported that Prince overdosed on a prescription painkiller the week before his death, it was unclear why Simmons believes alcohol was a factor.
“His drugs killed him. What do you think, he died from a cold?” Simmons said, contrasting Prince’s death with David Bowie‘s earlier this year. According to Simmons, Bowie’s was “the most tragic of all because it was real sickness.”
The aging rock star claimed that he himself has never been drunk or high, and accused Prince of succumbing to the “cliche” that drugs and alcohol abuse comes with fame.
“I’ve never been high or drunk,” he said. “I don’t care if anybody believes it or not. It’s just a personal life choice. I can almost understand drinking or getting high if it made my schmeckel bigger, or made me smarter, but nothing happens.”
In the same interview, Simmons ripped pop stars for lip syncing during live performances, predicted the imminent death of rap, and hailed Donald Trump as the best presidential candidate.
“Hillary Clinton is a humanist, she cares about people, but don’t kid yourself — she’s a politician,” he said. “Politicians will lie to their mothers about anything. Trump, good, bad or otherwise, will tell anybody to fuck off because he uses his own money and doesn’t need your money to run.”
Prince Rogers Nelson, known simply to his fans as Prince, died on Apr. 21 at age 57. Prince was known worldwide as one of the biggest stars of the 80s, with songs like "Purple Rain" and "Sign o' The Times."
Robert Stigwood, former manager of Cream and The Bee Gees, died in London on Jan. 4 at the age of 81. He produced the smash hit albums "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease."
Glenn Frey, a singer, guitarist and founding member of The Eagles, died on Jan. 18 at 67. The musician and co-writer of hits like “Hotel California” and “Take It Easy” had been struggling with rheumatoid arthritis and attendant intestinal issues.
Paul Kantner, founding member of Jefferson Airplane, died on Jan. 28 at 74. Kantner was the only member of Jefferson Airplane to also appear on all albums recorded by the band's successor, Jefferson Starship.
Maurice White, founder of Earth, Wind, and Fire, died on Feb. 3 at age 74. Under White's leadership, the group won six Grammys and reached the top of the charts with songs like "Shining Star" and "September." Though a Parkinson's diagnosis ended his touring career in 1994, he remained an active part of the music industry until his death.
George Martin, producer for the Beatles, died on Mar. 8 at age 90. The mastermind behind the band's unparalleled success was affectionately known as "The Fifth Beatle."
Natalie Cole died on New Year’s Eve 2015 due to heart failure caused by lung disease. She technically passed last year, but the Grammy-winning singer deserves to be on this list.
Keith Emerson, founding member of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Mar. 11 at age 71. ELP is known as one of the most famous rock bands of the '70s, and Emerson also worked as a film composer on movies like the Sylvester Stallone thriller, "Nighthawks."
Denise Matthews, a.k.a. Vanity, died on February 15 at 57. Matthews was known as the protege of Prince and a member of Vanity 6. Matthews had long suffered from kidney failure and was being treated for abdominal illness shortly before her death.
Denise Matthews, a.k.a. Vanity, died on February 15 at 57. Matthews was known as the protege of Prince and a member of Vanity 6. Matthews had long suffered from kidney failure and was being treated for abdominal illness shortly before her death.
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This has been a tough year for the music industry
2016 has been a tough year for the music industry, as it has already lost music icons including Prince, David Bowie, Phife Dawg and more.