In a Q&A session posted today on Gene Simmons’ website, the Kiss bassist and recent Idol guest/Lambert duet partner had an already-controversial responseto a fan Read the full post.
May 22
2009
07:29 PM ET
Adam Lambert: You're no rocker, says Gene Simmons
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Honestly, I don’t think Lambert is a believeable rocker either. I just don’t feel a connection with him on it. He can sing but I do also feel I would much rather see him on Broadway or in some kind of more theatrical group. He looked so out of place when he was singing with Kiss. The were rocking it out and he based stood there. Sorry, he just did. However, I have to say that I just heard the studio version of Whole Lotta of love and found it way more tolerable than the live version. But, that still doesn’t mean I think he’s a rocker.
Way to blow things out of proportion with the headline, Entertainment Weekly!
It’s hard to say whether Adam has the quintessential rock voice – there are so many different kinds of rock. But he is definitely a better singer than most rock frontmen. A lot of rockers scream, but that’s not what Adam does – he’s actually singing (hitting high notes), not screaming. And he definitely outsang Kiss the other night and more than held his own with Queen (and I’m a huge Queen fan).
I think he can do anything. He’ll never be a metal rocker, nor should he (again, he can actually sing), but he said he wants to come out with a diverse album, and I’m looking forward to it. He’s too talented to be pigeonholed into one genre. And we loved him for the variety he showed on the show.
The only thing that bothers me about Gene’s quote is that he makes it sound like such a diss, whether or not he meant it that way. Lambert can sing. Get over yourself.
Gene Simmons – while odd – is a shrewd business man. He knows his stuff. I happen to agree with him… at the beginning of the season when this “rocker” tag was slapped on Adam Lambert, my first thought was “uhhh yeah… not so much”. I didn’t buy it then… and I don’t buy it now. He’s a showman – sure… but that doesn’t mean he’s a rockstar… certainly not when compared with such greats as Freddie Mercury.
My feelings on Adam are that he’s a little too manufactured… a little too polished to be a true rock star. There’s no edge. AT ALL.
He has a right to his opinion, obviously, but if he really thinks that Adam doesn’t have a rock voice, then I have one question: Why in the world did you let him sing with you during the finale? It seems hypocritical to allow him to sing in your rock band and then turn around and say he doesn’t have a rock voice. It’s not like Simmons didn’t know what Adam sounded like before he and Kiss agreed to have him sing with them. Actions and words are in conflict here.
There are different kinds of rock, and I agree that Adam wouldn’t fit into a group like KISS (actually the picture in the article says it all — “demon rock god and choir boy”).
But I do think Adam can sing some types of rock music, and Queen-type music might be a good fit. Bottom line is the boy can sing, and it will be interesting to see what he decides to do.
Forgot to mention … in a more recent posting on Gene Simmons’ website, another person wrote and asked: if Gene were going to invest his own money in Kris or Adam, whose career would he put money on? And Gene answered “Adam”.
Sounds to me like a jealous old has been has been one upped…..by a longshot…..
he’s just jealous adam is better than them
LOL! Adam blew KISS off that stage, and Simmons knows it. Jealous much? Adam can front any rock band, and his success will be the best revenge to this petty criticism.
Classy move, EW. Real classy.
i think adam needs to go back to broadway his high notes annoy me i think his voice is better suited for theater than radio if you compare him to great rockers even when hitting high notes they don’t have that kind of voice
Funny EW, first you all try to “out” Lambert, in you magazine and it gets called “unfair publicity”, then you forget to post the rest:
Gene,
I know celebrities are like politicians. They can’t answer truthfully as the don’t want to alienate fans(voters), but I’m going to ask anyway. Adam Lambert sang with kiss. Both Adam and Chris sang with Queen. In my opinion Chris couldn’t shine Adam’s boots. He shouldn’t have even been in the top 5. If you were going to invest your own money, who’s career would you support?
Don from Chicago
Response from Gene:
Adam.
Poor Gene….jealously is a terrible thing. How long will Gene ignore the fact that he should retire and let the new generation in. Great job Adam.
I agree with SR. Adam has a phenomenal voice and I fell in LOVE with his rocker scream….BECAUSE he is one of the few that do it on pitch! Growing up a 70′s rock fan, I would like to see him bring his own rock music style. Odd isn’t that KISS frontman PAUL STANLEY did a 6 month gig in Phantom of the Opera….Gene guess you can really do BOTH.