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GENE Simmons has followed in the footsteps of a select group of rockers who have testified before the US Senate.
The 76-year-old KISS bassist and co-frontman was spruiking the Music Fairness Act, a bill that would ensure performers are paid when their songs are played on American radio. His appearance follows his band receiving the Kennedy Honor for services to entertainment over the weekend.
Speaking to the Senate Judiciary sub-committee, Simmons said: “When you work hard and you get to the top, what do you got? Zipper-rooney. That’s not the American way. If you against this bill, you are un-American. You cannot let this injustice continue.
“It looks like a small issue. There are wars going on and everything. But our emissaries to the world are Elvis and Frank Sinatra, and when they find out that we are not treating our stars right — in other words, worse than slaves. Slaves get food and water. Elvis, Bing Crosby, and Sinatra got nothing for their performance.
“We have got to change this now for our children and our children’s children.”
Simmons testimony – broadcast live on news channels – featured the customary hyperbole, like saying no music comes out of Zimbabwe and he couldn’t sing you a French song.
The hearing heard that other countries do pay artists rights fees for airplay on AM and FM radio but the US does not.
Simmons cited Bing Crosby’s White Christmas in saying: “[It’s been played worldwide] millions of times. Everyone received money: The radio station sold advertising. The plumber who fixed the plumbing got paid. The disc jockey got paid. The only person that was never paid for the airplay was Bing Crosby, which is astonishing.”
Simmons opened his remarks by saying he was confident the bill would receive the necessary bipartisan support to be passed into law.
Also in the last 24 hours, Simmons has apologised for saying that former band-mate Ace Frehley’s “bad decisions” contributed to his death at the age of 74 in October.
“On reflection, I was wrong for using the words I used,” Simmons wrote on Twitter.
“I humbly apologies. My hand to God I didn’t intend to hurt Ace or his legacy but upon re-reading my words, I see how it hurt everyone.
“Again, I apologies. I’ve always loved Ace. Always.”
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