Nikki Sixx recently weighed in on Gene Simmons’ skills as a bass player in response to a fan question on X. The user asked:
“Gene Simmons is a great bass player. Don’t you agree?”
Sixx wrote:
“He is and has written some of the catchiest melodies on bass, as well.”
The Mötley Crüe bassist previously admitted to being a KISS and Simmons fan since childhood in his interviews. The two bands even toured together back in 2012.
Sixx Once Called Simmons ‘Overrated’
Nikki Sixx and Gene Simmons’ relationship took a hit in 2016 after the latter’s controversial remarks about mental health and suicide. The KISS bassist commented on Prince’s death that year by saying it was ‘pathetic that he killed himself.’
Sixx reacted on X:
“Gene Simmons’ recent heartless and uneducated remarks about Prince’s death shows why he’s not my hero anymore or anybody’s. From hero to zero.”
He later explained on his iHeartRadio show ‘Sixx Sense:’
“When you’re in Gene’s position, you should have a little bit more than a narrow-minded, bullying sense of what’s happening on the earth. I think that he is an overrated, lucky guy that dresses like a clown. He wrote some good songs, hasn’t in a long time, and loves to brag about himself.”
The Tension Between The Mötley Crüe Bassist And KISS
Although he also took an issue with Simmons’ remarks, Paul Stanley defended his bandmate on Facebook by writing:
“Jesus Christ Nikki Sixx! Would you please shut up, find another way to be in the news and get off your self inflated pedestal. Regardless of some things Gene Simmons has said that I may take issue with, his influence on musicians (you included) is undeniable and will continue.”
The conflict started to cool down after that. Sixx told Loudwire Nights in May 2016:
“When I grew up, I loved KISS. They influenced me as a songwriter. KISS gave Mötley Crüe one of their very first tours. They’ve done a lot of great stuff for me in my life… Gene’s a very opinionated man, so am I. I’ll be honest with you, I think we just kinda look like a bunch of old women fighting at this point.”
You can see Nikki Sixx’s recent tweet about Gene Simmons below.
He is and has written some of catchiest melodies on bass as well.
— 📷 (@NikkiSixx) July 26, 2024