Gene Simmons has offered his views on Linkin Park’s new singer, Emily Armstrong, and the Scientology controversy surrounding the band’s announcement.
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The nu-metal band announced Armstrong as their lead singer on September 5, following the death of longtime vocalist Chester Bennington in July 2017.
The former KISS frontman told Forbes that he was on board with Armstrong getting the role, saying: “It’s great. I listened. I saw some videos. The new female singer, great. She fits the band. She sounds great and good luck to them. Life is short. Go out there and live it up, enjoy it. Linkin Park got fans, they want to hear the songs and the music. Why not? There are bands that tour, Lynyrd Skynyrd, lots of bands that barely have any original members or no original members. People want to hear those songs.”
While some fans and critics questioned Linkin Park’s decision to go for a female vocalist rather than a male singer like Bennington, Simmons explained that doing so “breaks the rules”. He continued, “All these “rules.” Genesis, they lose Peter Gabriel, it’s over. Nope. Once Gabriel left, Genesis became a stadium band with a drummer who came up from the back. All those ‘rules,’ who made the rules anyway? In rock and roll, there are no rules.”
Simmons, of course, knows plenty about line-up changes, given that KISS went through plenty during their fifty years as a band. Only Simmons and fellow vocalist Paul Stanley stayed in KISS throughout their existence – the band’s original lead guitarist Ace Frehley famously left in 1982, before rejoining in 1996 and leaving again in 2022.
Founding drummer Peter Criss had three spells with KISS, from 1973 to 1980, 1996 to 2000, and then from 2002 to 2004. Bruce Kulick, Vinnie Vincent and Mark St. John all had spells as lead guitarist, while Eric Carr was on drums for a decade. When KISS disbanded in 2023, the final lineup consisted of Simmons, Stanley, drummer Eric Singer and guitarist Tommy Thayer.
Meanwhile, Simmons was also asked about the Scientology controversy surrounding Linkin Park’s decision to make Armstrong their new lead vocalist. Due to her alleged ties with the Church of Scientology and previous support of former actor and convicted rapist Danny Masterson – the singer has since issued a statement addressing her support – there’s been further controversy and debate surrounding Linkin Park’s decision.
When asked for his thoughts on the Scientology controversy, Simmons responded: “I know all about Scientology. I studied [author and Scientology founder] L. Ron Hubbard […] the thetans and the energy leftover when the universe was created, that we all have ‘theta’ within us. I get it. I understand and have read deeply into that. I’m not a follower, but good luck. Life is short. Believe whatever you want, worship a rock or an alien, whatever floats your boat.
He continued: “The great silent majority – I don’t mean politically – the people who make things happen, buy tickets. So, if they – and they will – sell lots of tickets, Linkin Park, then the public has spoken. End of story. And they will do great.”
Simmons described himself as “not a fan” of Hubbard and said “there are a lot of things to critique”, before pointing out that most Americans are Christian yet worship Jesus, who he calls a “Jewish rabbi”.
The singer, who’s Jewish himself, continued, “But people don’t think in those terms. When you look at the facts of it, as stated in the New Testament, people ignore the very real fact that Jews have never been popular, but billions of people worship Jews.”
Following Linkin Park’s announcement that Armstrong would be joining, fans began re-sharing a message singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala of The Mars Volta sent to Armstrong, which seemed to allege that she had connections to Scientology. Bixler-Zavala, who was formerly the frontman of At The Drive-In, left the Church of Scientology in late 2017.
The message also seemingly alleged that she supported former That ‘70s Show actor Masterson. Bixler-Zavala’s wife, Chrissie Carnell Bixler, had accused Masterson of raping her while they were in a relationship, testifying in 2022 and previously issuing a separate civil lawsuit against him. And, later, Bixler-Zavala shared a meme, telling his followers, “I fucking told you.”
For her part, Armstrong addressed the Masterson controversy in an Instagram story, writing: “Several years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance, and went to one early hearing as an observer. Soon after, I realised I shouldn’t have. I always try to see the good in people, and I misjudged him. I have never spoken with him since. Unimaginable details emerged and he was later found guilty.
“To say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes.”
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
