KISS have been boycotted by Triple M in protest over “misguided and insensitive” comments made by bassist Gene Simmons in a recent interview in which he told depression sufferers: “fuck you! kill yourself.”

Part of the powerful Southern Cross Austereo network, which reaches over 10 million listeners a week, Triple M reports it has pulled all of the rock titans’ songs from playlists Australia-wide, on the orders of Network head, Mike Fitzpatrick, who has challenged other radio stations to follow their example.

“Gene Simmons’ recent comments are misguided and insensitive,” said Mr Fitzpatrick. “Depression and Suicide are not topics he should be using to further his notoriety or sell records. His desperation to use mental health issues to find relevancy in a modern age is sickening. I can only put it down to a brain fade on his part,” he says.

“The Triple M Network can’t and won’t be playing or supporting this dickhead’s music. I put the challenge out to other stations across Australia and North America to also drop any of this nudnik’s songs until such time as he reconsiders his thoughtless and insensitive position.”

The comments in question are from an interview with Songfacts.com, in which the ‘God of Thunder’ was asked about his relationship with the departed original members of KISS. Simmons replied: “I don’t get along with anybody who’s a drug addict and has a dark cloud over the head and sees themselves as a victim. Drug addicts and alcoholics are always: ‘The world is a harsh place,” he began, then digressed into thoughts on those who suffer with depression:

“For a putz 20-year-old kid to say, ‘I’m depressed. I live in Seattle.’ F– you, then kill yourself. I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff. I’m the guy who says ‘Jump!’ when there’s a guy on top of a building…

…By the way, you walk up to the same guy on a ledge who threatens to jump and put a gun to his head, ‘I’m going to blow your fuckin’ head off!’ He’ll go, ‘Please don’t!’ It’s true. He’s not that insane.

Simmons’ interview has especially drawn criticism in the wake of Robin Williams’ death, with many labelling the KISS bassist a hypocrite after tweeting a tribute in the aftermath of the actor and comedian’s suicide.

One of Simmons’ fellow rock brethren, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crüe (who toured alongside KISS when the two visited Australia last year) has labelled the comments “pretty moronic” during his own ‘Sixx Sense‘ radio program.

“To be honest with you, I like Gene,” said Sixx, “but in this situation, I don’t like Gene. I don’t like Gene’s words, because … there is a 20-year-old kid out there who is a KISS fan and reads this and goes, ‘You know what? He’s right. I should just kill myself’.”

If you are concerned about your own emotional wellbeing, are experiencing a personal crisis or are concerned about someone else, contact Beyond Blue at www.beyondblue.org.au or 1300 22 4636

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