Legendary Kiss member Gene Simmons supports the new lineup for Linkin Park

Even if some critics have expressed disapproval, Kiss legend Gene Simmons believes that the new Linkin Park lineup deserves an opportunity to prove themselves. This month, Linkin Park announced their return, coming seven years after lead singer Chester Bennington’s passing. Emily Armstrong, the band’s new lead vocalist, has already performed at several sold-out arena gigs. Some thought Linkin Park wouldn’t exist without the adored singer, while others applauded the group for not attempting to find a singer who sounded like Bennington. According to Simmons, the fans will ultimately determine whether or not the reunion is a good idea, and based on ticket sales, it appears like they are doing a respectable job thus far.

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. I love it. It breaks the rules because when you think about the rules – AC/DC, we took them out on their first tour, people said they couldn’t survive without Bon Scott. That’s the voice! Well, actually they did survive and they got bigger. Van Halen – a band I supposedly discovered or found, they had signed to me and all that – and I personally preferred the Roth-era Van Halen. It was great. There was nobody like him, it changed what lead singers were. Once Roth left, ‘Oh boy, that’s the end of it.’ No, actually they literally got bigger with Sammy Hagar. 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.

He also spoke about the allegations that Armstrong might be affiliated with Scientology.

I know all about Scientology. I studied 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. If they go on tour, the real answer is, ‘Of the people, for the people, by the people.’ No matter what the internet says, no matter what these ‘thousands’ of people who bark the loudest – the smallest dog barks the loudest. 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, then the public has spoken. End of story. And they will do great.