Rihanna, Gene Simmons Diss: KISS Rocker Slams ‘Fake’ Pop Star

As reported by Noisecreep, Gene Simmons loves spectacle and scantily clad women, so you'd think he'd be all about today's crop of female pop stars. Not so much. Speaking yesterday (March 20) at a press conference announcing his band's upcoming summer tour with Mötley Crüe, the KISS bassist promised an antidote to the mainstream music he deems inauthentic.

"We're sick and tired of girls getting up there with dancers and karaoke tapes in back of them," Simmons said, according to CNN. "No fake bulls---. Leave that to the Rihanna, Shmianna and anyone who ends their name with an 'A'."

Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee is on the same page -- if not about ending one's name with "A," then certainly with respect to the sorry state of pop.

"No disrespect to Rihanna, she's a great singer, but we're in a slump for some s--- that has some personality and appeal beyond a bunch of pop stuff that's floating around out there," Lee told Billboard.

"I'm glad he said that actually because I don't think I can bear watching another f---ing award show that is just a little bit better than 'American Idol.' It's f---ing pathetic to watch people go out and f---ing karaoke with a bunch of lights and video," he added. "It's all completely watered down."

While KISS and the Crüe may seem like haters, Simmons' bandmate Paul Stanley told CNN that the upcoming tour -- which hits more than 40 U.S. cities -- is about making folks feel good.

"We're not going to be preaching about saving the whales," Stanley said. "We're not going to be talking about toxic sludge. We're up there to rock and roll. Everybody deserves a night off, and that's what this is."