Gene Simmons Sings National Anthem Before NFL London Game

Gene Simmons picked up the mic and performed the National Anthem before the London game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings yesterday. Getting the spotlight for the international game is a big honor: a national audience both here and across the pond watches the pre-game festivities before cutting off to regional games.

Gene didn't exactly bring the house down vocally, but the performance was about like I expected. More importantly, it was a great time for Gene to market KISS (after all, everything is a money-making proposition for him) and then people started talking about KISS and other rock bands on Twitter. Maybe we can get some more of our favorite rockers to sing the National Anthem before NFL events. Anything to keep our favorite genre of music in the news, right?

Comments

[Kixchix]

Sounds like he was part of a choir with his microphone turned up. We all know its a tough song. Can't believe nfl let him do it. Any publicity is good publicity...

[Ace Steele]

It sounds like Gene either had the worst mic in the batch, or the soundman hated him. The one thing I can say about Gene $immons and his blatant patriotism for the USA, is you know it comes from the heart & he truly believes it. Unlike most of us , who were born American, Gene immigrated here from Haifa Israel, and had to actually work for his U.S. Citizenship. You can see exactly how much that truly means to him. That is the one thing is Gene's life (along with his love for his mother) that he will stand by his convictions & truly put his money where his mouth is. And for that alone, I salute him.

[Brian L]

thougt it was cool...but he did not sound good at all.
God Bless America....and KISS

[Bob]

I'll be the first one to call out $immons, but I honestly don't see what was so wrong with this. It is a very hard song to sing, and he was smart enough to start the song at the bottom of his vocal register so he could hit the highest note. I'll take his rendition over the stupid vocal gymnastic bastardizations that most pop singers put us through any day.

[Rita]

Gene can sing but he didn't do well here. You could hear everyone else singing over him so in fairness to him, how could he sound good?

I've always liked his voice though. When he's not doing the God of Thunder voice, he almost sounds like he could have been in The Beatles. He's good but this performance doesn't do him justice.

[Ace Steele]

Rita, You noticed... Gene's #1 inspiration is the Beatles.
He's said it himself. He picked up the bass just days after seeing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. No Beatles, = No Kiss.
The direction connection between the 2 is made right there.

[Red6ixx]

That game will never catch on lol.

[Rita]

Ace- I do hear the Beatles influence. See You Tonight from his solo LP sounds very Beatlesque. There are others too. It's all good.

[dj]

glad to see a rock hero sing it. i just dont like the way he views kiss and rock n roll.

[Metalboy!]

Man, he is a freak. There's a reason he came up with the idea to have KISS where make-up. Also one of THE most bizarre hairdos in Show Biz, save for Trump.

And, sorry, though there's no question $immon$ can sing, he doesn't demonstrate it here.