In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, KISS bassist Gene Simmons spoke in favor of mandate COVID-19 vaccination.
“My druthers would be that everybody is mandated to get vaccines. I hope everybody is going to be wearing their masks. But we can only control what we can control and different states and different countries have different rules… Backstage, we’re not doing any meet and greets. Obviously, we’re giving up a pretty penny because fans pay a premium to come up and take photos and stuff. That’s gone.
“We are not allowing roadies or anybody else to be anywhere backstage unless they’re vaccinated and the masks are on the whole time.”
Simmons also blasted one of the most common arguments raised by dissenters — that vaccine mandates infringe upon unvaccinated people’s human rights and civil liberties.
“‘I have my rights, don’t tell me what to do,'” Gene said. “Which is curious, because you do not have the right to drive down the highway in a car without a seatbelt. You must stop at a red light. That’s not a right you have. And you don’t have the right to walk naked down the street. These are not life-threatening ideas. We’re talking about a f*ckin’ pandemic and people are fighting it.
He added: “I blame our former president [Donald Trump.] I knew the man before he entered politics. But he got vaccinated and so have most of the other party.”
