In addition to having an unsavorily long tongue and playing bass for KISS, Gene Simmons is also known for perennially running his mouth.

Despite this fact, the self-proclaimed businessman—and avid businessman endorser—still managed to shock by going after venerated music legends, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.

In a recent interview with Team Rock Radio, Simmons went into great detail as to just who does or does not qualify as a music icon. You know, because Gene Simmons is the go-to authoritative voice for determining such things.

After rolling out a list of Simmons-approved, bona fide music idols, he said:

"Kurt Cobain—no, that's one or two records, that's not enough. Amy Winehouse—that's one or two records, that's not enough. What, just 'cause you died that makes you an icon? No, no."



But who then who, you ask, gets the writhing-tongue stamp of approval? The "Love Gun" bassist explained:

"Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Who and just on and on. And through the '70s—Aerosmith, Kiss, Led Zeppelin."

Unfortunately, no one in the last three decades can be considered a music icon:

"Now from 1984 until today, name one superstar that's bigger than their music, and not just somebody that's recorded one or two records, but another Queen or another AC/DC? None, you can't name one."

We could start our own list of post-1984 music icons here, but we unfortunately do not have access to Gene's magical-voodoo-businessman music icon formula.

Hopefully he'll be back next week to school us on what is or is not a legitimate pizza topping.