Gene Simmons, the outspoken bass player and vocalist of the iconic rock band KISS, in his latest interview with Esquire Magazine told reporters he believed “rock is dead.”

The 65-year-old rocker member’s son Nick Simmons, 25, who appeared on the families television show with the rest of Gene’s family on A&E’s Gene Simmons: Family Jewels for seven seasons, interviewed his father which has since hit viral status among social media outlets; especially among fans who have lamented in the decreased popularity of their favorite music genre.

Gene expressed how he believed record companies were more supportive with intiaiatives and financial moves for rock artists when he was ‘coming up’ in the music industry. Gene told his son in the interview, “There are still record companies, and it does apply to pop, rap, and country to an extent,” he said. “But for performers who are also songwriters — the creators — for rock music, for soul, for the blues — it’s finally dead.” He continued telling his son, “Rock is finally dead, I am so sad that the next 15-year-old kid in a garage someplace in Saint Paul, that plugs into his Marshall and wants to turn it up to 10, will not have anywhere near the same opportunity that I did.”

Gene continued to say rather dismal and disheartening words, or inspiring and bold depending on who you are – “You’re better off not even learning how to play guitar or write songs, and just singing in the shower and auditioning for The X Factor,” he added. “And I’m not slamming The X Factor, or pop singers. But where’s the next Bob Dylan? Where’s the next Beatles? Where are the songwriters? Where are the creators?”