KISS bassist Gene Simmons shared his thoughts about Frank Zappa on Mike Rowe’s podcast ‘The Way I Heard It”.
“Bob Dylan and I wrote a song there,” Simmons said, referring to his solo album ‘A**hole.’ “He came over we wrote a few songs. Frank Zappa, the last song he wrote, he co-wrote with me.”
“He was anybody out there,” he continued. “But by the way, Zappa was a failure. He did not succeed. He never had gold records and platinum records. His music didn’t connect with people. He was actually a good and very bright man.”
Simmons made this statement during a discussion about his collaborations with various artists throughout his career.
Historical records contradict Simmons’ claims about Zappa’s commercial success.
Records published by industry sources revealed Zappa’s significant commercial achievements. His albums ‘Apostrophe (‘)’ and ‘Over-Nite Sensation’ both earned gold certification in 1976.
Sales data from BestSellingAlbums.org showed impressive numbers for Zappa’s work. His albums reached global sales of 3.2 million copies. One million units were sold in the United States. An additional 60,000 copies found homes in the UK.
Research into music industry archives showed no evidence of a collaboration between Simmons and Zappa. Zappa’s documented partnerships focused on musicians like Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio, and George Duke.
Zappa’s artistic influence transcended commercial metrics. He earned recognition for his innovative approach to music. His unique blend of jazz, classical, and rock established him as a pioneer in experimental and progressive music.
