Past words are coming back to haunt Gene Simmons, of the rock band KISS, as a July interview, in which he all but commands people suffering from suicidal thoughts to carry through with their plan is viralizing across the Internet.

"Drug addicts and alcoholics are always, 'The world is a harsh place.' My mother was in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. I don't want to hear f**k all about 'the world as a harsh place.' She gets up every day, smells the roses and loves life. And for a putz, 20-year-old kid to say, 'I'm depressed, I live in Seattle.' F**k you, then kill yourself." 

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Clearly on a roll, the 64-year-old bassist continued, saying, ""I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff. I'm the guy who says 'Jump!' when there's a guy on top of a building who says, 'That's it, I can't take it anymore, I'm going to jump. Are you kidding? Why are you announcing it? Shut the f**k up, have some dignity and jump! You've got the crowd." 

Simmon's interview barely made a ripple at the time, and the rocker is no stranger to controversial statements. However, following the suicide of beloved comedian Robin Williams, who was revealed to be suffering from depression and in the early stages of Parkinson's disease, it is clear Simmon's comments are setting off a firestorm of criticism. 

Nikki Sixx, of the 80's glam-rock band Motley Crue, came down hard on his fellow musician during a broadcast of his Sixx Sense radio show saying, "I like Gene. But in this situation, I don't like Gene. I don't like Gene's words. There is a 20-year-old kid out there who is a KISS fan and reads this and goes, 'You know what? He's right. I should just kill myself.'" 

Sixx, 55, also suffered from depression as well as drug addiction, and took to Twitter to address Simmons directly, saying, "I struggled with addiction and depression but found recovery. Would you be happy if I killed myself instead? Also my 4 kids wouldn't been born." 

In another tweet, Sixx posted, "I wonder if @genesimmons would still say how depressed people or addicts should kill themselves if it happened to his wife or kids?"

Simmons has yet to comment.

 

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