AT LEAST HE DIDN'T ACCUSE THEM OF DRINKING BLOOD AND SERVING SATAN... You know the Eighties are truly over when...

(#1) KISS bass player Gene Simmons has caused an uproar among Australia's Muslim community by launching an attack on Islamic culture while in Melbourne. The lizard-tongued rock god who is touring Australia with the world's most enduring glam rock band launched an attack on Muslim extremists during an interview on Melbourne's 3AW radio. "Extremism believes that it's okay to strap bombs on to your children and send them to paradise and whatever else and to behead people," he said yesterday. The Israeli-born US musician went on to say Islam was a "vile culture" that treated women worse than dogs. Muslim women had to walk behind their men and were not allowed to be educated or own houses, he said...

-- “KISS bassist offends Muslims”, by Alex Wilson, Weekend Australian (15-16 May 2004), p 18.

Yes. Treating women badly. Something that would not have been tolerated for a second in the late-Seventies rock & roll world. And to continue the trend...

(#2) 'Who Made This Statement?

"This culture is in big trouble. All you see on television are debased images. You saw the Super Bowl. I don't even need to say anything more about it".

Take your guesses. Jerry Falwell? George Bush, Sr.? Nancy Reagan? Nah. Think purple.'

To find out the answer, you'll need to go to Clayton Cramer's weblog.