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KISS, Motley Crue (photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
A press conference to announce KISS and Motley Crue's 40-date co-headlining North American summer tour turned into a Rihanna diss session Tuesday.
Outspoken KISS bassist Gene Simmons stressed that the bands's sets would be live, unlike Rihanna's stage show.
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"We're sick and tired of girls getting up there with dancers and karaoke tapes in back of them," Simmons said, according to Billboard. "No karaoke singers allowed. No fake bullsh-t. Leave that to Rihanna-Schimianna and everybody else whose name ends with an 'A.'"
After the press conference, Motley Crue's Tommy Lee supported Simmons's statements. "No disrespect to Rihanna, she's a great singer, but we're in a slump for some sh-t that has some personality and appeal beyond a bunch of pop stuff that's floating around out there," he said. "I'm glad he said that actually because I don't think I can bear watching another f—king award show that is just a little better than 'American Idol.' It's f—king pathetic to watch people go out and f—king karaoke with a bunch of lights and video. It's all completely watered down."
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Simmons has been outspoken about lip-syncing. When it was announced that Madonna would perform during halftime at Super Bowl XLVI, he expressed his disappointment.
"I love all karaoke singers," he told TMZ. "I like all the girl singers who get up and sing with tapes. Shame on you."
Simmons described lip-syncing as dishonest. "I don't care what your music is, have some integrity, be real, or full disclosure before the fact," he said. "Hold up a sign that says, '70 percent of what you hear is fake. It's a tape. I'm a karaoke singer.'"
A spokesperson for Rihanna has not yet responded to Yahoo! Music's request for comment.