Ghost frontman Tobias Forge has responded to Gene Simmons’ claims about the future of rock music. He expressed optimism about new bands emerging even after established acts like KISS retire, in a recent interview with Consequence.
Forge addressed the ongoing debate about rock music’s vitality and the potential for new headlining acts to emerge in the genre’s landscape.
“I think it was Gene Simmons that said it most times, but I mean a lot of people have said that rock ‘n’ roll is dead and there will be no new headliners,” Forge said.
The Ghost leader acknowledged the current challenges. He maintained his belief in rock’s future prospects.
“I understand that it’s been sparse, but I think that with the unfortunate disappearance of a lot of bands that I like – KISS being one of them – I do believe that with time I think that there will be more [headlining rock] bands,” he continued.
Forge also offered his perspective on how the music industry’s perception of “new” versus “established” acts has evolved over the decades.
“There are a few examples of fairly new bands who’ve risen to great statures, faster than we did,” he said. “I think that there’s this strange time phenomenon that happened somewhere in the 2000s where everything that was sort of old was old, and everything that came after was new, and just keeps on being labelled as new – especially by people who at the time were in their twenties or thirties or forties and now are in their forties, fifties, sixties. Which I think is an age thing.”
The comments come as KISS continues their farewell tour. Discussions about rock music’s future remain a topic of debate within the industry.
Forge’s optimistic outlook appears to be supported by current trends in the rock music landscape. Emerging artists are finding new ways to connect with audiences and build substantial followings.
Still Listening Magazine reported that 2025 has seen an emergence of diverse and boundary-pushing new rock acts poised to redefine the genre. Bands like London’s post-punk-infused Ain’t are gaining significant traction. They showcase innovation across the rock spectrum and prove that fresh talent continues to emerge in the scene.
The modern music industry has also created new pathways for rock artists to achieve breakthrough success. Funktasy noted that artists like Dallas-born jdxn are leveraging social media platforms such as TikTok to rapidly ascend in the rock scene. This exemplifies how contemporary musicians can find large audiences through digital channels that weren’t available to previous generations.
International acts are also contributing to rock’s continued evolution. Loudwire highlighted bands like France’s metalcore group Landmvrks as examples of how the genre continues to expand globally. These emerging artists demonstrate that rock music’s future extends beyond traditional markets. They continue to attract new talent from diverse backgrounds.
The evidence suggests that while established acts like KISS may be concluding their careers, the foundation for rock’s next generation is already being built through innovative approaches to both music creation and audience engagement.
