As reported earlier, music industry pundit Bob Lefsetz and KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons squared off at Canadian Music Week yesterday (March 13th) in the main ballroom at the Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto. Check out a video excerpt below.

Lefsetz posted the following letter at his official website after the debate.

"What an asshole.

You can make your own decision who was victorious, I’m sure clips will surface on YouTube. But what stunned me was who this guy was. I truly believed he had another, more human side underneath, that maybe he could let down his guard and laugh at himself. I was wrong.

Whether it be the endless recitation of KISS kronology, or shilling for his venture with Universal Music Canada, not only did Gene continue to sell, he did it in the meanest, most underhanded fashion possible. Proving the old saw if you just met your hero, he wouldn’t be one anymore.

Not that Gene’s my hero. But others believe in him. What a mistake. At least homey don’t play that no more. You truly have to befriend your fans today, treat them civilly, not like you were born on the mountaintop and you’re making sure no one else can join you there.

I’d like to tell you our debate was an endless discussion of the issues. Instead, it was constant put-downs of me… My name, my appearance, my experience, my mother. I can handle it, but the relentlessness and the refusal to lighten up completely stunned me. Asshole wouldn’t even shake my hand at the end, disappeared like the weasel he truly is.

I arose to greet him when he took the stage, but alas, he had to insult my name before sticking out his hand, which he never did by the way. I just sat back down, stunned that someone could be so vicious. Dick Cheney’s got nothing on Gene Simmons."

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