'Don't go': KISS's Gene Simmons calls on Oasis fans upset about ticket prices

KISS's Gene Simmons has a message for fans upset about the high cost of attending Britpop band Oasis, who are reuniting for the first time in 15 years.

In an interview with Forbes, Simmons said that fans who were upset about the use of dynamic pricing to sell Oasis tickets were “entitled to a (expletive) sell-out.”

“They have the ultimate power, supply and demand,” the 75-year-old rocker told the outlet. “Whatever the prices, they are purely theoretical. Someone sits in a room and tries to figure out how far the rubber band can stretch. And if you don't sell tickets, guess what happens? The price goes down. Capitalism! If you don't want to pay that amount, don't go.”

“It's a way to get attention,” Simmons added. “You don't like the price of the ticket? Then don't buy a ticket.”

Fans have reported “significant problems” with Ticketmaster when trying to purchase Oasis tickets, according to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has launched an investigation into the problems.

The CMA is investigating whether Ticketmaster breached consumer protection laws by applying dynamic pricing, i.e. increasing ticket prices depending on demand.

According to the BBC, demand meant many fans had to pay up to £350 ($462) per ticket, around £200 ($264) more than advertised. Because of this, Forbes reported, some fans felt entitled to cheaper Oasis tickets.

“This is not the first time this has raised concerns among fans of live sport and music events. While this practice is not automatically against the law, in certain circumstances it may breach consumer protection or competition law,” the CMA said. “Consumer law is clear – ticket sales sites must be transparent in their dealings with consumers and provide clear and accurate information about the price people have to pay. Failure to do so may break the law.”

Oasis said they were unaware that Ticketmaster would introduce dynamic pricing.

“It must be made clear that Oasis leaves decisions regarding ticket sales and pricing entirely to their promoters and management,” the band said in a statement, according to the BBC. “Everyone involved has done their utmost to provide fans with the best possible experience, but due to unprecedented demand, this has been impossible.”

Simmons added that fans who didn't get tickets would still be able to see the Oasis reunion, but they wouldn't be able to enjoy it.

“I'm sure it's streaming somewhere and you'll find a way and complain,” he told Forbes.

Oasis will perform 19 concerts in the UK and Ireland next year.

This reunion takes place 30 years after Oasis' meteoric breakthrough with the release of their debut album “Definitely Maybe” in 1994. The concerts will be the band's first since their split in 2009.

Tickets went on sale on August 31 and sold out the same day, Oasis announced on X. For this reason, the band has scheduled two more shows at Wembley Stadium for September 27 and 28.

Oasis said fans who were able to join a ticket queue but did not get a ticket on the first sale could be invited to a private vote specifically for tickets to the newly added London shows.

The band said that Ticketmaster would send out applications for voting on new dates by email.

For more information about tickets, visit the Oasis website.