Rock Reacts to Stan Lee Death

Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee almost single-handedly created the comic book industry as we know it. 

He lived to 95 and saw characters from his imagination, like Spider-Man, The X-Men and The Avengers, embraced by the world. He was a visionary and an activist who used his platform to fight for racial and gender equality even though he didn't have to. 

Lee was influential in so many areas, it's no wonder so many rockers offered tributes after news of his death broke Monday.

"Thank you for making my childhood so much more exciting with your astonishing superhero characters," wrote Kiss bassist Gene Simmons. "Thank you for inspiring me to think and dream big. Thank you for the Hulk, Thor, Fantastic Four and many others. You will be sadly missed. RIP."

Simmons later added that Lee had "a great mind."

Years ago, rock icon Alice Cooper collaborated with Lee on a comic book in 1979, based around his stage persona. Cooper shared a video of himself and Lee with a caption calling the author "a hero in the comic world," and thanking him for illustrating Cooper with six-pack abs in the comic book.

Another rocker who is unsurprisingly influenced by Lee from an aesthetic standpoint, Rob Zombie, recalled is lone meeting with the innovator as a "f---ing thrill."

"Marvel comics was one of the best things I remember about being a kid," the rocker-turned-director added. "Thanks for everything. What would we have done without you?"

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett plays many guitars with comic book-inspired paint jobs. He says Lee helped shape his imagination.

"I owe a lot to him for personally shaping my childhood fantasy worlds, my appreciation for art on all levels, and for teaching me humanness and humility through his wonderfully insightful stories," Hammett wrote. "He will be missed."

Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid offered his condolences to all the Marvel True Believers.

"What he and his band of astounding co-creators did was incalculable," Reid said. "Peter Parker and Spider-Man were THERE for US."

Scott Ian of Anthrax credited Lee with influencing "everything I have ever done creatively."

Singer Jeff Scott Soto added a thanks to Lee "from every comic book nerd like myself to movie goers around the globe..."

Photo: Getty Images


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