United Kingdom, Feb. 10 -- Gene Simmons has compared Taylor Swift to Jesus Christ by declaring the pop star's following is similar to a religion.

The KISS rocker gave his thoughts on the current state of the music industry in an interview with with Tom Cridland on the 'Greatest Music Of All Time' podcast and admitted he believes Taylor's fans -known as Swifties - see her "as the Jesus" of their movement.

Gene explained: "If you have a fanbase that feels like they're connected and they have the flag, like in soccer. That is tribalism.

"It doesn't have to be mean-spirited. It's an identity. 'Swiftie' is a culture. They're not just fans. She stands for something.

"When you think about it, above and beyond the music and the lyrics and so ...