GENE SIMMONS: 'There's No New KISS Material Because There's No Record Industry'

Cameron Adams of Australia's Herald Sun recently conducted an interview with KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons. A few excerpts from the chat follow;

On having his and partner Shannon Tweed's facelifts filmed for their reality series "Gene Simmons Family Jewels":

"If you want to see me wiping my ass on camera I will. I'll take a s--- on air, I don't care.

"I'm delusional. I thought I was beautiful before and I'm even more stunning now. The male of the species doesn't have to worry about those things, we just have to have a good job, then we'll attract the female.

"The female of the species is unfortunately stuck in that biological thing of stimulating the male of the species. Which is why the beauty industry is so powerful — women."

On being "happily unmarried" to Tweed since 1985:

"Women reluctantly point to our family and say it works. But they don't like the non-married part because no social security is involved: a financial obligation, if you will. I refuse to have a financial obligation to anyone other than the mother who gave me life.

"Women's biology means they make one or two eggs a month and by their middle years stop being able to procreate entirely, so their biological urge is to corner a man so when they can't reproduce they have a man.

"The phrase is 'I'm going to get my claws in him' or 'he's a good catch' — because he's trying to run away. Man's tendency is not to stick around. Which is unfortunate when you look at all the fathers and husbands who've walked out. Women are never surprised when that happens, they're just surprised it's happened to them.

"The reason I'm crazy about Shannon is she's a modern, 21st-century woman and she should be teaching all other women to get a life, get a hobby. Stop torturing the men."

On his arrangement with Tweed:

"I just don't care. That's why you never read about me in those trash mags women are addicted to. If I go to a strip club, and when I'm in Australia I intend to, I'll stand in front of the club and pose with the strippers all you like. You can take my photo and put them in your magazines because I'll be smiling."

On writing a book called "Ladies of the Night" — "a personal and historical perspective of the oldest profession in the world":

"They [prostitutes] make a very good living doing what biology dictates, which is they charge for their companionship.

"What's the difference between that and a 15-year-old kid who eagerly tries to feel up his girlfriend but has to pay for the movie tickets and take her out to dinner? Men will always pay, they have always paid, call it what you will — whether it's marriage, girlfriend or ladies of the night.''

On his two well-adjusted teenagers Nicholas and Sophie:

"They're both extraordinary young people because that's their job. They have no other purpose except to do well in school and be charming. I'll take care of all the rest, I'll risk my life, I'll make all the money.

"The idea of negotiating with kids is lunacy. It's pathetic what's happened to the male of the species. The father disciplinarian has all but disappeared in society. I see all these grown men negotiating with kids who've just learnt to wipe their asses. It's f---ing lunacy.''

On why there is no new KISS album:

"There's no new KISS material because there's no record industry.

"Any band who tries to do new material is trying to climb a slippery mountain. Every day record companies are folding. It'd be nice to have new KISS songs, but what's the business model? Do you just put songs on the Internet for free? Then what?''

On people who download music illegally:

"They're crooks. I would have sued the very first one and the very last one. As soon as you take somebody's property, that's stealing. People say to me 'You're rich, you have enough money'. It's actually not for anyone to decide that. I'll let you know when I'm too rich. The last time I checked, what we do isn't called charity, it's called the music business.

"Here we are today with exactly what I said would happen happening. The very same people that love the music the most have slit its throat and they're surprised it's dying. 'How come my new band can't get a shot?' 'Cos you killed it, bitch.

"Every day college kids who probably love music more than anybody are the same people slashing the record industry's throat by file sharing and downloading. It's the saddest thing for new bands. Doesn't affect me or KISS. We can continue to play stadiums and do very well, and we release DVDs.

"But there isn't a chance for a new band to become the next BEATLES or KISS because there isn't the infrastructure to do it."