KDKB: Phoenix – Gene Simmons Is Rich…Just Ask Him!

Let’s face it…Gene Simmons loves himself. It’s not a shocker. I’m not trying to badmouth him when I say it. Gene is an absolutely honest representative of pure, unadulterated, straight-up, P.T. Barnum hucksterism.  He has built an amazing empire. There can be no doubt that he’s a classic, American success story. You don’t believe it?…just try to talk to him without having him mention how successful he, and KISS are. Hell…*I* owe him a debt of gratitude myself. Gene is partially responsible for my growth as an interviewer.

It was July 3rd, 1988. I was 20.  Just really getting my feet wet in radio. A friend who worked for their record company (Hello Mike if you’re reading this!), called me on the phone and asked; “What are you doing tomorrow?” I replied, “Getting shit-faced! What did you think I’d be doing on the 4th?” He said, “No! You’re not. You’re going to be at my house at 7AM. We’re going up to New Hampshire to see KISS! Bring a tape-recorder.”

Long-story short…I got a chance to sit down with Gene Simmons, and absorb about 20 minutes of his opinion on everything from cars, to speed metal, to why he couldn’t care less about how credible people find KISS’ music.  It was a lesson in being prepared. If you’re going to sit down with someone who believes they’re more intelligent than you (and probably was), you’d better be prepared. You can’t say anything stupid (I did).

24 years later…We had a chance to catch up.