GENE SIMMONS: 'I Like Things Up My Ass'

Maxim.com recently conducted an interview with KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Maxim.com: Obviously, the thing on everybody's mind right now is your face-lift. Was there anything in particular that drove you to that decision?

Gene Simmons: It really wasn't a big thought. The producer [of "Gene Simmons Family Jewels"] asked, "How about having a face-lift? And we'll film the whole procedure." And I thought about it for a while, and I thought, "Yeah, sure." So we did his and hers face-lifts. I'm a type-A personality. Once I commit to something, I do it all the way. And now I'm even more stunning than I was before.

Maxim.com: Was it annoying having the cameras up your ass during the recovery process?

Gene Simmons: No, I like things up my ass. Usually farm animals, but that's another story [laughs]. I don't mind having the cameras there at all. In fact, I invite them into situations that they don't want to go into. Neither Shannon nor the kids are too thrilled with having cameras around them; but I'm an only child, so I crave attention.

Maxim.com: After doing "Gene Simmons' Rock School" and now "Jewels", are you more comfortable as "TV Gene?"

Gene Simmons: People are throwing projects left and right at me, but by and large I say no. But I don't mind doing this stuff. I'm self-absorbed. I like me. I'm in the Gene Simmons business. I'm totally comfortable talking about myself, and I love the sound of my own voice. But I'm not really in the television business. I do other stuff.

Maxim.com: So the rocker is still inside?

Gene Simmons: Well, that made everything possible. Therein lies the beat of the heart. There is nothing like getting up onstage and putting on taller heels than you wear and going out there and being the dream and living it. So this summer, KISS will be doing three shows for tens of thousands of people.

Maxim.com: Do you have any idea when you'll be putting on that makeup for the last time?

Gene Simmons: No. When I was growing up, there was a phrase, never trust anyone over 30. But only white people did that. You never heard black people say that about B.B. King, you know? They don't say, "He's 80, he should hang up his shoes." They look at him with reverence. But white people look at Mick Jagger and say, "Oh, he's too old." It's such a bizarre thing, when the truth is, the biggest guy in the world is also the oldest guy in the world.

Maxim.com: So do you want to keep going until you croak?

Gene Simmons: I hope we don't do it a day longer than we want to do it. And I don't think the age thing matters. The biggest bands in the world are the oldest bands in the world.

Maxim.com: Is there anything that people could still be shocked to know about you?

Gene Simmons: I have never been high or drunk or smoked cigarettes in my life, and I've never been married. Most everybody has, and I don't know why. I couldn't think of a good reason to do any of those. The problem with marriage and the problem with most relationships is someone else has a say in who and what you are. And that's totally unacceptable. How did anybody get the right, or earn it, to do that. You can earn the right if you buy it. If you buy somebody's companionship. A husband, if he's paying all the bills he can, but he bought that companionship. But the guys are wimping out. That's why they die before their wives. Why do men die first? Because they want to [laughs].

Read the entire interview at Maxim.com.