GENE SIMMONS Talks Travel

Eugenia Levenson of Fortune magazine recently conducted an interview with KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons about traveling and celebrity life. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Days on the road:

Gene: "About 180. We may tour next year, and that'll take ten months. But I go to all the IndyCar races and travel anywhere that includes the TV show."

Favorite way to fly:

Gene: "Overseas airlines. They treat you like a king. Singapore Airlines is just terrific."

Full service:

Gene: "At LAX, two blocks away from the airport, there's this secret thing. I drive up to a place, a guy gets in, I drive to United or American or wherever, and he takes the car. No parking, no torture. When I land, I make the phone call. Car drives up, I get in and drive off. It's called Airport Valet. It's my favorite thing."

Highs or lows:

Gene: "I like a clean bed and a clean bathroom. The rest of the accouterments I don't really care about. I've stayed at Motel 6, and they do a good job for the price. I used to like the Plaza Hotel in New York, and they seemed to like me because every time I went they gave me a suite and a butler. But I could go to Holiday Inn, and there'd be a party, and you'd have the time of your life. I'm what it's about."

Sweet spot:

Gene: "I still like the Carnegie Deli in New York, showing up at 2 A.M. and doing sinful things like having a hot pastrami sandwich, lean, extra mustard, pickle. Of course, you have nightmares from hell, but that's the price."

Best tool:

Gene: "I don't carry my computer, ever. Every hotel has them. And I refuse to get a CrackBerry. I talk on the phone. People want access to me, and it makes the deals go down faster. I have a two- or three-year-old Razr. Terrific reception."

Celebrity perks:

Gene: "Chicks. And access. Celebrity gets the door open. You can't create business, but celebrity gives you access to people because they're curious about you."