New letters posted...
Hey gene im a !5 year old fan,just got your cd and i enjoy it alot. Anyway i was a a angels baseball game a when they started to intoduce their right fielder on the the big screen they started playing firestarter without the words.
I thought id let you know!
New letters posted...
Hi Gene!
 I hope you are recovered from that fever, that kept you from doing a concert.
I'm sending you this e-mail..since I have to share this with you. Today I saw the "Third Watch" program where you starred. It was shown on cable TV, at WB channel at 9 o' clock at nite, and it was great to see you playing that role. "Do you mean there is a witness...?" is a line that kicked butt!!.
And also, that they were announcing this "Third Watch" episode, all week long on that channel, but the important matter, is that they gave you all the credits on the announcements, because you appear on this episode..."Gene Simmons,bassist and singer of the group KISS<they showed the logo, while saying it> makes a starring appearence in this episode of "Third Watch"!...
I can't wait until next Friday to see the second part of this episode
A long time KISS fan
Tony Biosca
Mexico City
New letters posted...
I saw this poster in a coffee shop in Santa monica and thaught you might like to see it!
Great to see KISS ROCKING THE NATION!!!!
Leon Hale.
 just wanted to let you know that also the german ROLLING STONE and MUSIKEXPRESS gave asshole good reviews.
they both wrote that the cd would be a big surprise.
wish i could make an album like that. the songs are there, but no label yet...
best regards from the swiss asshole
dominik
June 25th -
Continued through the day with a meeting at the legendary FRIARS CLUB in LA, where the powers that be have decided to roast me. Sometime in October there will be a GENE SIMMONS ROAST...more news about this later.
Then, went to ESPN to do the BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW.
And then to meet a new, potential Simmons Records signing: a 14 year old girl. We will see how this develops.
And at midnight, I have to stay awake to do a French magazine interview -- cover story.
Better take a nap.
Tomorrow, off to Minneapolis on the KISS JET with my favorite band.
New letters posted...
I recently went to your show in Denver, CO and I took my now almost 6 year old girl Samantha in full costume. Well, OF COURSE SHE LOVED IT!!! But what I am really wondering is if the security guards were able to give you a picture that I had taken of her "IN COSTUME" when she was only two years old? You see the story is when she turned two she was hospitalized for a ruptured appendix, and while she was there she insisted on watching the videos KISS The Second Coming over and over again. She used to sit there and sing I want to rock and roll all night, and party everyday! The doctors and nurses were not only shocked but confused as to why she was so obsessed with you and your music. And as a matter of fact KISS was what helped her through her 14 day stay in the hospital. Of course her parents are extreme fans as well!!! So we understood the fascination. So when it came time for her to choose what/who she wanted to be for Halloween she absolutely had to be "GENE" so I happily obliged! And I just wanted to share those pictures with you and KISS.
Thank you for your time!!!
Nichole Thomas
Denver, Colorado
Yes. I got the photo. She's a sweetheart. When I grow up, I want to be just like her.
June 24th -
The SPEAKING IN TONGUES dvd (which chronicles my lecture tour of Australia about a year and a half ago) is done and will be in stores sometime in August.
The A&E GENE SIMMONS ASSHOLE 24/7 TV Special is also done and should be on A&E by summer's end.
I am circling three new acts for SIMMONS RECORDS. One is a 14 year old girl singer/songwriter, the other a hard core band, and the third a pop/alternative group. In addition, we are close to finalizing an Aussie female singer/songwriter and of course, our very own BAG...who, I believe will pleasantly surprise you.
Still on tour. Still having the time of my life. Still crazy after all these years.
New letters posted...
 This month, in Esquire writer Chuck Klostermans brilliant columm, he is quoted as saying
"The most advanced hard-rock album ever was MUSIC FROM THE ELDER by KISS, the soundtrack for a movie that does not exist. The Elder also includes songs co written by Lou Reed, which obviously helps"
There's also a picture of Gene next to David Bowie, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, and Mick Jagger (all of which I am lucky enough to have seen live). It depicts Gene Simmons as being one of the nine planets in the universe. It's a great article, I suggest everyone picks it up.
June 21st -
 We flew back to LA from the Concord, California show. Hit the sack at 3 am and was up 6:55 to start doing my radio interviews to promote ASSHOLE.
Finished by 10:30 and then went off to do the RYAN SEACREST television show on Fox TV.
Had a few other meetings, and then went off to do a voice over on a new FAMILY GUY episode on Fox TV.
Tonight, I have a dinner meeting and if I'm lucky, I might actually get some shut eye before we fly off to Portland tomorrow.
I'm bushed.
New letters posted...
Here's a review from billboard.com on your new album, "Asshole".
 GENE SIMMONS
Album Title: ***Hole
Producer(s): Gene Simmons
Genre: POP (edit note: POP?)
Label/Catalog Number: Simmons/Sanctuary 06076-84670
Release Date: June 8
Source: Billboard Magazine
Originally Reviewed: June 19, 2004
You wouldn't guess it from the title, but Gene Simmons' "***Hole" is a huge musical surprise. After kicking out a few Kiss-styled jams, the album suddenly goes . . . contemporary pop! And whether these are tongue-in-cheek excursions or earnest attempts at substantial material, the results are refreshingly eclectic. "Waiting for the Morning Light" (co-written with Bob Dylan), "Beautiful" and "1,000 Dreams" are better-produced than most top 40 fare and might even seduce programmers to give them airplay. The rowdier "***Hole" is custom-made for a barroom sing-along, and anyone who does not dance or laugh along to the frisky "Dog" (replete with Simmons howling in the background) needs to check their pulse. CLT
Here's the link:
http://www.billboard.com/bb/reviews/album_
article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000530205
Donnie
Orlando, Fl
New letters posted...
"...I saw this AD in saturdays June 12th newspaper in canada. It was part of a Best Buy Ad..."
June 18th -
Hello everyone.
Having a ball on tour. Hope to see you all out there.
Had an off day yesterday. The band went to LA. I went to Las Vegas, where I appeared as a (...er) priest in the new TRICK PONY video, Wedding. John Schneider played the groom and I played the whore priest. Why do I always get those parts....
After the video shoot, went over to the satellite television center to appear on FOX TV - Hannity and Colmes Program. Both guys are worth listening to and have something to say. I appeared to go on the record for some quotes taken out of context by the Australian press. I stand by every word I said. The Aussie press have been taken to task for misrepresenting what I said.
Lots more happening. Thank you all for making this the best tour I have ever had the pleasure to participate in.
photo: Spiro Papadatos
New letters posted...
Dear Mr. $immon$,
 today finally i watched My dad the Rock$tar on TV. It wa$ great. Congratulation$. I couldn't believe when my friend called me and told me that it wa$ on the air in the Cartoon Network channel. $o, i wa$ wondering, i$ there any chance to you guy$ come to play here in $ão Paulo, Brazil? I ju$t can't wait to $ee the " new " band!! And to but my own A$$hole!!
Thank$ for your time,
E$tevão, your bigge$t fan.
New letters posted...
"...I would let you know that over here in Holland your "Firestarter"-videoclip is boxtopper of the week and this is what they say about your video:
Gene Simmons - Fire Starter
This cool rocktrack from Gene Simmons and a very great rockhit! Fire Starter is full of hot babes and a crazy Gene Simmons. Check it out!!!..."
New letters posted...
Hey there...
Just wanted to send a picture of me and my friends at the Black and Blue ball (an annual fetish event) last month in New York City. The theme was rock n roll and who better for us to dress as other than our favorite rock n roll band!! Hope you enjoy!
xoxo,
Erin aka Gene
Response from Gene:
New letters posted...
 "...I went to the Kiss concert tonight in San Antonio. It fucking ROCKED!!!!!!!!!!!! Dude, It was WAY better than I expected! That was the best stage set up I have ever seem. Plus, I was so happy that you played all the old stuff. To be honest, I was expecting the same kind of show, you know playing the usual hits. That's cool, but playing all the old stuff made it all so much more! To me, this is one of the best Kiss shows ever. If anyone reading this letter is an old school Kiss fan you will LOVE this show! This is a show for the dedicated Kiss Army!.."
New letters posted...
 "...Just saw the FIRESTARTER video....you mack-daddy, 70's pimp-lookin', get-the-sexiest-babes, rock n roller you who has proved to the rest of the world that you can STILL BE COOL as F*CK after 50 years of age. I'm hittin Virgin after work and gettin myself a copy of A$$hole..."
New letters posted...
Hey Gene,
 Just wanted to drop a note. I have been a KISS fan since 1976, when Rock and Roll Over was released, was my first KISS album. Since then I have bought them all. Raising 2 kids who have become KISS fans, and enjoy going to the concerts. Unfortunately, this year when you visit the Nissan Pavillion, my son will not be there to see the show. He is a United States Marine, and is currently serving in Iraq, on a high note, I wanted you to know that I just bought your new cd, A**hole, and that copy will being heading straight to Iraq. He has always been a huge Gene Simmons fan, and I am sure he will enjoy your solo effort. I have sent him several cd's from my collection, and he has the whole camp over there rocking to KISS now. Keep on rocking and maybe sometime next year he can catch a show after his rotation is over.
Ronnie Rickard
Proud father of United States Marine
LCpl Robert Rickard
Strasburg VA
Response from Gene:
Please send our best wishes. He makes all our lives possible.
New letters posted...
Gene,
 Just in case you didn't hear about this yet -
This morning on Stern, as he was coming back from commercial, he was playing Firestarter, and really liked it. He and Robin thought it kicked ass, even though they couldn't remember where they heard the song before.
Take care,
Michael
New letters posted...
Gene,
 I have a subscription to BLENDER magazine and was pleasantly surprised to see you in there this month (Janet Jackson cover) doing the Q+A's. Great stuff!!!! I'm surprised you didn't mention that here, though....
Thanks
Travis
June 10th -
 Day after the Asshole NYC Party, I got up at the crack of dawn to do an interview with Thea, the beautiful hostess at ESPN's morning COLD PIZZA show with the LA Lakers' Rick Fox.
Thea and I are talking about her coming out on the road with me for a special on ESPN.
Check out her show. She is quite stunning.
June 9th -
Thanks everyone...for coming to my Asshole New York City party. Everyone had a ball. Mostly, everyone. A few of you were disappointed I didn't stop everything I was doing and just sit and pay attention just to you. I tried to cover the room as best I could. But, it never ceases to amaze me. Whatever lengths I go to, it never seems to go far enough for some of you.
That's life.
Everyone else had a ball. Thanks again.
New letters posted...
DEAR GENE
WE LOVE KISS!!!!!!!!!!!!
28.05.2004 TOKYO JAPAN
LOVE S
New letters posted...
Here is a scan of a Derf Comic strip called 'The City' that is in this week's Pittsburgh City Paper Entertainment Weekly, in which cyndi Lauper, Madonna & you appear.
New letters posted...
Hi Gene,
My daughter, Stephanie who is only 7 years old and I wanted to send you her lovely picture of her at the Australian Sydney Superdome concert. The first time she's been and thought it was fantastic!! Hope you like the picture and the doll. She loves her Gene doll!!
Thanks,
Stephanie and Sally.
The following lucky few have been chosen to attend the NY Asshole party on Tuesday, June 8. The party will be held at Ruby Falls located at 609 West 29th St. (between 11th and 12th Ave). The party begins at 7pm.
If you have been chosen as a winner you MUST be 21 or older to attend and you MUST bring a picture ID. All the names of the winners will be on the list plus one.
Bob Inderwies
V. Manfredi
Joey Venden
Chris Martino
Rob Angel
Robert Ossichak
David Brandler
Matthew Cataldo
Elwyn Vela
Eric Devries
Nick Caligiuri
Rich Toland
Anthony Sgambellone
Verne Pickford
Mike Campagna
William McMillin
Ben Shapiro
Joseph Continanzi
Frank Pollaro, MD
Diane Schmidt
Jamie Stuart
Keith Celentano
Chad Storm
Michael Tannacore
Lori Birnbaum
Finally!!! Back in the USA.
Heading to NYC this Tuesday for an ASSHOLE PARTY. I suspect there will be lots of Assholes there. I know I'll be there. Which seems to mean I'm one, too. It's shaping up to be a real event -- lots of beautiful women and...(well, the rest doesn't really matter, does it?).
Then, the next morning, I'll be off to Texas to join my bandmates in KISS for the start of our American leg of the tour.
I have to say in all honesty, this lineup is a real pleasure. It's powerful and flexible. At the drop of a hat, without rehearsals or coaching, the band can do almost any piece of material all the way from our first album thirty years ago, to the most recent stuff.
The band has NEVER sounded or played this good. I am proud to share the stage with them.
KISS will be featured the guests on Rockline's nationally syndicated radio show airing June 9th! The live show begins at 8:30pm PT / 11:30pm ET - and fans are encouraged to call in with questions during the program at (800) 344-ROCK (7625). To find a station near you check out www.rocklineradio.com
New letters posted...
Dear Gene,
The 3 concerts at the Budokan were a HUGE success.
I only speak for myself, but I am sure I echo all those devoted Japanese Kiss Army members, when I say THANK YOU FOR COMING TO JAPAN.
3 sold-out shows at the Budokan, 10,000 fans every night. We all had a great time those 3 days. The new setlist is a treat: C'mon and Love Me, Got to Choose, Love her all I can, She,...
Here are a few pictures taken before the shows.
Are the faces familiar? Your kids from previous tours, maybe...
Alain
New letters posted...
On Saturday June 5th, Cartoon Network LA proudly will broadcast "My Dad The Rock Star" TV Show (they translated the show´s name as "Mi Padre el Rockero"). Cartoon Network started a few days ago to transmit the tv show´s promos and they are really cool. In some Latin American countries, Kiss fans will be able to watch for the very first time Gene's TV show, so we better get ready our VCR to record every episode, can´t wait to watch the show !!
Pablo Barahona B.
Quito, Ecuador, South America
Dear Gene,
Here is the Japanese Kiss Bike. Customized by a die-hard fan named Motoyuki. Pictures taken in front of the Budokan yesterday, by yours truly.
Alain
May 29th -
I've been up to my neck with activity in Australia -- where, after the KISS dates, I flew into Sydney for three days of interviews for my solo album, ASSHOLE... sixty interviews in all!!! I DO love the sound of my own voice, but after the tenth interview, I could almost hear myself saying, "shut up."
During that time, Rina Ferris, my PR person there, introduced me to a new Aussie recording artist I immediately took to. I went down to the recording studio where she was working and we connected. She is charismatic, talented and quite stunning.
Unfortunately, and for the moment, her name will be kept out of this site until the legal machinery can clear up some legalities... and then, and with great fanfare, we will introduce her to you.
She has got "it."
I also met with some people in Sydney about a prospective Aussie edition of GENE SIMMONS TONGUE... which, as you know by know, is on hiatus. I am simply too busy with all the other activities to do the magazine right.
Allen Tuller and I are proud of our first five issues, which can be viewed at the upper left hand corner of this page. Allen is off on vacation. The Sterling MacFadden publishing entity has been sold. However, I still own GS Tongue.
BAG, our first signing to Simmons Records/Sanctuary Music Group is busy working on new material for his debut release. Very exciting stuff. Wait and see.
ASSHOLE will be released on June the 8th in North America. It has already come out in selected markets. Norway debuted first, apparently. It entered at number 22.
You will soon be seeing the debut video for the first single, FIRESTARTER. Lest anyone think this is a signal of anything new in my life, it is not. I'm simply having a bit of fun with my image -- and with the beautiful girls in the video. What else?
Our Chinese Real Estate developments are progressing very nicely. These are billion dollar deals we are talking about. And, I'm proud to say I'm a part of it.
Our new Television Cable Network will soon be launching. Cannot at this time mention the name of the entity, nor give much detail. But soon enough, you will be hearing about this big event. Everywhere.
Our Korean DVD/CD Manufacturing Plant purchase is progressing as well. Papers to be signed shortly. Again, cannot be more specific about details just yet.
Our Motion Picture Company is very close to being fully funded. We have already met with other producers and directors, searching for our first product. More details later.
Miss Shannon Tweed's book is finally done. You will be surprised by her no holds barred directness. I have to say, I am proud of her. She gives a good kick in the pants to alot of girls out there, who live a fantasy life. She is more grounded than almost anyone I've ever met. She also happens to be gorgeous and that doesn't hurt much, either.
Our New Boxing Venture (yes, you read it right) is about to be launched. It will include the most prominent and respected names in boxing. More news as it develops.
And, I am proud to be a member of a group, that also happens to be my favorite group: KISS. We have a lineup that can play anything, at any time... at the drop of a hat. No moaning. No complaints. No self abuse. No excuses. Everyone sings in pitch. Everyone plays in time. It rocks. And, Paul Stanley? The best I've ever seen him.
We have a ball every night.
Doubt me? Ask the fans who have seen and heard: God Gave Rock and Roll To You, Unholy, Parasite, C'mon and Love Me, Got To Choose, All The Way, Love Her All I Can, Goin' Blind and lots more.
We've done a sold out Australian and Japanese Tour (almost done -- two more to go).... and America is next.
We'd love to see you.
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