DEC. 23rd, 2001-

Here's what I have been up to for the last several days...

While I was in New York, ERIN BROCHOVITCH invited me to participate in her New York crusade to recreate the New York City waterfront ampitheater/park. We spoke a few times, but we were both busy and never got a chance to take it further. Maybe next time.

Dec 17th, 2001 -- I met with Jim Botco from IN DEMAND Pay Per View. We agreed to take a look at a few projects I'm involved in for a series of GENE SIMMONS PRESENTS Pay Per View Specials. More news on this later.

That night, I went to see the beautiful Sophie perform at a private piano recital. She was grand. I, on the other hand, managed to scrape the side of my truck nicely. I do many things reasonably well...driving's not one of them.

Dec 18th, 2001 -- Met with Sander Schwartz and his team at Warner Bros Animation regarding doing a animated or CGI show based around either TERRY AND THE PIRATES (which Tribune Entertainment has let me run with) or another high profile project I'm not at liberty to discuss. More on this later.

Later that day, met with Joe Patterson and MJ Jackson about Manuscript Originals. The company has a terrific business plan and if they do it right, should prove to be rewarding for all. More on this later.

And, before I turned in, I wrote an article about HIP HOP for Bob Guccioni's GEAR magazine. Bob called me and asked if I'd write about it. I told him I would write what I feel, rather than what I know...which is next to nil. Article should be in the next GEAR. Pick it up.

Dec 19th, 2001 -- Started off the day with an interesting interview session with the people at the MUSEUM OF SEX in New York, who are doing a book and devoting a section of the museum to celeb anecdotes.

Had lunch with Al (GODFATHER I, II, III Producer) Ruddy and Leslie (TEXAS RANGER) Grieff, who are my partners on VHI's HIT MEN. We have been developing this show for close to two years. Hopefully, the light at the end of the tunnel is near.

Later, had a discussion with MAINFRAME (which is the company that will be working on the upcoming KISS CGI SUPER HERO SHOW) about doing the TERRY AND THE PIRATES show with me. More on this later.

Dec 20, 2001 -- Spent the whole day on the phone doing interviews ... and returning Fred Durst's call to thank us for the signed box set. Interviews with MOJO (for a cover story - I'm sharing the cover with McCartney and others...a real thrill), CLASSIC ROCK, the SOURCE, METAL HAMMER and others...mostly in Europe.

Dec 21, 2001-- CNBC's POWER LUNCH program came to my office to do a live interview with me for their East Coast based live show. If you missed it, here's what happened. This is a serious business program intended for investors, hedge fund managers and the like. Usually, the conversations revolve around subjects such as the recent Enron debacle. Not the kind of thing most shows talk about in a round table. Nonetheless, the entire morning was taken up by some of their staff getting into KISS makeup. They kept cutting away from hard news, to people obviously having alot of fun. So, when I came on to talk about KISS AND MAKEUP, my book, the conversation went all over the place. It was alot of fun.

And, finally....if I don't have a chance to wish you all a Merry Another Day Above Ground Day, please consider this: Don't wait for a calender or someone to tap you on the shoulder to tell you this day is religious...or that day is someone's birthday...or tomorrow is your anniversary....It's all a fantasy. Everyday is a holiday...as long as you're alive. Don't wait for someone to have to tell you that to realize it. Go and have some fun NOW.

DEC. 16th, 2001-

The GENE SIMMONS DRAGONFLY clothing line is developing nicely. Ed Dada, my business associate, has informed me that the line now includes "moneybag logo" ties, bathing suits, robes, hats, workout clothes and many more. We will be debuting the line at the MAGIC SHOW in Las Vegas on February the 19th through the 22nd. Additionally, ABC's THE VIEW, which I recently appeared on to promote my book KISS AND MAKEUP, will debut the clothing on one of their shows sometime in February.

On January the 8th, I'll be doing a BOOK SIGNING IN LA at a place to be determined. Stay tuned for more as it develops.

On January the 9th, Paul and I will be presenting at the AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS in Los Angeles.

On January the 10th, I'll be pitching a new series idea to MTV with my partner DAN GORDON, who wrote Denzel Washington's film, THE HURRICANE.

On February the 11th through February the 13th, I'll be attending TOY FARE in New York City to debut some great new KISS toys, including Art Asylum's new KISS line of toys.

On January the 14th through the 16th, I'll be in Toronto, Canada for a KISS AND MAKEUP BOOKSIGNING as well as meeting with NELVANA production execs regarding the cartoon show I created and will be voicing, MY DAD THE ROCK STAR. We have 26 half hour shows on order and production is starting now.

On January the 21st, I'll be in Las Vegas for NAPTE, the television industry's convention to promote a number of my television projects.

On January the 19th, I'll be celebrating the birthday of the powerful and attractive Paul Stanley at his party (although, we all know that's not Paul's birthdate. Let's see if any of you know the real date.).

On February the 19th through the 22nd, I'll be in Las Vegas for the already mentioned MAGIC SHOW .

For those of you who are wondering what the lowdown is re GENE SIMMONS TONGUE magazine -- and, if you're interested in contributing: Articles and the like will be written by people who do that kind of thing. The sense of the magazine remember, is a cross between Rolling Stone, Playboy and Maxim. More than likely, one of the more popular sections will be the "Girl Next Door"...so if you are, send us your fotos. Make sure to include a note that says you give GENE SIMMONS TONGUE magazine the right to use your fotos in the magazine and in all other areas. It may also help if you include a story about losing your virginity or a tongue story.

On Dec the 4th, KISS were awarded the Heroes award by NARAS, the National Recording Artists organization. Paul and I were there with Peter, who attended with Gigi, his wife. I have to say everyone was in great spirits and Peter and I cracked jokes and pleasantries. I also spoke with Ace before the New York event and asked him if he was coming. He said he probably would not, but wished everyone well. The award was presented by GARTH BROOKS, who sent a video of himself congratulating us in front of a huge concert audience. Garth was scheduled to be there, but couldn't make it because of his concert appearance.

On Dec. the 5th, Paul and I did the New York City KISS BOX SET INSTORE and I have to say we had a ball. It was great seeing you all.

On Dec. the 6th, I was busy the whole day doing Japanese press, radio broadcast interviews promoting the book.l

On Dec. the 7th, I did Ed Trunk's WNEW radion show in NYC. I stayed and did the show until 1 am. I have the say the interview and questions were enlightening and Ed in particular, proved to me he cared. He cared about KISS. He cared about the fans and he cared about Ace. He told me he has spoken from his heart to Ace on a number of occasions to try and get him some help, but that it hadn't worked. I found out that we both love Ace and want nothing but the best for him...especially that he hears the truth from people who care about him.

On Dec. the 10th, I did the MJI satellite broadcast, appeared on WNEW's Opie and Anthony Show and then in the evening did the JOAN RIVERS radio show.

On Dec. the 11th, I appeared on NBC's TODAY SHOW with Matt Lauer. Katie Couric and I exchanged pleasantries backstage. Then I ran over to ABC for their THE VIEW show. Barbera Walters came by to say hello and was charming. Lisa Ling and I chatted backstage while they were applying makeup on us. The producers of the show invited me back to debut the GENE SIMMONS DRAGONFLY clothing line, as well as GENE SIMMONS TONGUE magazine. So, sometime in February should be a fun time. By the way, for all of you who thought I needed defending: Please remember, every one of the women on the show has to "defend" the notion that men are monogomous. They appeal, after all to married women. And, if any of the women on the show actually agreed that men tend to wander, it would threaten the millions of housewives in the viewing audience who desperately hold on to the hope that their man is different. I've always been about telling the truth. All men want the same thing -- lots of women. I don't care how many of them will lie about it. Social scientists tell us it's so. But, after all is said and done, the show made for good viewing. Then, I did NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO and if any of you have had a chance to hear it...I had the same experience the last time I did NPR: It's a place that needs some fresh air. You'll get what I mean if you have a chance to hear my interview. Later in the evening, I did the KISS AND MAKEUP BOOK INSTORE at Barnes and Noble in New York. Thanks to the thousands of you who showed up. You were great. And, as you know, if you were there, I waited until each and every one of you got an autograph. Thanks for making me feel great. The party that followed at SPA, was a circus. Too many people having too good of a time. Earlier, when I went to dinner, I ran into ERIN BROCHOVICH again (I did a Chicago event with her for COURT tv's SECRETS OF ROCK AND ROLL), who was charming as ever. Thanks to Universal for putting up those KISS billboards in New York and Los Angeles for the KISS BOX SET...they look great.

On Dec. the 15th, I flew back to LA and went right into a meeting to begin the KISS KASINO deal. Yep. You read right. We are off to the races. More news as it develops. On Dec. the 17th, I'll be meeting with IN DEMAND, a pay per view outfit about doing some GENE SIMMONS PRESENTS pay per view events.

On Dec. the 18th, I'll be meeting with Allen Sachs and Gabe Kaplan about a proposed WELCOME BACK KOTTER feature film. More news later. And, then I'll be meeting with Warner Bros' Sander Schwartz about a TERRY AND THE PIRATES cartoon show I'm developing. Bob Guccioni, editor/publisher of GEAR and former head of SPIN has asked me to write an aricle about hip hop. I will.

DEC. 7th, 2001-

BRANDING A KISS: Gene Simmons hopes book keeps book open on his rock band

By BILL DeYOUNG - The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun
Date: 12/03/01 22:15

Gene Simmons stands more than 7 feet tall in his platform boots, and it's his image -- the blood-spitting, bass-humping demon with the lasciviously wagging tongue -- that more than anything else has defined the hard-rock franchise of KISS.

Simmons looms even larger this month, with an autobiography, a spot as a tell-all host on Court TV ("The Secret History of Rock 'n' Roll" at 9 tonight on Court TV) and a five-CD box set of music from the million-selling quartet.

"I don't know how to tell you this, but here comes the truth," he said in a phone interview from Los Angeles. "The raging demon is really kind of a milk 'n' cookies guy, never been high or drunk in his life. And won't have anything to do with people who need to smoke or drink or want to waste his time."

The 52-year-old Simmons has written his autobiography, Kiss and Make-Up, and it's full of sex 'n' sin escapades -- he claims to have slept with 4,600 women on the road (he keeps a scrapbook of Polaroids). He also talks about his romantic relationships with Cher and Diana Ross in the 1970s. The book, published by Crown Publishing, is being relased today.

Yet his greatest candor is reserved for KISS itself -- it's a business, first and foremost, owned by Simmons and guitarist Paul Stanley.

"I always wanted to be in a rock 'n' roll brand; I didn't want to be in a rock 'n' roll band," he said. "Rock 'n' roll bands are boring. They do one thing. It's a one-trick pony: You play your song, you get off the stage, thank you, good night."

Simmons and Stanley -- their real names are Chaim Witz and Stanley Eisen -- were "nice Jewish boys" from New York who wanted to conquer the world. "I wanted to be Disney without the overhead," Simmons said.

The best Kiss songs -- "Rock and Roll All Nite," "Strutter," "Shout It Out Loud" -- celebrate youthful dumbness with a proud swagger. They're rock 'n' roll anthems with no message whatsoever. And that has always been the point.

"You're not talking about a serious form of music anyway," Simmons said. "Nobody reads or writes music, and everybody's self-taught. The whole notion that rock 'n' roll, and musicians barely in their 20s, would ever have this deluded notion that this is serious music, they're on crack.

"Jazz and classical musicians call it for what it is: It's sugar. Sugar for the masses. I love sugar! I don't delude myself into thinking that it's a salad or that it's good for you. It burns fast and it tastes good.

"And so, while other bands are delusional and think that they're about good taste, Kiss is very clear that it just tastes good. The last thing I want to do is to have a moron tell me what he's doing is `art,' when you and I both know that Art should usually be the name of a guy.

"Most rock stars should basically shut up and be glad they don't have to work for a living," he said.

In his book, Simmons details guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss' longtime problems with drugs and alcohol, and how, as a teetotaler, it made him crazy. It's why when the two returned to the band in the '90s, they were not full-fledged members as they were from 1975 to '80 but contract players working for Simmons and Stanley.

"The same guy I love straight is also the same guy that I hate when he's high," he said. "I love the guys, and even after all this time, if I were to live it over again, I would still pick Ace and Peter for the band because they helped make it what it is.

"But was being in the same band with them a joy? No, it was torture. Basically because they brought whatever it was that was dysfunctional in their life into the band, and so it made the band dysfunctional."

Simmons and Stanley own the others' makeup designs -- "we bought everybody out" -- and recently, drummer Eric Singer replaced Criss on the so-called Farewell Tour, wearing Criss' "kittycat" makeup.

"Peter couldn't make a deal with us," Simmons said. "Strictly about money. And don't let anybody tell you otherwise, there's no such thing as a band that does it for free."

Many overseas dates on the Farewell Tour were postponed after Sept. 11, so Kiss hasn't quite said farewell yet. Meanwhile, the Kiss marketing machine rolls on. The boxed set of the band's music comes inside an elaborate replica guitar case, there's actually a Kiss Kasket and "Kiss condoms are coming, there's going to be a Kiss superhero show on TV, there's going to be a Kiss Broadway show," Simmons said. "We're going to go where no band has gone before. Like it or not. Disney without overhead. Remember."

Content © 2001 The Kansas City Star

DEC 2nd, 2001-

I'm happy to report we've just hired Steve Appleford to be the editor of GENE SIMMONS TONGUE magazine. Steve was former editor of BIKINI and RAY GUN magazines. We hope to have our first issue out on the stands by Spring. We already have 300,000 preorders and, with a little luck, we might have a hit on our hands.

I've also been quietly involved in a proposed new television show, maybe to be called the GENE SIMMONS SHOW or SEX WITH GENE SIMMONS. Yes, I know the names sound silly, but this is still a work in progress. My partners are the producers of the COURT TV documentary (SECRETS OF ROCK AND ROLL) I recently hosted. Babette Perry from ICM is taking us around. The reaction has been great. So far, we've gone to Paramount Television and E Entertainment. When I return to California, we will hit all the other players. The premise of the show is going to be very loose. Great conversation. Great looking girls. And, great looking girls.

On Friday, Nov. the 30th, I attended a luncheon for Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. The speeches were short, the food was great and everyone was very cordial. I ran into Andy Kim, who has had lots of pop hit records. Kim kept telling me people mistake him for me. I apologized.

On Saturday, Dec. the 1st, I met with Leo Rossi, a terrific actor you've seen in many movies. We are talking about working on a potential project together involving Chaz Palmintieri, Dennis Farina, Armand Assante and Leo. The project, TWO CHIEFS was written by Peter Federenko. More news as it develops.

December 4th -- in New York, Paul and I will be meeting with Rob Roth and Steven Trask to talk about the long-in-the-works KISS BROADWAY SHOW. Later that day, Paul and I will be attending the NARAS event, where we will be presented with the HEROES award. I'm told Peter Criss will also attend. We obviously look forward to seeing Pete there. I spoke with Ace two days ago (to tell him about my autobiography) and he said he might not attend, but that he wished everyone well.

On Wednesday, Dec the 5th Paul and I will be doing an instore to promote the KISS BOX SET in New York. We look forward to seeing you there. Incidentally, if you want a short cut to get your copy of our GIANT KISS BOX SET (limited number available), call 866 - KISSBOX. The GIANT version comes in a guitar case, gold trimmed. Inside is six hours of music, a hard cover book telling the behind the scenes stories of how, when and where we wrote the toons, a few collectibles suitable for framing and an AUTHENTIC KISS ALIVE GOLD ALBUM...certified by the RIAA. The same gold records we have. We figured we couldn't have done this with you and the least we could do is to make an actual gold record made out to you. As far as I know, this has never been done before.

Earlier in the day, I'll be doing CATHERINE CRYER's television program to promote the BOX SET and my autobiography, KISS AND MAKEUP.

On Dec the 11th, I'll be doing the TODAY SHOW on NBC and then THE VIEW on ABC...then segway to NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, then WNEW and ending the day with BILL O'REILLEY.

On Dec 12th, I'll be doing an INSTORE at BARNES AND NOBLE in New York. Thereafter, there's going to be a KISS AND MAKEUP book party to be held at SPA...a New York club. Hope to see you all there.