GENE SIMMONS ON THE NEW ‘GENE SIMMONS VAULT,’ THE BEATLES, VAN HALEN, HIS NEW MAGAZINE, AND DOING GOOD DEEDS

When an artist is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it is usually one of the artist’s top accomplishments. In the case of Gene Simmons — the bassist and sometimes-vocalist behind KISS — his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction is merely a footnote. KISS has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide, earning more gold records than any other American band in the history of the RIAA. Over 40 years since KISS formed in 1973, the quartet continues to play stadiums and arenas around the world, while its 2012 full-length Monster debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The band’s on-going influence can be heard in various genres, as KISS songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks, Cher, Menudo, Nirvana, Lenny Kravitz, and the cast of Glee alike.

KISS, however, is only one part of Gene Simmons’ life. Simmons was the star of the family reality show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, which produced 158 episodes. He has written several books and been a magazine publisher. He has acted in dozens of movies and television shows. He has overseen record labels and major marketing campaigns. He has been a board member and advocate for several non-profits, including ChildFund International. And that is without exploring his success within the real estate and intellectual property worlds, or his stint on Celebrity Apprentice.

The latest — and arguably most ambitious — project from Simmons is the Gene Simmons Vault. A limited-edition box set made in partnership with Rhino Records, the Gene Simmons Vault includes 150 unreleased recordings from throughout Simmons’ career, as paired with other never-before-available items; the 40-pound vault includes the first-ever non-makeup action figure of Simmons. For $2,000, Simmons will hand-deliver one of the vaults to you and invite you to a proper meet-and-greet event. The Home Experience is highest-tiered package associated with the Gene Simmons Vault, which will set you back $50,000. In exchange for that 50 grand, Simmons will come to your home for two hours to entertain you and up to 25 guests.

To learn more about the Gene Simmons Vault, and also the entrepreneur behind the vault, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Simmons in-person. Our half-hour conversation covered all facets of his career and ultimately showed him to not only have an encyclopedic knowledge about a variety of subjects but to be a kind-hearted and relatable person. More on Simmons can be found at www.genesimmonsvault.com.