Gene Simmons Talks ‘Asshole’, KISS

Billboard caught up with KISS bassist and co-vocalist Gene Simmons to discuss his solo album ‘Asshole’ and his thoughts on those who feel the band isn’t really KISS unless it consists of the original members: himself, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. “I used to believe that,” Simmons conceded. “Any rules we have for the band are rules we decide for ourselves. There are lots of bands that have lost members who people might have thought were irreplaceable, but the bands got replacements and the bands got bigger: AC/DC, Van Halen, the Rolling Stones, the Who. I love Ace, Peter and Paul. They helped me get to where I am. I hate myself for not standing up to Ace and Peter sooner when they were destroying themselves.”