“I would say there are some, could be a large number, could not, who think I’m an a**hole. In fact, I named my second solo album ‘A**hole,’ which, I thought, was akin to black people taking possession of the ‘n’ word,” the bassist said in a chat with Really Famous With Kara Mayer Robinson.
“I’m okay with being labeled or thought of as an a**hole, because I know who I am. And there are other people who think, ‘You only do this for money.’ And my response is ‘of course,’” the rocker also added.
In the rest of the interview, Simmons said he asks why he isn’t seen as ‘salt of the earth.’ Many people work tough jobs just to support their families. He notes that these workers do hard tasks every day without getting rich.
He questions why making more money changes how people view him. He also says he gives to charity and thinks that’s personal. In the end, he talked about the importance of being comfortable with yourself.
During his conversation with Really Famous With Kara Mayer Robinson, Simmons also discussed Paul Stanley’s biggest career mistake. The bassist said, “Paul knew stuff I didn’t know. I knew stuff he didn’t know. He should have taken my advice and signed Van Halen. I found that band.”
Gene added, “I couldn’t convince Paul or the rest of the guys in the band or the management. They just said, ‘What are you talking about?’ I said, ‘In a year or two, this is going to be the biggest band.’”
It all started when Simmons saw Van Halen playing at a club in Los Angeles. He wanted to help them but couldn’t get the other members of KISS or their manager, Bill Aucoin, to sign the band.
Later, Stanley and Eddie Van Halen became friends. Van Halen then got noticed by producer Ted Templeman, who helped them get a deal with Warner Bros. Records soon after Simmons’s attempt.