THE BEAST

During a revealing appearance on The Way I Heard It With Mike Rowe podcast, legendary KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons opened up about his bold choice of title for his 2004 sophomore solo album, Asshole, and dove deep into themes of self-acceptance, public perception, and the power of mindset.

Reflecting on the controversial album title, Simmons said:

“It’s supposed to be an insult and all that. I don’t have a problem with it… I know that I do good. I know that my mom’s okay with me, and that’s all the validation I need.”

The title track, with its in-your-face chorus — “You’re an asshole. You’re an asshole. Maybe I’m an asshole too.” — served as a cheeky self-aware anthem. Simmons explained that the album name was born out of a desire to reclaim an insult, much like how certain marginalized groups have taken back derogatory language to strip it of its power.

Simmons recounted an experience at Interscope Records where co-founder Jimmy Iovine introduced him to a new artist — Tupac Shakur. The album was Strictly 4 My N**Z, and Simmons initially thought the use of the N-word on the cover was a joke.

“So I thought, what’s one of the worst things you could call me? Asshole. Great. Let’s call the album Asshole,” Simmons reasoned.

Though the album didn’t make a massive commercial impact, Simmons wasn’t fazed. The release coincided with a transitional period in the music industry, and he was more focused on making a personal statement than chasing chart success.

Like his 1978 self-titled debut, Asshole featured a wide array of collaborators. Legendary names like Bob Dylan (who co-wrote “Waiting for the Morning Light”) and Frank Zappa (who shared credit on “Black Tongue” alongside contributions from the Zappa family) brought eclecticism and star power to the project. Other notable guests included Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro, KISS alumni Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer, Simmons Records signees BAG, and Gene’s own family — Shannon Tweed, and their children Sophie and Nicholas.

In a separate interview with Really Famous With Kara Mayer Robinson, Simmons doubled down on embracing the "asshole" label.

“I'm okay with being labeled or thought of as an asshole, because I know who I am… Maybe that’s the best thing to do in life, is to just be comfortable in your own skin, ’cause not everybody likes Jesus either.”

He elaborated on the hypocrisy of criticizing him for being money-driven, pointing out that most people work jobs they don't love just to survive.

“Why can’t I be salt of the earth? The fact that I make more money?... I also give to philanthropy. And by the way, it’s none of your f***ing business who or what or where.”

Gene’s central message throughout the podcast was clear: mindset is everything. He cited the example of Mike Tyson, whose belief in himself — despite the odds and ridicule — made him one of the most feared boxers in history.

“You make it real by your mindset,” Simmons said. “I recommend to everybody, be more delusional… There’s such a thing as will to live, will to win — it’s the will. Mindset is everything.”

Born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel, Simmons was the child of Hungarian Jewish immigrants. His mother, a Holocaust survivor, raised him alone after his father left. Simmons immigrated to the U.S. as a child, where he would go on to reinvent himself — not only as Gene Simmons, the Demon of KISS, but as a serial entrepreneur and cultural icon.

From his early inspiration after seeing The Beatles to co-founding KISS with Paul Stanley, Simmons always had a vision bigger than music. The band's rise was marked by theatricality, outlandish costumes, and larger-than-life personas. The result: over 100 million records sold, record-breaking tours, and a fanbase known worldwide as the KISS Army.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 and honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999, Simmons has transformed KISS into a merchandising empire with over 5,000 licensed products — a feat unmatched in the music industry.

Beyond music, Simmons has ventured into TV, film, publishing, restaurants, and consumer products. His latest creation? MoneyBag Soda, a line of all-natural sodas in vintage-style glass bottles — another testament to his entrepreneurial spirit.

Gene Simmons may be polarizing, brash, and unapologetically blunt — but he owns it all. Whether it’s being called an “asshole,” making millions, or pushing people to embrace delusion as a path to greatness, one thing is for certain: Simmons walks to the beat of his own demon drum, and he makes no apologies for it.