Gene Simmons hits the Hill; stirs things up with ‘Jesus’ comment
By Tony Lofaro, The Ottawa Citizen
By Tony Lofaro, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA - Parliament Hill rocked as KISS frontman Gene Simmons and his partner actress Shannon Tweed took the stately buildings by storm Tuesday, delighting hundreds of waiting fans and some codgy senators who got in on the media circus that ensued.
A whirlwind tour of both the House of Commons and Senate for the royal rock ’n’ roll couple was a big hit and erased any ill feelings from the fallout of the cancellation of Shannon Tweed Day by Ottawa’s acting mayor Doug Thompson.
Tweed reiterated that she holds no bad feelings about a civic day in her honour being cancelled.
“Honestly, I came here to have a friendly reunion with my friends and see his concert and nothing has changed,” she said.
Simmons piped in with his own comments about the controversy.
“It’s really OK, not everybody loved Jesus either,” he quipped, shocking some of the people who had surrounded the couple.
Tweed quickly put her hand over his mouth to prevent the rock star from saying anything else outrageous. It was photographic gold: blonde Hollywood actress jokingly cuts off rock ’n’ roll bad boy from speaking — as if that would ever happen.
Large crowds lined the corridors as Parliament Hill staffers, tourists and other onlookers angled for a spot to view the couple as they walked along constantly followed by a photographer and a film crew shooting new footage for their TV reality series Gene Simmons Family Jewels.
“I’m speechless and that takes a lot,” said Tweed, moments after finishing the tour, led by MP Pierre Polievre with assistance from senators Hugh Segal and Marcel Prud’homme.
“I never visited here when I lived in Ottawa and when I was trying to find my way in the world. This is the most beautiful building I’ve ever been in and the (Parliamentary) Library is the most stunning I’ve ever seen. I’m so impressed.”
Simmons was also impressed by the surroundings, bestowing praise on the building and Canadians in general.
“Look, I’ve been all around the world and it’s not a secret that Canadians are the nicest people on the earth,” said Simmons.
He said their children Sophie and Nick “are on their way to become full Canadian citizens.”
Tweed purchased a home in Whistler, B.C., and was relaxing at the resort town before coming to Ottawa to accompany Simmons who performs at Bluesfest tonight.
The afternoon tour was part Canadian civics lesson conducted by tour guide Mark Palmer and part showbiz walkabout as the couple marvelled at the architecture and absorbed lots of Canadian history, including the fire in 1916 that destroyed part of the library. Tweed sat in the Senate chamber and they went inside the House of Commons.
Tweed’s mother, Louise, accompanied her daughter on the tour.
“No, this isn’t overwhelming, it’s really great fun. I have seven kids and they all do (different) things and I’m really proud of them,” she said.
Debbie Jodoin is one of the couple’s biggest fans and an avid follower of the TV show.
“It’s an awesome show, I love it,” said Jodoin, standing in the hallway of the Parliament Buildings with her friend, Elecia Elliott.
“They’re a normal Hollywood family, if I can put it (like) that,” said Jodoin. She said Ottawa politicians were wrong to deny Tweed a special day in her honour.
“Shame on them, get rid of them all. It’s another way the city councilor has embarrassed the city, said Elliott.
“If Shannon was good enough to represent us as Miss Ottawa Valley, then she should be good enough to represent us today.”
Tweed and Simmons also visited torn-up Bank Street and dropped into Babylon, site of a former bar that was named after her when she lived here in the late 70s. They also visited an Elgin Street restaurant, now The Standard, where she once worked while she did some modelling.
Simmons startled a tenant when he walked unannounced into a Frank Street apartment Tweed thought she had lived in 30 years ago. “When he walked in I said ‘What is Gene Simmons doing in my house?’ ” said Melissa Wachter.
“I never thought that would happen, it caught me off-guard. I was working out at the time,” said an embarrassed Wachter after a throng of media came to the front door.
