Q: Just one glance at the Gene Simmons AxeBass will make jaws drop. It’s sleek; black; beyond cool. How did you create it?
Gene Simmons: “First, I have to take you back about 25 years ago. I noticed that musicians kept calling their guitars their ‘axes.’ They would say, ‘I want to play my axe.’ I decided that because of my persona, I’d actually build a guitar that looks like an ax. You just need to take one glance to know that this guitar looks so cool. Who doesn’t want to have the coolest looking guitar around? Seek and you shall find; ask and you shall receive. I personally created this guitar, approved the electronics, the body type, the design and even the wood. I even went to the trademark office of the U.S. Government and now own the body type of the guitar and the word AxeBass because my guitar looks like an ax.”
Q: You’ve played the guitar during some nerve rattling, pulse pounding moments at Kiss concerts. What kind of response did you have from fans?
Simmons: “I’ve used the guitar on stage and literally thousands of people have contacted me to ask, ‘Where can I get one? Gene, I need one right now. Can I buy your guitar?’ So, I’ve made a limited number of the guitars that are now available to the public. Since this has been announced, the result has been on the tsunami level.”
Q: Just owning one of these limited edition instruments would be enough of a thrill for collectors. But in true Gene Simmons style, you’ve added a surprise twist here. You’re actually going to meet the guitar buyers in several U.S. cities, personally hand them their guitar and spend some time with the buyer. Why do all of these extras?
Simmons: “I believe the fans buying the Gene Simmons AxeBass are paying for an experience. They’re not just buying a guitar, but a moment they will never forget. It’s unfortunate that we live in a world where things are advertised and most of the time companies don’t give you what was advertised. Take car ads with the pretty girl. She doesn’t come with the car that’s advertised. The AxeBass will be hand numbered and hand signed by me. I will meet the buyer in a city where Kiss is on tour and the city we meet in will be written on the body of the guitar. It will be a true experience for Gene Simmons to hand you the guitar.”
Q: You have a great analogy and compare meeting you to a treat we enjoyed as kids.
Simmons: “When I was a kid, you bought a Cracker Jack box for the peanuts and the popcorn, but it was really all about the special surprise. I’m the special surprise here.”
Q: Many collectors will probably want to display their guitar, but you’ve also created an amazing instrument that could rock any stage or living room.
Simmons: “The AxeBass can be hung as a gorgeous piece of art because it will be numbered, hand signed by me and hold the special memories of the city where I met with the buyer. You could also play this instrument on any stage in the world because it’s better than anything out there. The wood is from the Far East, which is key because of the levels of moisture and the amount of rain there. The thickness of this wood is what makes the AxeBass extraordinary because it gives it resonance.”
Q: Can you explain why this matters?
Simmons: “Sure. Take a Stradivarius violin. Each one is worth millions of dollars. These violins were made from wood that’s only found in the Black Forest of Germany during a time where there was so much moisture and warmth in the air. The wood was of better quality and resonated more when it was played. It’s the same thing with the AxeBass and the wood I personally chose from the Far East. The moisture and warmth makes for an instrument that defies expectations. Some people might not know that the cheaper guitars on the market are created in two pieces. Most guitars are made when the body piece and the neckpiece are connected with a bolt or glue. My guitar is made in one piece – one piece of wood. It sounds cooler and louder than anything else out there.”
Q: Only because it’s you, it begs the question: Will chicks dig it?
Simmons: (Laughing). “Would you like to be the life of the party? Would you like to get the attention with chicks coming up to say, ‘You’re cool?’ Yes, this bass guitar is all about that factor, too.”
Q: You’ve also created a special case for the AxeBass. Why is it unique?
Simmons: “I’ve created a specialized case that only houses this guitar. It’s made out of high-end leather. On the outside of the case, there is an original piece of art with my face on it. I’m also going to take a few paint swipes on the outside of the case to make each one original and different. It will be me doing a few brush strokes.”
Q: There is a special tour bus that will be roaming across the country as you kick off your Kiss road trip in the United States with concerts that continue through the end of 2009. Tell us about this bus?
Simmons: “The entire bus is actually an original piece of art that begins on the top of the bus and extends to the bottom. Like everything else I’m involved with, my face is larger than life on the bus. I can meet fans on this RV and it can travel without me or with me. It’s like a giant billboard, but it also gives you the direct line to order the guitar. We make it simple. Press one if you want to order.”
Q: The bus supports the new Kiss tour and CD “Sonic Boom” which is your 45th release. It also marks your first Kiss CD in over a decade. Does that blow your mind that Kiss is still the biggest rock band in the world with old and new fans creating sell-out shows? Your presence is a true phenomenon because you can’t get out of Wal-Mart without seeing Kiss now either.
Simmons: “It’s our 45th release during our 35th year of playing together and releasing albums. We’ve been touring the world for the last year and now we’ve come back to the United States. As for our presence, I have 3,000 licensed Kiss products – everything from the upcoming Kiss scooter to Kiss M&Ms and a Kiss Mr. Potato Head. We have 16,000 corners in Wal-Mart where you can buy T-shirts and everything Kiss.
Q: Did you ever think you would see your face on Mr. Potato Head?
Simmons: “It makes perfect sense to have a Kiss Mr. Potato Head. Anything that’s iconic is us.”
Q: How does it feel to be on stage now?
Simmons: “It’s bigger and better because it’s great being the champion of the world. I treat music and the stage with the respect it demands. The stage is holy ground. I realize that very few people who walk the planet ever walk a stage. Very few people up there on that stage last or get to come back again. For me, the stage is an electric church.”
Q: Your fans span the ages from a 14-year-old boy using rock music to cope with life to a 60-year-old woman who just wants to rock out for an evening. How do you explain a Kiss fan?
Simmons: “It actually defies all logic because the fans span every age in every country. In fact, there will be a new coffee table book focusing on 30 years of Kiss fans.”
Q: Can we talk for a minute about “Family Jewels?”
Simmons: “You mean Gene Simmons’ family jewels or the TV show?”
Q: All right then….how about the TV show?
Simmons: “Season five is filming right now and the A&E cameras will be following the AxeBass bus on the road. There is no such thing as a boring day. Something is always happening.”
