Gene Simmons Shares His Thoughts on Aging: 'Long as Your Schmeckle Works, You Feel Immortal'

The KISS rocker recently opened up about the band's final tour as well as his sexual history and marriage to Shannon Tweed

Gene Simmons of Kiss on stage at the Tons of Rock festival on June 27, 2019 in Oslo, Norway.
Gene Simmons. Photo: Per Ole Hagen/Redferns

Gene Simmons believes you should "Rock and Roll All Nite" until you're physically unable.

In a new interview with The Guardian, the KISS rocker opened up about the band's ongoing final tour as well as his sexual history, 12-year-long marriage to wife Shannon Tweed — and thoughts on aging: "As long as your schmeckle works, you feel immortal."

As the 74-year-old bassist and singer performs his final concerts with KISS, he reflected on his days as a burgeoning rock star, during which he's claimed to have had sexual intercourse with over 4,000 women.

Kiss singer/bassist Gene Simmons poses in front of some of his works at the debut of Gene Simmons ArtWorks at Animazing Gallery at The Venetian Las Vegas on October 21, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gene Simmons. Ethan Miller/Getty

"Men are idiots. There isn’t enough blood to power two heads at once, so a lot of really stupid decisions can get made when that little head takes over," explained Simmons.

He added, "When you’re a woman and you see a man, and he’s big and he’s got a hairy chest and he’s good-looking, and you see that, what you’re seeing is a mirage. That’s actually a 14-year-old horny kid. Just still young, dumb and full of cum."

Simmons isn't just talking about other people, though — he's taken part in quite a few sexual scenarios too. "We can’t even think straight when we see you. I don’t say this as a defense," he said. because I stand guilty as charged of everything.

Gene Simmons (L) and actor Shannon Tweed at The LA Premiere of Saban's Power Rangers presented by Lionsgate at Fox Bruin Theatre on March 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California
Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed. Rich Polk/Getty

Elsewhere in the interview, the musician opened up about his 40-year-long relationship with Tweed, whom he married in 2011 and shares two children: son Nick, 34, and daughter Sophie, 31. Despite Simmons' promiscuous years, the spouses have continued to make their relationship work.

"Would I ever leave if Shannon dilly-dallied like I had? No. Absolutely not, that will never happen. This will be the only marriage I ever have because my definition of marriage isn’t based on that stuff, it’s based on somebody who in a real sense will give their life for you," said the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member.

"We’ve proved it in creating two new, wonderful, amazing forms of life; our kids. Nobody else can do that," continued Simmons. "At the end of the day my life will be judged by Shannon, and [their children] Nick and Sophie.”

Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer, Eric Singer and Paul Stanley appear onstage to announce their upcoming Motley Crue and KISS co-headlining tour at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on March 20, 2012 in Los Angeles, California
KISS. Kevin Winter/Getty

KISS has been performing shows on the End of the Road World Tour since 2019, and the four-piece will continue the run through December before wrapping with two shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

For Simmons, the end of the band's touring life is an emotional moment, and he told the outlet that "everybody's going to be crying" by the time it happens.

"What an amazing journey … I can’t stress enough, how blessed we are — whether you’re religious or not, that’s the word," he said. "I am the luckiest man on two legs who ever walked the face of the planet.”

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