We'll Do It LIVE! - Gene Simmons

Summary

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Bill O'Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis

Episode: We'll Do It LIVE! - Gene Simmons

Date: June 25, 2026

Guest: Gene Simmons

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Overview

In this engaging episode, Bill O’Reilly welcomes rock legend Gene Simmons, co-founder of Kiss and recent Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, for a wide-ranging conversation that crosses personal history, political observations, the immigrant experience, patriotism, free speech, university culture, and the business of rock stardom. Simmons reflects on the weight of history through his mother's survival of the Holocaust, discusses his steadfast patriotism, critiques modern American discourse, and offers revealing insights into the creation and legacy of Kiss.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Gene Simmons’ Family History and Holocaust Legacy

• Simmons describes his mother's Holocaust survival:
  • She rarely spoke about her experiences, wishing to shield her son from the trauma she endured (02:24–03:13).
  • “Only later, in retrospect, I had the sense that she didn’t want me to go through the horrific life that she had because she saw her whole family wiped out…” — Gene Simmons (02:24)
  • Simmons recounts a harrowing story about his mother surviving a Nazi selection process by hiding her ability to speak German (03:20–05:52).

Israel, Identity, and Comparisons with America

• Patriotism and loyalty to Israel (06:15–07:50):
  • Simmons frames Israel as a unique sanctuary:
    • “There are 67 Muslim countries in the world. There’s only one country... which identifies as a Jewish state. ...Within the Jewish state, you’ve got 20% of the population are Arab non-Jews. ...You don’t get killed because of your religion. ...Mostly it’s a very democratic country." — Gene Simmons (06:15)
• Reflections on Anti-Semitism and Wokeism at Universities (08:06–11:53):
  • Simmons criticizes universities for subservience to “wokeism” and laments a lack of balanced discourse.
  • “When the educational system buckles its knees and starts serving a certain section of society instead of being a freewheeling discussion... it’s not the same school system I grew up [with].” — Gene Simmons (09:00)

Immigration, Patriotism, and the American Ideal

• Personal immigrant experience:
  • Simmons and O’Reilly recollect their time as teachers in tough neighborhoods, highlighting struggles and achievements (12:23).
  • Simmons notes the past culture of respect and patriotism in schools compared to today (13:16).
• On being unashamedly American:
  • “You can be an a-hole in this country and have the right to not love America. ...But the idea that you think you have the right to burn the flag after God knows how many Americans went overseas and gave their life... to protect your right, that’s not right.” — Gene Simmons (13:16)
• Role of hard work and capitalism (36:00–39:27):
  • Simmons describes working hard as a young immigrant, understanding the ethics of capitalism, and how hard work “rises above” bias and hatred.
  • He lent his mother $10,000 (saved from his newspaper route!) so the family could buy a house.

Campus and Cultural Shifts

• Rise of anti-Semitism and progressive dogma in universities (08:04–11:53):
  • Both O’Reilly and Simmons question why recent campus activism has seemingly turned against Jewish students and Israel.
  • “If more countries defined themselves as fascist and had free elections... how do you define it a fascist?” — Gene Simmons (09:35)

Celebrity, Politics, and Free Speech

• Entertainment and political discourse (15:59–19:53):
  • Simmons resists the celebrity trend of using concerts or public platforms to promote personal politics.
    • “I’m really not interested in famous people espousing their political or beliefs. ...I really don’t give two [bleeps].” — Gene Simmons (16:19)
  • While empathetic to differing viewpoints, he believes debate for performance’s sake is pointless, and politics should stay personal.
• Cancel culture and standing firm (22:47–24:52):
  • Simmons openly discusses losing shows and backlash for defending Donald Trump’s presidency, but is unphased due to his personal success and philosophy of individuality.
    • “I started a hashtag ... #GoYourself ... Be an individual. Don’t be ordinary. Be extraordinary.” — Gene Simmons (23:22)
• On being ‘canceled’:
  • “When you get to a certain financial comfort zone, it doesn’t affect [you].” — Gene Simmons (23:12)
  • He lost a few shows for calling Trump “President Trump” — but shrugs it off.

Lessons from the Past & Optimism for the Future

• Influence of his mother and America’s opportunity (29:24–34:01):
  • Simmons credits his mother’s resilience and love for America with shaping his life:
    • “My mother was the most patriotic American I ever met. ...Americans should study how much my mother loved America.” — Gene Simmons (32:41)
  • He movingly describes his mother crying tears of joy watching the American flag on TV as immigrants in 1950s Brooklyn.

The Kiss Phenomenon, Capitalism, and Culture

• Origin of Kiss’s iconic makeup (44:22–46:05):
  • No single member can claim credit; it was spontaneous, adopted after a trip to Woolworth’s for clown makeup in a rat-infested loft.
  • “We had no resume, no expertise, just threw it on there.” — Gene Simmons (46:05)
• The Kiss business model:
  • Kiss became a pop culture phenomenon by combining spectacle and merchandise (10,000+ licensed products) with music.
    • “We’ll get you coming and we’ll get you going.” — Gene Simmons, joking about Kiss-branded products (47:25)
• Success beyond music: Kiss was rated #1 band globally by Gallup for three years (48:07–48:24) even without hit singles.
• Perils of fame:
  • Simmons cautions against being “washed away by the tsunami” and always attributes his self-discipline to his mother’s example (29:24–30:14).

Work Ethic, Resilience, and the Immigrant Spirit

• Entrepreneurial drive:
  • Simmons recounts starting bands after seeing The Beatles for the first time and systematically building his musical and business skillsets (36:00–39:27).
  • He calls himself “an army of one” and urges listeners to treat themselves like their own corporation; “Me Incorporated.”
• Persistence as the real secret:
  • “Not much happens when you hit the nail on the head. ...You gotta keep hitting that nail many times before it goes all the way in and makes impact.” — Gene Simmons (41:33)
• His current projects:
  • Sold Kiss to Pop House, doing a solo tour, running a restaurant chain, producing films—"Use it or lose it. Get up every day and pump that heart.” — Gene Simmons (26:19)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

[03:20] Gene Simmons:
“My mother at 14... and some other women who were starving to death were brought into the commandant’s office... She survived on the scraps that were in the garbage and... would hide them under her clothing... wouldn’t dare tell anybody else in the barracks because you would get killed for those little bits of food.”

[06:15] Gene Simmons:
“There are 67 Muslim countries in the world. ...There’s only one country... smaller than Rhode Island which identifies as a Jewish state...”

[09:00] Gene Simmons:
“When the educational system buckles its knees and starts serving a certain section of society instead of being a freewheeling discussion of all different areas, all different faiths and so on. ...it’s not the same school system I grew up [with].”

[13:16] Gene Simmons:
“The idea that you think you have the right to burn the flag after God knows how many Americans went overseas and gave their life... to protect your right, that’s not right.”

[16:19] Gene Simmons:
“I’m really not interested in famous people espousing their political or beliefs. ...I really don’t give two [bleeps].”

[23:22] Gene Simmons:
“My life does not depend on tugging on somebody’s shirt sleeves to find out if it’s okay to have my thoughts and beliefs. Be an individual. ...Be extraordinary.”

[32:41] Gene Simmons:
“My mother was the most patriotic American I ever met. And Americans should study how much my mother loved America because every country has got its soft, white underbelly. But you can’t touch this country.”

[39:21] Gene Simmons:
“Scientists call it a singularity. But the thing that hit me like a kick in the nuts was the camera swung around and the girls in the audience were... screeching... And I, I had this epiphany... that’s a good job.”

[41:33] Gene Simmons:
“People don’t understand the rules of success. … Not much happens when you hit the nail on the head. It doesn’t go very far. You gotta keep hitting that nail many times before it goes all the way in and makes impact.”

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Major Segments & Timestamps

• Gene Simmons’s mother’s Holocaust story: 02:10–05:52
• On Israel, identity, and democracy: 06:15–07:50
• Discussion on anti-Semitism at universities: 08:04–11:53
• American patriotism and school experiences: 12:26–13:40
• Cancel culture and individuality: 22:47–24:52
• The Kiss makeup origin story: 44:22–46:05
• The business and spectacle of Kiss: 47:25–48:54
• On hard work, persistence, and success: 41:33–42:43

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Tone and Style

The conversation was frank, candid, and at times deeply emotional, especially when discussing family history and patriotism. Simmons is witty, self-effacing, and direct, often using humor to disarm or illustrate a point. O'Reilly matches with straight questions, personal anecdotes, and genuine admiration, keeping the tone conversational and warm with room for profound reflection and playful banter.

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This episode offers listeners an inspiring story of survival, achievement, and belief in the American dream, underscored by bold commentary on culture, politics, and the responsibilities of celebrity. It's an unfiltered look at Gene Simmons—beyond the makeup—and a powerful reminder of the resilience behind rock legend status.

Transcript

[Gene Simmons]

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[Bill O'Reilly]

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[Gene Simmons]

Learn [e-mail] of the people, for the people, by the people. He won the election by millions. I am a firm believer that the wall should be built absolutely.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You don't want to persuade for what purpose?

[Gene Simmons]

This idea of always agreeing with somebody is lunacy. I can break bread with anybody other than Nazis. I would stick my tongue out now, but the floor is a little dirty.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Hey, I'm Bill O'Reilly and welcome to another we'll do it live. Today. This week we have a great guest. His name is Gene Simmons. You know him even without the makeup. He is the driving force behind Kiss. He is getting an award, Songwriters Award in Manhattan. Songwriters hall of Fame, Songwriters hall of Fame Award. Whatever it, you're getting it okay.

[Gene Simmons]

With Paul Stanley, my partner.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You and I have a lot in common, although nobody would ever believe that.

[Gene Simmons]

We're human beings.

[Bill O'Reilly]

And we'll get into that while you are, and we'll get into that. But I wanted to open up with this. I'm a big historic guy, you know. And you were born in Israel.

[Gene Simmons]

I don't look Swiss, do I?

[Bill O'Reilly]

No. You were born in Israel. Your mother. Yeah. Survived a death camp in Germany.

[Gene Simmons]

Nazi Germany. Yeah.

[Bill O'Reilly]

So I wrote about killing the ss. I know a lot about this. Did you, growing up, ever speak to your mother about what she went through?

[Gene Simmons]

She often, most of the time, refused to talk about it because only later, in retrospect, I had the sense that she didn't want me to go through the horrific life that she had because she saw her whole family wiped out. And by the way, people often simplify history. They think it's just the Jewish Holocaust. That's not true. Of course it's true. But you had 2 million Roman Catholics, 2 million gay folks, the Romani, anybody who didn't fit the master race thing were sent to the death camps. Even some Germans who politically objected. There were few of them to Hitler Coming to power, they were all wiped out, Starved, beaten and wiped out.

[Bill O'Reilly]

So your mom didn't want to talk about it?

[Gene Simmons]

No.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Did you ever break her down to get a little insight into it?

[Gene Simmons]

I finally, there was a movie called Sophie's Choice with Meryl Streep. And I finally understood actually what happened. And it was almost the same thing. My mother was 14 years of age and the commandant, same thing happened in the film, ironically and strangely. The commandant had his family there, you know, they had kids and his wife was there. And during the daytime, as if nothing was going on over the other side of the wall. So they brought in the commandant's wife, wanted her makeup done and her hair done and everything. And my mother at a young age went to Frisour beauty school to learn how to do hair, makeup and all that. So my mother at 14 and some other women who were starving to death were brought into the commandant's office and ichan auschwechen bissendeut, I can speak German well enough. And my mother was telling me in broken German because she learned how to speak some German, you had to. And Hungarian and Hebrew, because I was born in Israel. The story in this kind of trifecta of languages about how the luck of God or whatever, but luck of the draught, she was not sent to the death camps and she survived. What happened was that the commandant's wife said, I like, you know, that one and that one and that one. And then the husband stepped up and said, deutsch, can you speak a little German to the women in line? And the first one said, yes, I can. He just waved her aside and she was taken God knows where. And my mother was close to the end of the line, understood that maybe she shouldn't let on that she spoke German. So by the time it got to her, she went, I don't know. And she was picked. And in retrospect, my mother explained to me that maybe the fact that she looked as if she didn't understand German is what he wanted because he didn't want any secrets or anything to get back to. Sure. Didn't let me overheard or anything like that. Yes. So she survived on the scraps that were in the garbage. And she told me, breaks your heart to think of it, that she'd take these little scraps of half eaten bread and all that and hide them under her clothing and wouldn't dare tell anybody else in the barracks because you would get killed for those little bits of food.

[Bill O'Reilly]

When your mom got to Israel, there was an emotional attachment there, had to be because that was your sanctuary for Jews all over Europe and who had gone through this horrific situation. Does that alliance, allegiance, whatever word you want to use, pertain to this day?

[Gene Simmons]

It does. That doesn't mean you agree with every political move governments make or that the course of history. But there are very few places people who've been subjugated to violence and stuff. And it goes the same with the Armenians. If it wasn't for Armenia, you know, where are they going to go? The Turks came in and slaughtered a million of them. And it's still not talked about today. So there is such a thing as a country or location that defines itself by the nature of the folks. So for history's sake and for factual sake, there are 67 Muslim countries in the world. World 67. There's only one country in the world smaller than Rhode island which identifies as a Jewish state. However, within the Jewish state, you've got 20% of the population are Arab non Jews. And in the Knesset, which is the Jewish Israeli version of Congress, you've got 20% representation by Palestinian Israelis who vote often against the government. Mosques are right next to. Churches are right next to temples. You don't get killed because of your religion. And, you know, mostly it's a very democratic country. Once you cross the wall to the other side, chaos. The Shia will kill the Sunni and forget about the Wahhabists who are in Saudi Arabia. Even within the same religion, they will kill each other. Never mind the other religions, Christians, Jews or anyone.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Right. So I think it's safe to say you do have some lo loyalty to Israel. And that's understandable when you hear in the United States horrible things.

[Gene Simmons]

Yeah.

[Bill O'Reilly]

How do you react?

[Gene Simmons]

It's not the first time. There's antisemitism, there's racism and homophobic hatred. There's all kinds of hatred going around. So I'm not here to wave the flag and say poor little me, because in relation to history, this is nothing. This is Not World War II where Jews were being rounded up and sent in cattle cars to be destroyed. Thank God there's a place called America where you've got legal recourse. Somebody says something about you, you can sue them. It's called slander. So you have some legal recourse there. I think the universities are doing themselves and America a disservice by being so subservient to wokeism. It's okay to be aware that there are groups who feel marginalized. I totally understand that. But when the educational system buckles its knees and starts Serving a certain section of society instead of being a freewheeling discussion of all different areas, all different faiths and so on. So I think the university is coming. As a former teacher myself of grade school, it's not the same school system I grew up.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Do you know why this antisemitism has taken root in some of the nation's universities? You have any theory about. Because, I mean, 10 years ago, we didn't get this, but this progressive movement had ushered in Israel as a fascist state. Jews are bad.

[Gene Simmons]

Yeah. If more countries defined themselves as fascist and had free elections and allowed people who the rest of the world considers enemies to be part of the population and have every bit as many rights within the population. I don't know how you define it a fascist, but I do think it's worth noting that before, during, and after the October 7th massacre, I hope people agree that was just a horrific event that happened. The Israeli Palestinians didn't go over the border to Gaza. In fact, none of them left Israel. They stayed Israel. They like the life there. So people call America fascist all the time. Yeah, but we had anywhere from 20 to 30 million illegal immigrants. What are they doing here? Well, they want a better life because

[Bill O'Reilly]

the countries they come, a lot of propaganda. I just wonder why it's taking place. I mean, what's driving this? Even in New York City, when you

[Gene Simmons]

have a group of college professors who are trained in a certain thing, they come and they espouse their political points of views. I think it is.

[Bill O'Reilly]

It's crazy. Points of views.

[Gene Simmons]

I don't. I don't buy it, but I wouldn't mind it if there were opposing points of views evenly split in the same university. But I find the universities. And by the way, I think the government's doing the right thing, which is testing the legal system and suing them.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Yeah. If they're violating or something like that.

[Gene Simmons]

If they're violating the tone and the sense of what the Constitution is all about, there's free speech and then there's slander and hate speech. And I do think the professors in this country are doing themselves and their young students a favor. By free speech does not mean you're allowed to stand up in a movie theater and yell fire. No, that's incitement to riot. It's a different political and legal term. Free speech just says, you know, my opinion is. But when you hurl superlatives at people and say you're a pedophile, you're once. I say, not you once, you're a pedophile. That'll come out as a headline and say, oh, that was just my opinion. But once it's out there, how do you subvert?

[Bill O'Reilly]

Yeah, yeah.

[Gene Simmons]

There's no way.

[Bill O'Reilly]

How do you defend yourself? So you and I have a common upbringing, which is ridiculous just because of our career paths. So you're a teacher in Spanish Harlem, sixth grade. Right. Okay. I was a high school teacher in a slum of Miami, opa loca. And I never thought that I would reach the heights that I've reached. And I'm sure when you were, oh,

[Gene Simmons]

I couldn't speak a word of English.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I big accent.

[Gene Simmons]

I talk like this, you know, with a clipped. I speak other languages as well, but with a clipped, you know, kind of sound, which Israelis do. I want to say something about patriotism, if you don't mind. I think we both agree on that. It is sorely lacking. When I was in sixth grade and the flag was raised in class, the children shut up, put their hand over their hearts, I pledge allegiance to the flag. And so on and so forth. There was no such thing as sitting down or arguing or burning flags when I was a kid. And so I really believe America needs to get back to the sort of basic idea that you can be an a hole in this country and have the right to not love America. Of course, you can always leave if you don't like it, but I'm not a love it or leave it kind of a guy. You can stay here, not like it, and try to change it from the inside. But the idea that you think you have the right to burn the flag after God knows how many Americans went overseas and gave their life, some gave all to protect your right.

[Bill O'Reilly]

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[Gene Simmons]

and we run it through the Bible.

[Bill O'Reilly]

What does the Bible have to say about this? Because there's nothing new under the sun. You read the headlines. Everything's all crazy. World's coming to an end. It's all in the Bible. And after every episode, hopefully you leave with a proper perspective and a biblical piece. Please join us wherever you listen to podcasts and we also have a YouTube page as well. YouTube.com politicsbyfaith

[Gene Simmons]

to be an asshole. And so I think there's got to be some pullback. Not all the way, because in the past, women didn't vote, black folks couldn't get the equal rights and so on and so forth, but somewhere into civility where the nuclear family is still what it's about. And I don't care what your private life is like or if you worship a rock or if you define yourself by different genders. That's great. Keep it to yourself. I'm not interested.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Okay. Would you like to debate Bruce Springsteen? I'd love to see that.

[Gene Simmons]

I've met Bruce on a number of occasions. I don't think it matters. And I'll tell you why. Because he's so passionate about his point of view and there are people on the far left, but that's okay. That's right. That's right. And so I do have a point of view as a performer myself. You get up on stage, it's the place for art. I'm really not interested in famous people espousing their political or beliefs. I don't want to go to Mark Ruffalo and this actor and find out what his sense is of our foreign policy. In the same way that I don't know what Kylie Jenner's political point of views are, and I really don't give to its.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I know, but wouldn't it be instructive to see two opposite points of view in the same industry? Two titans who both came up working class. Right.

[Gene Simmons]

No question about it.

[Bill O'Reilly]

And they arrived at different intellectual.

[Gene Simmons]

Yeah, but my point of view is coming from another country, and my mother was in a concentration camp in Austria.

[Bill O'Reilly]

But that's good, though. That's part of your collective experience perspective,

[Gene Simmons]

is that whatever you think is wrong with this country, as soon as you. And I'm not saying it shouldn't get better. We should always strive to make this country better and better. But if you place this country next to any other country on the face of the planet, no other country has more illegal immigrants. I'm an Immigrant. But we came in through the legal system. But Bruce not buying that, and that's his right.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Wouldn't you like to debate him on it?

[Gene Simmons]

About what? That he wants to vote one way and I want to vote the other way.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Well, a collective experience.

[Gene Simmons]

I understand it, but I just want to say this. Let's say we arrive at a point where we talk about the current president, who I knew before he became political, when he was just a citizen in these United States, you know, in social areas, clubs and whatever. So you can argue and hate the president and you're allowed to do that. But you have to recognize the fact that of the people, for the people, by the people, means that the people have spoken. He won the election by millions and the electoral college as well. End of story. You don't like it, you can wait until the next election and vote your conscience. And when I was growing up, nobody ever asked me, who did you vote for? What do you mean, who did you vote for? Who are you? And what business is it of yours who I vote for? There used to be a curtain. You went behind it. You pulled the curtain because it was nobody's business. You vote your conscience. Leave politics out of it. When we sit around and break bread, I can break bread with anybody other than Nazis who completely disagree. Well, keep your feelings to yourself and your power is the voting boost.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You're not in the business to persuade. You don't want to persuade.

[Gene Simmons]

For what purpose?

[Bill O'Reilly]

Well, I mean, my business is persuasion and we're pretty successful with that because we're fact based. The other thing is in the music industry, and I know a little bit about it, but not a lot. Is the Springsteen point of view very popular? It is prevalent.

[Gene Simmons]

Oh, yeah.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I put that on the agency, on

[Gene Simmons]

the performers, not the audience.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I put that on the agents and the bookers. And you have to think a certain way to get in a club.

[Gene Simmons]

I'm not sure if that's accurate, but I will say the lay of the land, I notice is mostly they are in the same way that if you go to California, it is a blue state, it's mostly Democrat, and as you get to the major cities, it's mostly progressive, far left Democrats. I mean, the runoff now in the Democratic Party are two people who I wouldn't vote for if you paid me for it. No, on the other hand, if you paid me enough, I might consider.

[Bill O'Reilly]

But it's all about performance.

[Gene Simmons]

I think Steve should be the next governor.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Well, Hilton has a one in five chance because the Democratic machine is very.

[Gene Simmons]

They'll prevent it. I'm not beholden to any political point of view or anything. I'm about issues, which is why I have friends from every area. I do business with all kinds of people. If I only did business with people who are Republicans and so on, it wouldn't make financial sense because people of all political beliefs do business. So business is not what your political beliefs are. It's whether or not we can both have a win win relationship.

[Bill O'Reilly]

And you've done very well in the music business. But I don't know why. It's not just musicians. It's actors too, and directors and all of that. I don't know why this monolith has developed in the entertainment industry.

[Gene Simmons]

It will swing. The pendulum swings.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You think it's going to swing?

[Gene Simmons]

Well, there's no question because you've seen how politics or, you know, sometimes the far left takes a hold and the pendulum goes this way. And sometimes Republicans get into government and so on. And so laws keep changing state to state.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I still believe that the music industry and most of these people over my 50 year career are not informed. I mean, you know what you're talking about.

[Gene Simmons]

I think that's fair. I think that's fair.

[Bill O'Reilly]

They're not. They don't know.

[Gene Simmons]

It's difficult to have a conversation with people who are passionate in their heart.

[Bill O'Reilly]

They don't know anything.

[Gene Simmons]

So how did you get along with Bill Maher? I find him refreshing.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I got along. I known him forever. I get along with him fine, but I don't want him blowing pot smoke in my face.

[Gene Simmons]

I don't, I don't get high either. I never have.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Right, that's.

[Gene Simmons]

Well, there you go. Laissez faire. He does that in his private life.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You know, it's like I'm going to arrest him.

[Gene Simmons]

Sure.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I want everybody to be cogent.

[Gene Simmons]

You don't want to do that. He wants to do that. And you both get along. Proof of laissez faire. But I find him refreshing because he has no problem having dinner with the president and then afterwards getting on the show and saying, I don't like what the president did over here.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Great.

[Gene Simmons]

But people on both sides of the fence, I believe, have gone to the extreme so that it's my, my party says this is the, you know, the way to do it. If you don't go, you know, if you don't march along with exactly these things. Which is why I'm much more a free thinker and closer to the center on certain areas. I agree with either party. I Am a firm believer that the wall should be built. Absolutely. The previous Pope, who was a nice man and so on, I respected him, said that it's inhumane to have a wall between Mexico and America, except for the fact that the Vatican has a massive wall around it. For the same reason that we should. Border security. You want to know who's coming into your border, not that they shouldn't do it through the legal system.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Has the. Your freedom of intellectual thought cost you any work?

[Gene Simmons]

Yeah, there's such a thing as being canceled.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Where have you been?

[Gene Simmons]

Yeah, a little bit. But when you. You know, I'm blessed. I'm putting my hands together. When you get to a certain financial comfort zone, it doesn't affect.

[Bill O'Reilly]

No, but. But it's still offensive.

[Gene Simmons]

It's offensive.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Right.

[Gene Simmons]

But I started. May I speak plainly or do you

[Bill O'Reilly]

have a may you. You absolutely should.

[Gene Simmons]

So I started a hashtag because you came out and warned me. Of course, these are semantics, but I'm not anti. Semantic, Bill. You came out and said, let's poopy words. I don't usually say that, except for the fact that a few decades ago, I started a hashtag movement. It's called GoYourself, and anybody can use it. You're welcome out there. Because my life does not depend on tugging on somebody's shirt sleeves to find out if it's okay to have my thoughts and my beliefs. Be an individual. Don't be ordinary. Be extraordinary. Be an individual. And if I didn't always agree with my mother, and I would give my life for my mother, this idea of always agreeing with somebody is lunacy. Sometimes they're wrong.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Sometimes you just for.

[Gene Simmons]

For you.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Can you tell us how you got iced?

[Gene Simmons]

On occasion, there were maybe two or three shows where somebody asked me on camera, locally as I'm doing interviews, what do you think of the President? And I said, I don't have any problem getting the Kennedy Center Awards at all. He's the President of these United States and he was legally voted into power. And if you don't like the man, you can at least respect the presidency. And this idea of just banding about Trump this and Trump that. No, it's President Trump. Just like a doctor. I don't like my doctor, but he's a doctor. Doctor, so and so. And that was not a popular sentiment.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Did anybody confront.

[Gene Simmons]

Yes, I lost. I lost those two or three shows, but I was considering buying the business, so it's a different Right.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I know you don't need the money, Gene.

[Gene Simmons]

No, there's no such thing, Bill. That's why you get up every day and try to earn more.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I don't work for money, okay, well,

[Gene Simmons]

then give me the money you make.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Give it to you. That's social.

[Gene Simmons]

You don't need it. No, I didn't. No, I'll give you.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Take my money.

[Gene Simmons]

I'll give you sweat equity for. For it. We'll figure that out.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I don't want you and Kiss on my front lawn. Are you kidding?

[Gene Simmons]

Oh, yes, you do. Because we can charge a lot of money for those people coming onto your front lawn.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Are you guys going to tour anymore?

[Gene Simmons]

No. We sold Kiss hook, line and sinker to a wonderful company called Pop House. You know, they're a big company.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I know you got a movie in the works, right?

[Gene Simmons]

I'm a producer, so I have a company called Deep Water that's in every movie theater with Sir Ben Kingsley, Aaron Eckhart, Rennie Harlan directing.

[Bill O'Reilly]

But no more live shows for Kiss.

[Gene Simmons]

I'm doing live shows with Gene Simmons, so I'm appearing with my solo band, doing 40 cities. We have a restaurant chain called Rock and Bruise 2 at LAX 30. Around the country, there's a lot of stuff. Okay, I'm trying to copy you.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I don't do that. You and I are just about the same age, and I have to give you props.

[Gene Simmons]

No, I'm older than you are.

[Bill O'Reilly]

A few days.

[Gene Simmons]

But it's either you can't be a little pregnant. You either are or you're not. Am I older than you?

[Bill O'Reilly]

You're older than me.

[Gene Simmons]

That's what I said.

[Bill O'Reilly]

But you are using your time on this planet.

[Gene Simmons]

Use it or lose it. Get up every day and pump that heart.

[Bill O'Reilly]

A lot of seniors just give, oh, wow, it's over.

[Gene Simmons]

But I think they're missing the point. If life is a journey or at least a race, I'm sure everybody agrees. When you see that finish line coming towards you, don't you speed up instead of slowing down? If I see the finish line, I've only got two, three a year left. You know, you speed it. What are you going to do? Sit on your thumb and wait to die?

[Bill O'Reilly]

A lot of people do that, you know, but, you know, I don't.

[Gene Simmons]

They'll be sad. They won't be able to sleep at night. They'll get heart troubles. The best thing to do is keep pumping that heart. Kiss a pretty girl, eat a good meal, sleep a good night's sleeping, and get up at the crack of dawn the next day and just. Just keep moving. I'm more Ambitious and semi possessed now than I ever was. And I'll be 77 in August.

[Bill O'Reilly]

What don't I know about the rock world? So you gave 2,830 live concerts. You and the boys. It looks like it's fun.

[Gene Simmons]

Yeah.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Okay, so most men. And some women. I will.

[Gene Simmons]

And some they. Thems.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Whatever.

[Gene Simmons]

I'm kidding.

[Bill O'Reilly]

I really wish I could be a rock star. I really wish I was out there.

[Gene Simmons]

It's a lot of fun. You can wear more makeup and higher heels than your mommy did.

[Bill O'Reilly]

So no downside.

[Gene Simmons]

Wasn't that delicious? So good.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Your bill, ladies. I got it.

[Gene Simmons]

No, I got it.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Seriously, I insist. I insisted first.

[Gene Simmons]

Don't be silly. You don't be silly. People with the Wells Fargo Wells Fargo ActiveCash credit card prefer to pay because they earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Okay.

[Gene Simmons]

Rock, paper, scissors for it.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Rock, paper, scissors. Shoot. No.

[Gene Simmons]

The Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card. Visit Wells Fargo.com ActiveCash terms apply. What is that?

[Bill O'Reilly]

Oh yeah, it's a World cup holder. Like the soccer tournament. World cup holder for the world.

[Gene Simmons]

Fits every car, holds every cup. It has a Carvana logo. Carvana made it. They buy and sell cars, so they

[Bill O'Reilly]

made a car cup holder.

[Gene Simmons]

So. Got any good cups lately?

[Bill O'Reilly]

I used to.

[Gene Simmons]

I just couldn't figure out where in the world to put them.

[Bill O'Reilly]

The World Cup Holder, brought to you by Carvana. Proud sponsors of the World cup holder,

[Gene Simmons]

sign up today to win [e-mail] not authorized or endorsed by FIFA. Not a real product for parody and fair use purposes only. Yes, there is the downside. And it all comes back to you. You have a self inferred, fiduciary and otherwise duty to your own self. Which is to say you're responsible. You're the guardian of yourself. So if you're Namby pamby and you have self esteem, you're going to get washed away by the tsunami. Because it is a tsunami. When fame hits you, you get a lot of money and a lot of chicks throw themselves in your face and all over your. All that stuff. Fair weather friends. And you can quite easily be balled over and start to believe your own me.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Did that happen to you?

[Gene Simmons]

No. Because my motivation has always been my mother. I didn't think I ever had the right to get high or drunk or smoke cigarettes because I didn't think I had the right to break my mother's heart after she raised me by herself because my father ran out on us when I was six years of age. So All I had was my mother. She went to work every day and sacrificed all her life just so that her only son can grow up and break her heart. No, that's not going to fly. So it's because of my mother's wisdom. And I say wisdom instead of education because my mother was not educated at sixth grade. Done. So she couldn't tell you where Timbuktu or Timbuk3 was, but she understood the value of life. Every day above ground is a good day. That's wisdom.

[Bill O'Reilly]

That is a very profound statement that your mother guided you into a responsible life.

[Gene Simmons]

That's it. If it wasn't for my mother, I would have gone to into.

[Bill O'Reilly]

But there's another factor too. You got here, you got to America.

[Gene Simmons]

Oh, if you get me started about that, I choke up. And not because you're here or somebody else on the left or right is here. I don't care. Remember my hashtag. We were about eight and a half. I was and my mother. We're living in a one bedroom in Williamsburg, 99 South 9th street, right off of Bedford Avenue. See, that's what happens when you don't get high. You remember all this stuff. And I was going to yeshiva, which is religious Jewish school, to learn about. There's no such thing as Old Testament. It's called the Bible because 4,000 years before Rabbi Yesu ben Yosef, Jesus was born, there was a book called the Bible and then there was the New Testament. That's called the Bible and the New Testament. At any rate, I'm sitting there and there's television and I'm watching this guy in a suit and a cape flying through the air. I'd never seen television and America, I was so fascinated. People were big and the sandwiches were big and people had cars. And I just. In Israel, we didn't have that. There was no infrastructure. Every night my mother let me sit up with her because there was a few. An hour or two where we could be together. Because my mother worked until late seven, eight o' clock at night, I'd be doing my homework. About nine or ten I'd be finished. And then television would go off the air at midnight and there were only three channels. NBC, abc. And so right before it went dark, there was this noise. People don't know what that is, but you have to be our age. The American flag would come over and start to billow in black and white. And there was even a jet signing off. Yeah, flying. And go to the clouds and touch the face of God. You know, this other Thing. But when the flag was going like this, I remember at age eight and a half, looking over at my mother and looking up and she'd be crying, you know, very deep, heartfelt cry. And I didn't understand what that was until. And I'd start to talk to her and she'd. And she'd watch until the very end. And then she'd turn the TV off, wipe away, and then put me to bed. I didn't understand until many years later that my mother was crying tears of joy. It chokes me up when I think about it. My mother lived to be 94 years of age. She was finally in a country where she could be free, Jewish or Catholic or anything she wanted and people wouldn't want to kill her just because of that. That flag represented something to my mother she never had in her life because Europe was full of hatred. You walk outside and all kinds of people are just walking by each other. My mother would always talk about that. And she'd stop off at, you know, Iranian, Persian restaurants and have hummus and stuff like that and eat soul food. And she just could, you know. The great melting pot. My mother was the most patriotic American I ever met. And Americans should study how much my mother loved America because every country has got its soft white underbelly. But you can't touch this country. And it's going to keep getting. It's going to get better and better

[Bill O'Reilly]

and better because our country allowed her to fulfill her potential.

[Gene Simmons]

Her potential. If you were willing to work for it and do everything, that's all it is. I mean, look at me. I couldn't speak a word of English and now I can buy Rhode Island.

[Bill O'Reilly]

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[Gene Simmons]

An idiot.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Right. So Simmons and O'Reilly, we have that in common now.

[Gene Simmons]

Sounds like a law firm.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Okay. And, but anyway, you somehow, and you're going to tell us, I hope, had a vision of getting on stage.

[Gene Simmons]

No, not quite.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Differently.

[Gene Simmons]

No, not quite. When I was 12 years of age, I was aware that money, it's not a romantic notion, but that's the truth of life. And I've written some books about that. Me Inc. Me Incorporated. Be an army of one. Be your own business model. You have a certain amount of money. You make a week. You've got to balance your own budget and stuff. You are the first corporate, your llc, you are the first entity. You make a certain amount of money, how much you spend, what are taxes and so on. You learn the facts of life and then you sort of get other people in your life and so on. But when I was 12 years of age, I was delivering newspapers and the lazy guy next door who was drinking and getting high, I said, why don't you hang out? I'll take over your route and I'll give you half the money. I'll do your. You can just sit back and get nothing. So I was making my thing and in a week I was making $35 a week. I said, oh, look at all this money. And I'd show my mother and she goes, that's my little man. And so I understood that this capitalist free market economy was the route, the route or route of achieving anybody can achieve anything. I know there's hatred and stuff, but through money and through hard work, you can rise above whatever anybody has to say bad about you. I saved up $23,000 after tax, which in those days, big, big money. In those days, I lent my mother 10,000 to put a 10% down payment on a house. Cause in those days you put 10%, you can buy $100,000 house. Well, $100,000 house in those days was a big three room house in Long island. That was a big thing. And only in America. The rest of the country. So I only got the bug for music, came home Sunday night, and yes, I worked six days a week, sometimes seven. I came in Sunday night and the Ed Sullivan program was on. 75 million of them were watching Ed Sullivan when he introduced all right, let's say hello to the Beatles. I didn't know what that was. I was having a TV dinner. In those days, kids don't know what that is. You take out a thing and you had Peas and mashed potatoes and a piece of meat, hamburger or something, and even a little dessert. So my mother would place the. My hard working man. And she'd warm up the TV dinner and put those cross legged tables. I don't know what that's called. And I'm eating peas, which I hate because my mother's there. So I've got to finish the peas. And the Ed Sullivan show goes on and I stop eating. Because she loves you. Yeah, yeah. And I was struck. Scientists call it a singularity. But the thing that hit me like a kick in the nuts was the camera swung around and the girls in the audience were sweet, screeching like people are stepping on their feet, you know, going out of their minds. And I, I had this epiphany, which is a big word like gymnasium. I said, man, that's a good job. You have that stuff and you can sing and play music and then the girls won't hate you. That, wow. I started being in bands right away. I couldn't play an instrument. And I actually mimicked the English accent if he talk like that, you know, and they're saying, oh, you're not from here. No, I'm not from here. Just because the English thing was popular. And guess what? Girls liked it. And within a few years, we got a record contract. I learned how to write songs.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Every major story has a version the

[Gene Simmons]

news gives you and then a version that's actually true. If you're a critical thinker, if you're

[Bill O'Reilly]

somebody who's not tribal, if you're somebody

[Gene Simmons]

who just wants the facts so you

[Bill O'Reilly]

can make your own decisions, Keeping It

[Gene Simmons]

Real with Jillian Michaels is the show for you.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Subscribe now, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Gene Simmons]

And within a year and a half of the first Kiss record being released, without hit singles, without album sales, nothing. We're headlining Anaheim Stadium.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You had to have musical talent innately. I mean, one of the best, greatest songwriters America's had.

[Gene Simmons]

I don't know about what's best and what's not. We became popular, still doing very well. Now that pop house is with us. What's good and what's bad? I don't know. But I'm glad this is happening while I'm alive. Unfortunately, a lot of the folks who meant something to the masses had to die then after the fact.

[Bill O'Reilly]

But I'm trying to explore. Look, I have a talent for writing books. Yeah, 20 number one bestsellers. A record.

[Gene Simmons]

Let's talk.

[Bill O'Reilly]

So you're a songwriter. You guys. Kiss sold 100 million albums.

[Gene Simmons]

Yeah, that's true.

[Bill O'Reilly]

When did you discover the talent?

[Gene Simmons]

I was a little kid. I must have been 14 maybe. And I started to learn basic chords C to G flick because I'd watched the. I didn't have a teacher or anything. I was just watching the hands of people with my mother bought me a guitar and the first songs My uncle is a raft and he always keeps me floating he is so good to me. Just the most idiotic songs you'd have. But they were mine. Like anything the 10,000 step principle. I'm sure you're aware of it. There's a book when you do something for 10,000 hours you'll tend to get pretty good and that's just keep plugging away. By the way. People don't understand the rules of success. Just hit the nail on the head is not true. Not much happens when you hit the nail on the head. It doesn't go very far. You gotta keep hitting that nail many times before it goes all the way in and makes impact. You get a hit. Well that's it. I've made it. No, that's not. You start to get nice ratings on Fox and stuff. That's it. I've made it. No, you gotta come in next day, every day.

[Bill O'Reilly]

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[Gene Simmons]

No, nobody can lay claim to that. In fact, we were on not far from here, 10 East 23rd street, and within a year and a half, we moved 10 blocks up to playing Madison Square Garden without hit records or anything. And within another year, we played three nights sold out Madison Square Garden. Scientists call it a singularity when you have the right thing and nobody knows what that is until it works at the right place. New York, as opposed to Riyadh, where we wouldn't have a chance in hell. Not because Saudi isn't a great country, but because it just wouldn't resonate culturally. You're New York, the center of culture on the planet. Right thing, right place, right time. You know, in the early 70s when after women got the pill and the civil rights movement, like all these movements were happening. So it was very free. It was a free time. And if we were born in the time of, you know, the doo wop, we wouldn't get anywhere because people wouldn't understand the me sticking my tongue out and everything. By the way, I would stick my tongue out now, but the floor is a little dirty otherwise. I give you a little pregnant pause.

[Bill O'Reilly]

But who is responsible for the paint?

[Gene Simmons]

Nobody in the band. There was a. It just happened. We're in a rat infested loft at Tenney's 23rd Street. And I recall as if it was yesterday, one of us, I don't know who, said, hey, let's go to Woolworths a few blocks away and buy clown makeup and put on makeup. We went. Yeah. We had no resume, no expertise, just

[Bill O'Reilly]

threw it on there.

[Gene Simmons]

Yeah, we just went there, bought clown makeup called Stein's Clown White, Stein's Clown Black, called that Paul Stanley, bought red lipstick, God knows why. And we bought two mirrors, kind of long, 15 bucks, all total. And I was working. I was the assistant to the director of the Puerto Rican Interagency Council. So I was making, I don't know, 20 grand a year. That was a lot of money. And because I could type 100 words a minute, I could do mimeographs or exograph, hexagraph, like all those machines So I was the man in charge. At any rate, we bought the mirrors, and we wound up in the loft putting makeup on. And I remember because the mirrors were leaning against the wall, they would warp a bit, so as you got closer, your chin would get bigger or your nose would get bigger. And it was like a kind of a psycho circus, like a Twilight Zone thing. And as we were looking at each other putting on the makeup, everyone put on their own makeup design. We went, wow, that looks cool. Like, we were first recognizing how special that was. And strangely, here we are, almost 60 years afterwards. I'm going to give you the joke that I've said many times before. We have literally something like 10,000 licensed products, everything from Kiss condoms to Kiss Cassiots. Bill, we'll get you coming and we'll get you going.

[Bill O'Reilly]

You are the ultimate capitalist, that's for sure. But the makeup thing got you a lot of attention.

[Gene Simmons]

Oh, yeah.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Because you had a myriad of groups trying to break out, trying to do different things. And then there's this group, and they like the consumer, likes the product, but now is compelled to watch you because of the makeup.

[Gene Simmons]

And it became more than about hit songs. It became cultural. What I mean by that is, you remember the Gallup poll? They used to randomly happen.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Yeah.

[Gene Simmons]

He used to randomly go out and ask Americans, all ages, who's your favorite this, what's your favorite food? And so on. And for three years in a row, 77, 78, 79, Kiss was the number one band on the planet, above the Beatles, Stones, Bee Gees, Led Zeppelin, whoever.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Everywhere in the world.

[Gene Simmons]

Everywhere. Africa it was. And you.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Everywhere.

[Gene Simmons]

And you couldn't figure out why, because we didn't have hit singles. There was just something about the combination of the visuals, the live show, and those album songs. You bought the albums, not the singles, because you wanted to be. It was culture. And you went to the concerts. Not like Stones concerts. You went to the concerts looking and dressing up like your band.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Right. And you went to see outrageous behavior. Yes. Which you provided in great quantity.

[Gene Simmons]

It was my job, Bill.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Okay, we're going to take a break now, and we're going to come back to our premium and concierge members for killing time. Thank you guys on YouTube for watching Gene Simmons, who I thought was extraordinary. And we'll be back in a moment for our concierge and premium members on billoriley.com.