432: Gene Simmons—The Sun Never Sets on Planet Cool - The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

Transcript

Mike Rowe (0:03)

Hey, it's me, Mike Rowe. And I'm always delighted when people stop by who are far, far, far, far more famous than I. That is fair to say. Very fair to say. One of the founding members of a little rock band called Kiss was in the neighborhood and he braved the LA traffic, which was no easy thing to do. But he came in and he sat down and we began to chat. And the pearls of wisdom just bounced across the table as they tumbled out of his mouth. That guy knows a lot. And he's not afraid to tell you about it, right? A lot of fun facts in there. And one thing that he's very keen about is how many Jews there are in the world. We do great things. We did talk a lot about the Diaspora and the Jewish population. Of course. Gene Simmons is very, very Jewish and Israelite in every sense of the word, and eager to talk about it. And he does. Cause he's Gene Simmons. He's 75 years old. He's worth close to half a billion dollars. You wanna talk about crypto, you wanna talk about fine art, you wanna talk about the joy of music, you wanna talk about the Holocaust, whatever you wanna talk about, he sure can. He's been there and he's done it. And he's a guy that I've wanted to meet for a long, long time. And he didn't disappoint. You know, I mean, if you're not old enough to remember. Without overstating it, Kiss changed rock and roll, changed fashion, changed music. It changed everything. Yeah, I remember. Let's see. This would have been 1975. They had formed, the band had. And they were playing, but no one knew of them yet. There was no KISS army yet. Right, right. But you know what? There was. There were billboards in Manhattan, and up and down the east coast, black billboards with those big white letters that said kiss. That very distinctive font with the, you know, straight S's. Yeah, something very German, a little bit. But no one knew what it meant. No one knew they were a band. It was just. Why am I seeing the word Kiss? What am I supposed to do? Is this a command? Is it a suggestion? What is it? Keep it simple, stupid. It's that, too. Now, others have said, nights in the service of Satan, which is not true. No, but it does come up in the conversation. Because, frankly, everything else does. What's the title of this episode? I love the quote he gave me. It's called the Sun Never Sets on Planet Cool. Which was his response when I said, dude, why don't you take off those sunglasses, which he never does. He's Gene Simmons. He can say whatever he wants. And believe me, we're about to prove it. Right after this. If you haven't noticed, there's a lot of uncertainty out there right now. Stock market tariffs, embargoes, dogs and cats living together. People are freaked out. But guess what? In spite of all the uncertainty, 76% of employers are planning to expand their headcount for 20, 25. 76%. That's according to ZipRecruiter. And that translates into a lot of time to spent hiring. If you're among the 76% looking to hire people this year, you ought to know about Zip Intro. This is the best and latest way to post a job today and talk to qualified candidates tomorrow. Zip Intro does most of the work for you, so you save time. And right now you can try Zip Intro for free@ziprecruiter.com row all you do is pick a time and zip intro sets up a series of back to back video calls. Then you can choose who you want to meet. There's no faster way, no more efficient way, no easier way to connect with great people than Zip Intro. Go to ZipRecruiter.com ro to try Zip info for free. That's ZipRecruiter.com ro To try Zip Intro. Post a job today, talk to qualified candidates tomorrow. ZipRecruiter.com roll an hour, 40 minutes from Malibu. Seriously?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Episode 432 – Gene Simmons—The Sun Never Sets on Planet Cool

The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe showcases an illuminating conversation with Gene Simmons, the iconic bassist and co-lead singer of the legendary rock band KISS. Released on April 17, 2025, this episode delves deep into Simmons' perspectives on ethics, work ethic, philanthropy, and his experiences navigating fame and business.

Introduction: Meeting a Legend [00:03 - 04:12]

Mike Rowe opens the episode by expressing his admiration for Gene Simmons, highlighting the unexpected opportunity to engage with a star far more famous than himself. He sets the stage by mentioning the diverse range of topics they will cover, from Jewish heritage to modern economic discussions.

"The pearls of wisdom just bounced across the table as they tumbled out of his mouth."
[00:03 – Mike Rowe]

Punctuality and Integrity: The Jewish Ethos [04:12 - 06:21]

The conversation shifts to the importance of punctuality and integrity. Simmons emphasizes these values as integral parts of his identity, rooted in his Jewish background. He introduces the concept of being a "mensch," a term signifying a person of integrity and honor.

"You have to imagine yourself on the other side. You don't want to be treated that way."
[05:24 – Gene Simmons]

"Mensch is a real German word. It means a gentleman. But for Jews, the added idea is you're a man."
[06:26 – Gene Simmons]

Immigration Stories: From Israel to America [23:18 - 31:30]

Simmons recounts his childhood immigration from Tirat Carmel, Israel, to the United States at the age of eight. He shares vivid memories of his first encounters with American culture, including his fascination with the Superman television show and the overwhelming experience of American supermarkets.

"When I saw Superman. We came on El Al Airlines propellers in those days. 1958."
[23:18 – Gene Simmons]

"I thought there was a guy inside the box, you know, talking."
[25:34 – Gene Simmons]

Work Ethic and Success: The Tightrope Metaphor [11:00 - 19:24]

Simmons and Rowe discuss the philosophy of work ethic and success. Using the metaphor of walking a tightrope without a safety net, Simmons illustrates the importance of mindset and resilience in achieving and maintaining success.

"Mindset is everything before. And if you have the mind, I can do this. I'm going to get to the other side."
[18:53 – Gene Simmons]

"The chances are mindset is everything before. And you go out there like a champion, more than likely you're gonna win."
[19:24 – Gene Simmons]

Music Industry Insights: Creativity and Commerce [43:32 - 58:48]

Delving into the music industry, Simmons discusses the influence of Jewish entrepreneurs in shaping Hollywood and pop culture. He shares insights into the evolution of music, the importance of creating a unique persona, and the balance between artistic creativity and commercial success.

"All of the movie studios, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Universal, were all created by Jews who lived within a 500 square mile area in Europe, Poland, Russia and all that stuff."
[70:11 – Gene Simmons]

"We didn't think we were convincing at it. So you have to create your own Persona, not costumes."
[43:32 – Gene Simmons]

Philanthropy: Giving Back with Purpose [57:45 - 58:48]

Simmons highlights his philanthropic efforts through organizations like Mending Kids International, which supports children in impoverished regions of Africa. He emphasizes sustainable aid, focusing on education and infrastructure to empower communities.

"MendingKids.org provides children who can't afford... 1400 kids in Zanzibar, in Zimbabwe."
[57:45 – Gene Simmons]

"We'll give you as much food as you can digest and do and you can take some food home."
[58:35 – Gene Simmons]

Economic Philosophy: Money and Society [48:21 - 65:49]

Discussing the role of money in society, Simmons challenges the notion that "money is the root of all evil." He argues that lack of money breeds challenges, and emphasizes the positive impact of business ventures in creating jobs and fostering economic growth.

"Money is the root of all evil. It's untrue. That's a lie. Lack of money is the root of all evil."
[48:21 – Gene Simmons]

"If my only motivation in life is making money... I create jobs. My money seeds the workforce and enables poor people to feed their families."
[48:48 – Gene Simmons]

Work Ethic in the Modern World [62:14 - 67:14]

The dialogue turns to contemporary views on work ethic. Simmons critiques the ideal of finding personal fulfillment solely through passion-driven work, asserting that many people work out of necessity to support their families.

"Most people... have a job they hate... they bring the money back. The idea that I have to be inspired. It's such bullshit."
[62:14 – Gene Simmons]

"Look. And then you die. That's all it is."
[67:14 – Gene Simmons]

Final Reflections: Reinvention and Perspective [74:21 - End]

In concluding remarks, Simmons reflects on the necessity of reinvention and maintaining a broad perspective. He touches upon the fleeting nature of fame and the importance of diversifying one's endeavors to sustain long-term success.

"Don't put your eggs in one basket. You could win big, but you can get wiped out."
[65:49 – Gene Simmons]

"Otherwise, we're just copies of our mothers and fathers. You get a clean slate and you can write whatever you want on it."
[74:21 – Gene Simmons]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

On Integrity and Punctuality

"You have to imagine yourself on the other side. You don't want to be treated that way."
[05:24 – Gene Simmons]
On Being a Mensch

"Mensch is a real German word. It means a gentleman. But for Jews, the added idea is you're a man."
[06:26 – Gene Simmons]
On Money and Society

"Money is the root of all evil. It's untrue. That's a lie. Lack of money is the root of all evil."
[48:21 – Gene Simmons]
On Work Ethic

"Most people... have a job they hate... The idea that I have to be inspired. It's such bullshit."
[62:14 – Gene Simmons]
On Life’s Transience

"Look. And then you die. That's all it is."
[67:14 – Gene Simmons]

Conclusion

This episode offers a candid and comprehensive look into Gene Simmons' life philosophies and experiences. From emphasizing the importance of integrity and work ethic to discussing the broader economic impact of business ventures, Simmons provides valuable insights. His dedication to philanthropy and his thoughts on the fleeting nature of fame add depth to the conversation, making it a compelling listen for fans and newcomers alike.

Note: This summary focuses solely on the content provided and aims to present the discussion objectively. Any sensitive topics, particularly those relating to ethnicity or religion, are conveyed in the context of the conversation without endorsement or criticism.