In a new interview with Really Famous With Kara Mayer Robinson, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons was asked how he thinks he is perceived by most people. He said: “I would say there are some — could be a large number, could not — who think I’m an asshole. In fact, I named my second solo album ‘Asshole’, which, I thought, was akin to black people taking possession of the ‘n’ word. And fat people, overweight people, obese people, taking possession of that, so that you lessen the impact of that.

“I’m okay with being labeled or thought of as an asshole, because I know who I am,” he continued. “And there are other people who think, ‘You only do this for money.’ And my response is — of course. Why am I not salt of the earth when almost all the jobs on the face of the planet are performed by people who don’t like the job they have, and the only reason they’re doing that is to be able to earn money to feed their families and put a roof over their head? Only for money. Nobody wants to dig ditches on a highway. The building we’re in, somebody had to put up. They do that every day. They go to work, do the same thing every day, nine to five, five days a week. Join the union or not, and break their backs and never get rich, just to be able… ‘That’s the salt of the earth.’ Why can’t I be salt of the earth? The fact that I make more money? But I also give to philanthropy. And by the way, it’s none of your fucking business who or what or where. I’m not trying to impress you or not. I know who I am. And maybe that’s the best thing to do in life, is to just be comfortable in your own skin, ’cause not everybody likes Jesus either.”

Asked who he is “for real”, Simmons said: “I was born Chaim Witz, a name given to me, but I’m much bigger than that. I’m really something. And I would recommend everybody to be delusional that way about themselves, because whether you are that or not, your brain helps you get there by being delusional about it. Take (professional boxer) Mike Tyson, who I know reasonably well, a fascinating human being — I mean, really exceptional. You have to consider that at some point early on in life, he had a bad childhood, bad family life and all that. If it wasn’t for (boxing manager and trainer) Cus D’Amato raising him and instilling in him and all that… He was shorter than heavyweights. His arms weren’t as long as heavyweights. He talks with an interesting voice and has some problem pronouncing certain words, so he’s the butt of jokes and everything. Except he decided at some point in his life, early on, before he turned 20 — 18, 19 — that he was gonna be the most dangerous man that ever stepped in the ring. Mindset is the most important thing. Regardless of the fact that there was no logic, almost delusional, in saying, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m gonna be the most dangerous man. I’m gonna knock out people in five seconds.’ That’s exactly what he did. There’s such a thing as will to live, will to win — it’s the will. Mindset is everything. So I recommend to everybody, be more delusional. Every female that ever put on stiletto heels or anything, be hot. You are hot. You ever wonder how larger black girls have no problem shaking it, showing it off, whereas white girls are concerned if there’s five more pounds of stuff. What do black girls have that white girls don’t have? Strong sense of self. It’s what it’s all about. And the more they have of that feeling, the sexier they are. You make it real by your mindset.”

Simmons added: “Never pick a fight with a short guy who is smaller than you and lighter than you who just has the ‘Your ass is mine.’ Don’t pick a fight with that guy ’cause it doesn’t matter if you’re gonna win; you’re gonna get hurt. So the will to win is everything. And that’s what I have buckets full of… I’m more ravenous and hungry to do stuff and achieve more than I’ve ever been. And I’ve done pretty well so far.”