Gene Simmons Pursues Career As Record Mogul

02/04/03 5:30pm

With the financial beating that the recording industry took over the last year, a new record label doesn't seem like the soundest business venture.

Yet, rock 'n' roll businessman/KISS bass player Gene Simmons is taking a stab at the record biz by relaunching his Simmons Records label. Gene got the Simmons label going back in the late '80s and, in his words, the label "did OK." By OK, he means the label put out records by bands like House Of Lords, Silent Rage and Gypsy Rose.

Exactly.

Simmons hasn't named any bands that will be associated with Simmons Records, but he is actively looking for a roster of newbies. On his website, Simmons has posted a list of what he's looking for. And, in typical Simmons fashion, he's looking for anything that sells. That means teen pop stars, "different" rock bands, non-violent (or as Simmons puts it not "MC Criminal") rap acts and Shania-esque country singers all are welcome to apply.

Simmons wraps up his posting with a little tough love:

"Do not call and ask what I thought of your stuff. Do not call and ask when you can get your stuff back (you won't). Do not call and ask for my opinions and advice. Just look at it the way a farmer plants his seed. If the fruit grows and ripens, you'll win. All the conversation in the world will probably not help. I just don't have the time to have one on one conversations with everyone. There aren't enough hours in the day. And, to be quite honest with you, most of the stuff is so far away from being marketable, that no matter what I say, the chances are slim."

Simmons also claims that he has a partner lined up to help take care of the label, but he hasn't revealed just who that is. We'll keep you up to date on any upcoming Simmons releases.