From makeup to merchandising: Rock legend Gene Simmons reveals the business strategy behind KISS' 50-year reign as a cultural phenomenon. What We Discuss with Gene Simmons: According to Gene Simmons of KISS fame, pursuing wealth isn't just about personal gain but about creating value and jobs for others. Like a stone thrown into a pond, he sees wealth creation rippling outward to benefit society, even when the wealthy person might not be particularly altruistic. Gene's metamorphosis from an impoverished immigrant child who had never seen television or tasted jam into a global rock star serves as a powerful metaphor for the American Dream's transformative potential. KISS' innovative approach to band sustainability focused on building devoted fan loyalty rather than chasing hit singles, creating what Gene describes as an "album band" culture. This strategy, like planting a tree rather than picking flowers, prioritized long-term growth over immediate success. Behind the makeup and theatrical persona, Gene reveals himself to be an unexpectedly scholarly figure, displaying deep knowledge of theology, history, and business. His ability to counter religious critics with biblical verses and his understanding of entertainment industry economics show how knowledge can be wielded as both shield and sword. Gene demonstrates that reinvention is always possible through decisive action. As he puts it: "Don't like your looks? Change them. Don't like your name? Change it. Don't like where you live? Move." This philosophy of taking control of your circumstances, rather than being controlled by them, is something anyone can apply to their own life's journey, regardless of their starting point. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1092 And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally! This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course! Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom! Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Full Episode
Coming up next on The Jordan Harbinger Show. If you have a hit single and you just sing in the microphone, they're paying more money for a ticket than they do for the album. It makes fans. Michael Jackson, without all that dancing and the backwards and the stuff, not the same artist.
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Today on the show, Gene Simmons, lead singer of Kiss. Whether you're a fan or not, Kiss and Gene are legends in the rock scene and have been for decades. I really didn't know what to expect here. And during the interview, well, frankly, he comes across a little bit standoffish sometimes. Though in the end, I think this interview did go in a fun direction. A little vulgar at times.
That's his personality. I guess a lot of corny sex jokes you might also expect if you were like hanging out with a pervy kind of grandpa kind of dude. But we also dive into money, fame, parenting, and even Taylor Swift. All right, here we go with the one and only Gene Simmons. I told my trainer that I was interviewing you. He's from Newfoundland, where your wife is from.
And he told me that he had some mutual contacts growing up. And while the Internet says she's from St. John's, Newfoundland, have you heard about the small town where she's apparently actually from? Dildo. Dildo. I thought that was fake. But since you've heard of it, it's not.
I want to tell you the actual. You want to hear something crazy? Yeah.
That's kind of crazy.
Yeah, it was. That checks the box. See what I did there? We actually went and visited there because there's a dildo post office. She hates it when I mention this. And we ate at the dildo cafe. Overlooking Placentia Bay. No. Look it up on Google and Schmoogle. And there's Captain Dildo. It's a fascia, in other words, a two-dimensional thing of a guy with a beard, just like you'd expect.
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