Gene Simmons talks about asshole

It has been 26 years since Gene Simmons' previous solo album.

And while the public hasn't exactly been clamouring for the followup -- in this case, the cheekily titled Asshole, in stores Tuesday -- Simmons says the time was right for his sophomore solo effort.

"The truth is I've been busy," the 54-year-old blood-spewing bassist for KISS says during a recent stop in Toronto. "You know I'm in a band that wears more makeup and high heels than your mommy ever did. And we've also been touring along the way."

On this particular day, however, Simmons is in solo mode as he promotes asshole, which is how the title actually appears on the CD disc and liner notes. "I am concerned that it won't get radio airplay, but here we are talking about it," Simmons says of the new album's provocative title track, provided to him by Norweigan band Shirley's Temple.

The first single is actually a cover of U.K. techno band The Prodigy's Firestarter, featuring Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro. Two other collaborators on the new record are big surprises: Bob Dylan and the late Frank Zappa.
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