The famously lascivious Gene Simmons is of two minds about Janet Jackson's breast-baring during her now infamous Super Bowl performance.
"Much ado about nothing," the KISS bassist told The Sun yesterday while in Toronto to promote his second solo album, Asshole, which hits stores on May 18.
Since the incident at the Super Bowl, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has cracked down on objectionable content and recently warned it could fine broadcasters up to $500,000 for airing questionable material.
Simmons says he agrees with the FCC.
"Because there is a time and place for boob-age. The only thing I think that Janet did wrong was in only airing out one. It gets musty. The other one should have come out too.
"But in terms of decision, I think the FCC was right," added the outspoken God Of Thunder. "Because very young kids are also watching and it's just football. It's not a strip joint.
"I like strip joints. Don't misunderstand me. But I think, you know, if you go to church, and everybody's there to go to church, keep your clothes on. And it was a football game. It wasn't a Janet Jackson concert. So I think it was improper, but I uphold her right to take them both out at the right place."
As for his own controversial album title, Simmons explained it comes from one of the songs on his new record -- his first solo outing since 1978.
"I'd like to say I wrote the song, but I did not. It came from a Norwegian group called Shirley's Temple," said Simmons, who got hundreds of demos from bands around the world after recently forming Simmons Records.
"The rest of the material just didn't hold up. But this one song had something to it. And so what I did I rewrote some of the lyrics and rearranged the song. What I like about A--hole is, well first of all, it's going to test the boundaries of what the FCC allows.
"And maybe the idea that the FCC or anybody else can step in and start to lay down the law may be something to consider for most people. But as a public debate. If people talk about it and editorials are written and letters are written, let the people decide."
