Asshole (album)
Asshole, the second solo album by Kiss's Gene Simmons, was released in 2004 on Sanctuary Records. Its controversial title does not appear on the front cover. On the side of the CD case the title reads "asshole". "It's just another way of me saying, 'I don't care what anyone says about me," he declared. "I'm preempting what people say and therefore diffusing the power of my detractors."[1]
Asshole | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 8, 2004 | |||
Genre | Hard rock, heavy metal | |||
Length | 44:38 | |||
Label | Sanctuary | |||
Producer | Gene Simmons | |||
Gene Simmons chronology | ||||
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The album contains songs by Simmons based on work by Bob Dylan and Frank Zappa, among others. Dave Navarro plays guitar on the Prodigy cover "Firestarter".
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
Blender |
Production
"Black Tongue" was based on an unfinished song of the same name composed by Frank Zappa. Simmons licensed a recording of Zappa playing the initial riff and built a new composition around it, with playing by Dweezil Zappa and backup vocals by Dweezil, Ahmet Zappa, Moon Unit Zappa and Frank Zappa's widow, Gail.[4]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Sweet & Dirty Love" | Gene Simmons | 3:03 |
2. | "Firestarter" (The Prodigy cover, featuring Dave Navarro) | Liam Howlett, Keith Flint, Trevor Horn, J. J. Jeczalik, Anne Dudley, Kim Deal, Gary Langan, Paul Morley | 3:20 |
3. | "Weapons of Mass Destruction" | Gene Simmons | 3:44 |
4. | "Waiting for the Morning Light" | Gene Simmons, Bob Dylan | 3:22 |
5. | "Beautiful" | Mark Addison, Nina Singh | 4:04 |
6. | "Asshole" | 3:19 | |
7. | "Now That You're Gone" | Gene Simmons, Bob Kulick | 3:20 |
8. | "Whatever Turns You On" | Gene Simmons, Dave Williams | 3:14 |
9. | "Dog" | Gene Simmons, Bag | 3:07 |
10. | "Black Tongue" | Gene Simmons, Frank Zappa | 4:28 |
11. | "Carnival of Souls" | Gene Simmons, Scott Van Zen | 3:26 |
12. | "If I Had a Gun" | Gene Simmons, Bag | 2:59 |
13. | "1,000 Dreams" | Gene Simmons | 3:19 |
The Japanese edition featured two bonus tracks: Everybody Knows and You're My Reason For Living.
Personnel
- Gene Simmons, vocals. Rhythm guitars and bass on track 3, bass on tracks 1, 7, 10, 11
- Mark Addison, drums, bass, keyboards, guitar, background vocals on track 5
- Michelle Casio, background vocals on track 8
- Dan Cuprier, drums on track 8
- Jeff Diehl, keyboards on track 7
- Zachary Grant, background vocals on track 7
- Richie Kotzen, guitars on tracks 10, 11
- Bruce Kulick, guitars on tracks 1 & 3
- Brian LeBarton, piano on track 8
- Hollad McRae, lead guitar on track 8
- Dave Navarro, guitar on track 2
- Kylie O'Brien, background vocals on track 7
- Chris Parrish, background vocals on track 11
- Steve Parrish, background vocals on track 11
- Thomas Ruud, lead guitar, rhythm guitar on track 6
- Eric Singer, drums on tracks 1 & 3
- Nina Singh, drums, guitar, percussion, background vocals on track 5
- Frank Albin Tostrup, drums, bass, rhythm guitars, percussion on track 6
- Louise Tweed, background vocals on track 8
- Shannon Tweed, background noise on track 8
- Nick Tweed Simmons, background vocals on track 11
- Sophie Tweed Simmons, background vocals on track 7
- Nira Weiss, background vocals on track 8
- Dave Williams, background vocals on track 8
- Ahmet Zappa, background vocals on track 10
- Dweezil Zappa, guitar solo, background vocals on track 10
- Frank Zappa, guitars, voice on track 10
- Moon Zappa, background vocals on track 10
- Gail Zappa, background vocals on track 10
Charts
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[5] | 86 |
US Billboard Top Album Sales[6] | 86 |
References
- Odell, Michael (June 2008). "Q&A: Kiss". Q #263. p. 127.
- Jeffries, David. "***HOLE". allmusic. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- Himmelsbach, Erik (June 8, 2004). "Kiss's long-tongued jester lets his hair extensions down". Blender. Archived from the original on August 13, 2004. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/gene-simmons-is-an-asshole-20040422
- "Gene Simmons - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
- "Gene Simmons - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-11-20.