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Not only is Gene Simmons the God of Thunder (and rock and roll), he's now the proud owner of a Canadian-based record label—Simmons Records, an imprint of Universal Music Canada. With Belinda Stronach at his side (the pair met when Simmons was marketing her dad's energy drinks), he'll sign three Canadian acts this year with the goal of creating the biggest band in the world—aside from Kiss, obviously.

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1. What motivated you to launch a record label in Canada?
How come Canadians are so suspicious of anyone who wants to come here and launch something? A Canadian might turn to another one and say, "We don't need him." Actually, you do. You need the best of the best of the best to compete on the world stage. The next band that comes out of Canada isn't going to be competing against the Barenaked Ladies. They're competing against U2, Led Zeppelin, Kiss and whoever else has made it on the world stage. Americans have no problem taking your brightest stars and evolving them and caring for them, and paying them more and better than you do. So why wouldn't you welcome anyone from the outside who wants to try something big?

2. Didn't you declare once that record labels were dead?
They are dead. Everything has to evolve. Bands are trying to figure out how to do exclusive deals with Wal-Mart and Best Buy and make something available only there. But—and Kiss understood this 35 years ago—it's not just about records. You've got to have the complete package: the image, the positioning, the vibe, the media connection. It's not just your music—it's who's singing it. Because you can take the same song and have somebody else record it, not everybody's going to have a hit with it. That also means TV and movies, and getting your songs out there. The Who have had their biggest success ever by being on CSI. And Led Zeppelin got more bang for buck on one song by putting Rock n' Roll on an Escalade commercial. Now, the purist will have a problem with that. That's okay. Remember, they're still living in Mom's basement, and they are 35 years old.

3. What does Belinda Stronach bring to the venture?
Access to the corporate world. We can call almost any corporate entity and Belinda's voice, and the Stronach name, and the Magna name, is going to go far and wide. She doesn't have to do very much. I'll be the horse that carries most of the weight. And between Universal Records and Stronach and Simmons, there's a lot of firepower. But we're not going to be passively involved. If you don't want anyone to have an opinion on what you do, you just want to say, "Take it or leave it"—don't even show it to us.

4. You're a pretty rich guy—what's your take on the American economy?
It's in a whirl. This is a great opportunity for you to stop spending stupid money, stop smoking, stop drinking, stop ruining your health and paying for the privilege, take all that money, all the stupid money, and buy. But don't buy stupid stuff. Buy real estate. Buy important things. It's the best time—the price is low.

5. How would you fix things—what's the Gene Simmons stimulus package?
I am the stimulus package, baby.