KISS Clan to Become New Osbournes

July 17, 2006

By night, Gene Simmons wears (a lot) of makeup and spitts up blood as a member of the heavy metal band Kiss. By day, he's downright normal. Well, at least when it comes to parenting.

Simmons, his partner, actress Shannon Tweed, and their children -- 17-year-old Nick Tweed-Simmons and 14-year-old Sophie Tweed-Simmons -- let cameras into their home for the new A&E series ''Gene Simmons Family Jewels.''

''Our responsibility is to protect our kids, supply the money and the structure and the love,'' Simmons, 56, said.

''Their job is to do well in school and behave, period. This notion of parents having to go negotiate with their children who just learned to wipe their butts is out of the question.''

Tweed, no matter how bodacious, isn't one of those mothers who nag about picking up clothes off the floor, either.

''We focused more on the important things in life, like your schoolwork,'' said Tweed, 49, Playboy's Playmate of the Year in 1982. ''The kids have their priorities straight -- staying sober and paying attention.''

Simmons said he lives by the same rules he applies to his children.

''I've never been high, drunk, never smoked in my life,'' he said.

''Can't say the same for me,'' said Tweed.