WINNIPEG – Entrepreneur and KISS frontman Gene Simmons was given the key to the city in Winnipeg on Wednesday, an honour that seemed to befuddle no one more than the rocker himself.
"Actually, it was shocking," he said of the event which preceded a speaking engagement later in the evening.
"I could certainly point to many, many more people who deserve it – nicer people, more qualified people, more charming people, more eloquent people. I have no idea – I keep winning the lottery."
City officials scrambled to shake hands and spend time with Simmons, who has famously bragged of sleeping with 4,600 women.
"As individuals who aspire to always do what is right, fair and just, many of us look up to you," said Coun. Gord Steeves as he presented Simmons with the ceremonial key.
Simmons was accompanied throughout the day by his spouse, Newfoundland-born former Playboy playmate Shannon Tweed.
The pair have been raising eyebrows and making headlines as they have been promoting the new season of their TV series "Gene Simmons: Family Jewels."
Critics have questioned how real the reality series is as the couple have made several volatile appearances on talk shows where they have implied their 26-year relationship is on the rocks.
A seemingly disgusted Tweed walked off a taping of the "Joy Behar Show" Tuesday after Simmons made a joke about marital infidelity.
But just one day later, it was all sweetness and light as Tweed walked through Winnipeg holding her spouse’s arm and snapped pictures of him receiving his honour.
Asked if there will be a happy ending to this season of "Family Jewels," Tweed smiled and replied: "You’ll have to wait – it’s complicated."
Previous recipients of the key to Winnipeg include wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper, "Happy Days" star Henry Winkler, and Band-Aid founder Sir Bob Geldhof.
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