charisma

the rest is history

2006:

"...Of course, I didn't know just how long I'd be sticking around. We went on a few dates, kissed a few more times. He asked me to dinner that night and then the next night, and the next night right up until he left."

"So, you guys kept in touch after he left? And everything went... smoothly?"

"Yeah. The guys called me a few nights after and said 'Girl, you're magic. He hasn't gone off with a single groupie since we left. Misses you like hell.' It was true, too. Paul told me I should travel with them for the rest of the tour, it'd make Gene's whole year, they said. I had to decline- wasn't in a place to just leave all of a sudden, but it was sweet. All of them are a bunch of sweethearts. I'm surprised, though, with his reputation and all, that I never had to worry about Gene cheating. He'd probably hate me saying that, but hey, he proved everyone wrong, didn't he? He's way more of an adult than how media portrays him. You could see a little bit of the kind of person he was, when he got me out of there that first night. A man with integrity and kindness. And he's never been afraid to show me who he really is. I mean he's an ass who still likes to tease the hell out of me and stick his tongue where it doesn't belong but I love him to death."

"That's really great to hear. You said you didn't go with them right after you met— did you ever travel with them in later years?"

"I went with them a few times, never the whole way, though, just a couple of states close to home. Once, I went all the way back to New York, but they were already halfway done with the tour. Liddy came with me that time."

"Nice. When did you two announce that you were together, to the fans, you know?"

"We went public in '79. Gene'd mentioned a girlfriend in an interview and the press wouldn't leave him alone."

"How'd people take it? It's always disappointing when a hugely popular heartthrob like that isn't single."

"I agree with you there—I was a teenage girl once. People took it all sorts of ways. A lot of the fans were surprisingly supportive. A lot of them were disappointed like you said. Lots of skeptics, too. But they were always pretty nice, when they ran into me backstage. I definitely wasn't ready for all the attention, though. I had some awkward interviews. Most people were sympathetic, but the tabloids really fucked things up. Twisted my words and got pissed when I wouldn't answer some really, really personal questions.  We both came out of it alright, though. Most of the stuff was actually really funny. I'd bring, like, Kerrang and Spin home from the salon and we'd read them together on the couch and just laugh our asses off. There was definitely some real shit talking, but most of it was just funny as hell. It was like, they got so bored they started competing over who could publish the most absurd headline. A genuinely healthy relationship? Boring!"

"That's really interesting, I'm glad you guys were fine. (_____), just so you know, I promise this won't be like the tabloids. No crazy questions here, we're just curious."

"I trust you, Rolling Stone's respectable."

"Thank you, that means a lot. So, did you and your friend both date members of KISS at the same time? Can you tell us anything about your friend Liddy and her relationship with Ace Frehley?"

"I'm not at liberty to say. And that doesn't mean it's going any sort of way. All that means is that I don't know what they want to keep private and what they're okay with people knowing. It's just not my place to comment. Especially not after all the drama with the band. Liddy and I are still great friends to this day. I love her so much. That hasn't changed. But as far as her and Ace go, though, my lips are sealed. All I can tell you is that the four of us still have dinner sometimes, just for shits and giggles."

"I understand that. When did you and Gene get married?"

"We got married a few years after we met. It was hard for a while to see each other because of the tours, but we made it work. He'd always come visit me. And my family always liked him. I did wait a while to tell them his last name, though. I actually moved to New York in 1980, so we were closer. We were married in '83. And... I guess the rest is history."

"I guess so. Well, thanks for talking today, (_____). It was nice to get to know you a little. I really enjoyed the story and I know our readers will too."

End of Transcript. 10-19-2006. Rolling Stone Magazine. All Rights Reserved.