Why is Gene Simmons' tongue so freakishly long?

How and why in the world is it so freakishly long? I have heard some weird stories like he used to bite it during concerts, and spit his blood, and during the re-growth and healing process it grew longer and longer each time. That sounds ridiculous! Is it natural?
What kind of stories have you heard? Does it bother you? I think it’s nasty because it just gets longer and skinnier till there is only a point!