Gene Simmons

At 75 years old, Gene Simmons has this physical status:

Gene Klein, born Chaim Witz on August 25, 1949), also known as Gene Simmons, is an Israeli-American musician, singer, guitarist, record producer, actor, and television presenter.

He is also known as The Demon, as the bassist and co-lead singer of Kiss, the rock band formed with lead singer and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley in the early 1970s.

Early life

Simmons was born in Haifa, Israel, on August 25, 1949, to Jewish immigrants from Hungary. Florence Klein (1925-2017) (née Flóra Kovács) was born in Jánd and survived internment in Nazi concentration camps. She and her brother, Larry Klein, were the only survivors of the family to survive the Holocaust. Ferenc "Feri" Yehiel Witz, Simmons' father (1925-1999), was a carpenter. Simmons spent his early childhood in Tirat Carmel and was raised in a Jewish household. His family was "dirt poor," he said, after being rationed bread and milk. He began picking wild fruit and selling it on roadsides with a buddy at the age of seven.

He and his mother immigrated to the United States and settled in New York City at the age of eight. His father lived in Israel, where he has another son and three daughters. Simmons changed his name to Gene Klein in the United States, adopting his mother's maiden name. He attended Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, a Jewish religious academy, for a brief period before moving to a public school. He later attended Richmond College and Sullivan County Community College in New York and selected a stage name to honor rockabilly singer Jumpin' Gene Simmons. For hours on end, he played his guitar for hours. Klein did a variety of jobs in the city before his musical career began. He worked as an assistant to an editor of Vogue and spent several months as a sixth grade tutor on the Upper West Side, and he was a natural typer.

The Beatles had a major influence on Simmons. "There is no way I'd be doing what I do now if it wasn't for the Beatles." I was watching The Ed Sullivan Exhibition and I caught them on television. These skinny little boys, who have long hair like girls, are kind of androgynous. These four boys [from] the middle of nowhere] were able to make that music, and it blew me away.

Personal life

Simmons, a science fiction and comic book enthusiast, has written numerous science-fiction fanzines, including Id, Cosmos (which later merged with Stilletto to become Cosmos-Stilletto and then Faun), Tinderbox, Sci-Fi Showcase, Mantis, and Adventure. He has also contributed to other fanzines, including BeABohema and Sirruish. However, he would write a letter of note to Janus in which he said, "I haven't been involved [in fandom] for about five years" by 1977.

Simmons and his partner Shannon Lee Tweed, a Canadian actress and former Playboy Playmate, live in Los Angeles. Although they were dating in 1983, they did not marry until 28 years later. Simmons used to say that he and Tweed were "fully single" for over 20 years. "Marriage is an institution, and I don't want to live in an institution," Groucho Marx said. Simmons and Tweed Wed at the Beverly Hills Hotel on October 1, 2011. Nick (born January 22, 1989) and Sophie (born July 7, 1992) have two children. He had live-in relationships with Cher and Diana Ross, who confessed that he fell in love with Ross when dating Cher. Simmons can speak German, German, English, Hebrew, and even some Japanese. Simmons does not drink alcohol or use drugs.

Simmons has boasted about the fact that thousands of people have been married. He claimed that the number tally stood at 5,000 people in 2010 and that he had a Polaroid picture of every liaison, as well as the hotel's central location, where it was held. Simmons has always been vocal about his dislike for opioid and alcohol use, and he has proudly stated many times over "I've never been high or inebriated in my life."

Simmons returned to Israel in March 2011. He described the trip as a "life changing experience." He discussed how he still believes he is an Israeli: "I'm Israeli." I'm a stranger in America. I'm an outsider." Simmons met his half-brother Kobi while in Abu Dhabi, as well as triplet half-sisters Drora, Sharon, and Ogenia. Simmons has revealed that he intends to take Kiss to Israel. He has claimed that he is a ardent promoter of Israel. He spoke in both Hebrew and English at a press conference in Israel.

Simmons was a backer of George W. Bush's foreign policy. "I'm ashamed to be surrounded by people calling themselves liberal who are, in my opinion, spitting on the graves of brave American soldiers who died in a war they're not familiar with... simply to free the civilians therein." Simmons outlined his role in a sequel and wrote about his love and admiration for the United States: "I wasn't born here." However, I have a passion for this country and its people that know no boundaries. I'll always be grateful to America for going into World War II, when the country was far away... and saved my mother from the Nazi concentration camps. Because of America, she is alive and I am alive. And, if you have a problem with America, you have a problem with me."

Simmons sent a televised message of support (in both English and Hebrew) to an Israeli soldier who is wounded in Lebanon's war, naming him his "hero."

Simmons expressed regret for voting for Barack Obama in 2010 and sluggishly condemned the 2009 health care reforms. Simmons told CNBC that Obama was gravely mistaken during Obama's 2011 address on the Middle East, in which the President urged Israel and the Palestinians to reach an agreement "based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps." "You can't have policies about the moon if you have never been to the moon." "Go back to your '67 boundaries in Israel,' says the president, so why does he live there and fight an indefensible border that spans nine miles (14 kilometers) wide?" Simmons also accused the United Nations of being "the most pathetic body on the face of the earth."

During his 2011 visit to Israel, he said that the musicians who are unable to perform in Israel for political reasons are "stupid."

"America should be in industry, and it should be managed by a businessman," Simmons said in a May 2012 interview.

He attended a Friends of the Israel Defense Forces gala in Beverly Hills on November 6, 2015, raising more than $31 million.

Simmons said about the legitimacy of the Donald Trump administration in August, 2021, "W]e all lie to a certain extent, but the last four years were more than I ever imagined from people with a lot of money," not just him, but also the administration, general.

He described those who refuse to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine as "an enemy" and described them as "evil" on November 10, 2021.

Simmons is a well-known advocate for ChildFund International's activities. He travelled to Zambia for several of his sponsored children, of whom he has more than 140 children, on his Gene Simmons Family Jewels show. Simmons said the trip was "a stark reminder that life doesn't treat everyone the same."

At the annual gala on November 9, 2013, Simmons' family received the MEND Humanitarian Award for their philanthropic efforts and support for Mending Kids International. Mel Gibson presented the award. Simmons spoke about his own traumatic childhood in Israel in a bullet-riddled house in his acceptance address. As they received a CARE box the first day, he recalled his mother's elation when they were given a CARE box.

Simmons was instrumental in the establishment of "The Children Matter," a charity that works with the charity MATTER, to ensure that children around the world have access to health care.

During the coronavirus pandemic, he is an advocate for public health, encouraging people to wear face masks and following social distance policies.

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Career

Simmons joined Lynx, then renamed the Missing Links as a youth, and later became a member of the Phantom Thread. He eventually disbanded the band to form the Long Island Sounds, the band's name being a pun on Long Island Sound. Although he was in these bands, he worked in odd jobs on the side to make more money, including trading used comic books. Simmons attended Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake, New York. Bullfrog Bheer formed a new band, and the band recorded a demo called "Leeta"; this was later included in the Kiss box set.

Simmons formed Wicked Lester in the early 1970s with Stanley Eisen (now known as Paul Stanley) and released one album, but no one was ever released. Simmons and Stanley threatened to dismiss Wicked Lester's performance and appearance, but they were met with resistance, and they resigned Wicked Lester, walking away from their Epic Records contract. They decided to form the "absolute rock band" and began looking for a drummer. Simmons and Stanley discovered an ad placed by George Peter Criscuola (known as Peter Criss) who was playing in Brooklyn at the time; they joined and started out as a trio.

Criss and Simmons appeared on an unreleased album by Captain Sanity, as well as Criss' former members. Paul Frehley (better known as Ace Frehley) responded to an ad that they ran in The Village Voice for a lead guitar player and joined them shortly. In February 1974, Kiss issued their self-titled debut album. Stanley performed lead performer on stage, while Simmons became the driving force behind what became a huge Kiss merchandising empire. Black Bolt's eye section of his "Demon" makeup with Kiss originated from the wing design of his comic book character Black Bolt.

The members, who were waning in fame, got a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s. Peter Criss, the original drummer, had been voted out of the band, and a replacement was needed to fill his void. Paul Charles Caravello, who went by the stage name Eric Carr, and performed for Kiss from 1980 to 1991, was the new drummer. In 1995, the band held its own fan conventions, and fan feedback about the original Kiss members reunion influenced the highly awaited 1996-1997 Alive Worldwide reunion tour. Psycho Circus appeared in 1998. Since then, the original line-up has disbanded, with Tommy Thayer replacing Ace Frehley on lead guitar and Eric Singer (who appeared with Kiss from 1991 to 1996) replacing Peter Criss on drums.

Simmons managed Liza Minnelli's entry into mainstream pop in 1989.

Simmons, Paul Stanley, and manager Doc McGhee all became members of the LA Kiss Arena Football League team, which played their home games at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on August 15, 2013. Since being inactive, the team has defunct.

Gene Simmons Tongue Magazine, his own record, Simmons Records, and an animated film titled My Dad the Rock Star are all in his possession. Simmons is a record that has appeared on Simmons Records by such bands as Kobra and the Lotus, Silent Rage, Gypsy Rose, and House of Lords, as well as Gene's own solo albums.

Simmons has been involved with television shows including: The following television shows include: :

Simmons appeared on Miami Vice's television show "The Prosecutors Son" in 1985. This episode was the show's second season's season premiere. On the American hidden camera prank TV show I Get That a Lot, Simmons appeared as a psychic at the Mystic Journey Bookstore in Venice, California. In the 2014 CSI: Long Road Home episode, he also appeared as himself.

Simmons appeared in the 1984 Michael Crichton thriller Runaway starring Tom Selleck, Cynthia Rhodes, and Kirstie Alley, as well as the 1987 Gary Sherman action film Wanted: Dead or Alive starring Rutger Hauer.

Simmons founded Erebus Pictures in March 2015, the first project for the Horror-thriller film Armed Response.

Publishing career

Simmons launched Gene Simmons' Tongue, a men's lifestyle magazine, in 2002. The magazine appeared in five issues before being discontinued.

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