KISStory!
 Enjoy the Video KISS performance from their 1979 "Dynasty" Album"...I Was Made For Loving You at the end of this post!!! Date of Birth 25 August 1949, Tirat Carmel, Israel Birth Name Chaim Witz Nickname Gene the Nazarene (from a former road manager who once worked for KISS) Genie Height 6' 2" (1.88 m) Mini Biography Best known as the fire breathing, blood splitting and larger than life co-founder of hard rock supergroup, KISS. Simmons was actually born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel in August, 1949 of Hungarian background and moved to New York as a young child. Like many American teenagers of the 1960s, he was influenced by a fascination with comic book super heroes, monster movies and rock and roll music, thus the teenage Simmons set about creating what he perceived as the ultimate music supergroup. Simmons eventually crossed paths with like minded musician / songwriter Paul Stanley (born Stanley Eisen) in the early 1970s, and after several failed attempts to create their dream band, they recruited fellow New Yorkers spaced out guitarist Ace Frehley (born Paul Daniel Frehley) and "do anything to make it" drummer Peter Criss (born Peter Crisscuola). The four struggling young musicians practiced relentlessly in a rundown loft in New York City refining their music & stage show before eventually launching themselves on the New York live music scene in the early 1970s with their blitzkrieg style of hard rock, kabuki stage make up and unforgettable high energy performances. After bombarding media, TV & public relations identities with invites to their shows, Simmons and Stanley soon brokered a deal with Madison Ave executive Bill Aucoin for him to manage the band, and Aucoin soon scored KISS a record deal with the fledgling Casablanca Records & Filmworks.....and the rest as they say is KISStory! Since their first album debuted in 1974, KISS have sold over 80 million albums and played over 2,000 shows to millions of loyal fans (known as the KISS Army) right around the globe. Never one to keep still for too long, the charismatic Simmons made his first feature film appearance as his alter ego (The Demon from KISS) in the 1978 telemovie _KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978)_ , which received scathing reviews in the USA from TV critics. However KISS fans internationally loved the film and it played theatrically to strong box office business in dozens of countries, and has since become something of a cult film....despite it's corny, cartoonish plot! Since KISS didn't drop wearing their distinctive make up until 1983, it was several years before Simmons appeared in front of the cameras again (this time without the Demon make up), as an evil techno-junkie killer battling Tom Selleck in the thriller Runaway (1984). Simmons has since continued to turn up in low key roles in B-grade thrillers such as Wanted: Dead or Alive (1987) and Red Surf (1990) that utilize his ability to glower and look menacingly into the camera. In addition, Simmons has appeared in minor guest roles in several TV crime shows including "Miami Vice", "Millenium" and most recently in "Third Watch". Trade Mark The Demon makeup worn from 1973-1983 then from 1996 to present. The axe-shaped bass guitar. His tongue. Spike platform boots, flame-shaped afro, and spiked armor plating. Trivia Co-founder of the famous hard-rock group, KISS, famous for outrageous antics and kabuki-like make-up. Prior to forming KISS, Gene Simmons was an elementary school teacher. Dated singer Diana Ross. Lived with Cher for several years. Dated Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann. Has lived with model/actress Shannon Tweed since 1986, but they've never married. Simmons has said that while he respects the rights of those who choose to marry, it's not something he ever plans to do; specifically, he doesn't feel man by nature is meant to be in a monogamous relationship. "The only thing wrong with marriage is that one of the persons involved is a man," he often says. Has a son, Nick Simmons (b. 1989), and a daughter, Sophie Simmons (b. 1992), with Shannon Tweed. Eddie Van Halen once begged Gene and Paul Stanley to let him join KISS, during a time when his band, Van Halen, was having problems. Van Halen played guitar in a session for KISS, and, according to Simmons, impressed them with his use of synthesizers. Simmons eventually told Vah Halen that despite his feelings about working with David Lee Roth, he should stick things out since his musical abilities would never be fully recognized within KISS' style. Was once in a band called Bullfrog Beer. Other pre-KISS bands he was a member of include Coffee, the Long Island Sounds, and Wicked Lester (with Paul Stanley). Once considered becoming a rabbi. Designer of the axe shaped bass guitar. There is a KISS tribute band in Seattle called Gene's Addiction. Produced many acts in the 1980s, including Keel, Wendy O' Williams, EZO, and Black and Blue. Discovered Van Halen in 1977 and produced the demo that got them signed to Warner Brothers Records. Unfortunately, Simmons had to release them from their contract when he couldn't convince anyone at WB of the band's potential. Bill Aucoin, then-manager of Kiss, told Simmons he didn't think Van Halen would have any commercial success (Van Halen's debut self-titled album went platinum, and their famous 1984 album has sold more than 10 million copies and has been certified diamond). Publisher of the magazine 'Tongue' since late 2001. Is currently working on a KISS brand of condoms, among other things. Most of his post-KISS career will be concentrated on producing feature films and creating new KISS merchandise. Launches fashion label, "Gene Simmons - Dragonfly" [August 2002] With KISS no longer occupying his time, Gene has a number of ventures he's turned to: resurrecting his record label, $immons Records, acting in and producing feature films, starting up his own Women of Wrestling league (with a W.O.W. magazine and clothing line to follow), creating his own radio talk show, and possibly even going on the lecture circuit. Gave Elijah Allman (Cher's son) his first guitar at age 11. Claims to have slept with over 4,600 women. Has never drank alcohol, used drugs or smoked Once played in a band called Cathedral, several years before forming KISS. Among the names the band considered before settling on KISS in 1973 were Albatross, The Crimson Harpoon and F**k. Paul Stanley was the band member who suggested KISS. Is the founder of Simmons Publishing, which publishes books and magazines. When Simmons' came to America, his name was changed from Chaim Witz to Gene Klein. He later decided to use "Gene Simmons" for professional purposes. He is the son of Hungarian Jews. His mother, Florence, is a Holocaust survivor. In his book "Sex Money KISS", Simmons wrote that his grandmother willingly went into a gas chamber with his great-grandmother because she didn't want her mother to have to die alone. Simmons' mother is the only member of her entire family to survive the Holocaust. She managed to survive partly due to her skills as a hairdresser (a wife of one of the Nazi German officer liked how she did hair and had her kept around to be her hairstylist). Even though his father left the family when Simmons was a child, once he became rich he felt an obligation to buy both of his parents homes and provide them with financially worry-free lifestyles. He has one non-negotiable condition for anyone interested in signing with his record label Simmons Records: No Drugs. Is 'The Demon' In The Hard Rock Band, KISS Shares a birthday with Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford and current Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell. Once said he bought a ticket to one of his own shows, then walked in completely out of makeup and character, and took his seat. Nobody knew who he was. His famous tongue has been measured at over 7 inches long. Is one of the top fire-breathers in the world. The world record is a 20 feet flame. Gene can hit 15 feet. Simmons, in terms of political views, describes himself as neither Democrat nor Republican, but voting based on the issues. While he supports a woman's right to abortion, the environment and church/state separation, he supported Bush in 2004 because he agreed with Bush's foreign policy stands. Earned a Bachelor's degree in Education from Richmond College in Staten Island, New York. Taught 6th grade at PS 75 in Spanish Harlem. He has a business partner named Rich Abramson. Their company is known as Simmons Abramson Marketing. Speaks Hungarian, Hebrew, German, Japanese and, of course, English. Was offered the role of Nick Hurley in Flashdance, but turned it down due to his agenda with KISS. Before forming Kiss he played in bands called Cathedral, Bullfrog Beer, Coffee, The Long Island Sounds, and Wicked Lester. This last one had another future Kiss member, Paul Stanley. Prides himself on living his life like an open book. Said that when he gets into a relationship with a woman, one of the first things he does is show her his infamous book, which contains photos of the countless women he's been with. This is done so that a prospective girlfriend sees what he's about and so that there are no secrets from his side of the relationship. In his autobiography Kiss and Makeup, said that his mother is primarily the reason why he has never used drugs. He decided years ago that she'd already been through enough having survived the horrors of the Holocaust, and he didn't want to break her heart by becoming a drug addict. Labels: and NO drugs...ever, the AXE Guitar, the tongue, youtube |
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