Historical Figure
Gene Simmons
b. 1949
Israeli-American musician (born 1949)
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Biography
Gene Simmons, also known by his stage persona "the Demon", is an Israeli-American musician. He was the bassist and co-lead singer of the hard rock band Kiss, which he co-founded with Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss in 1973. Simmons, alongside Stanley, remained a constant member of the band until their dissolution in 2023. Simmons is also known for his long tongue and for his reality television show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, which aired from 2006 to 2012. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of Kiss.
In Their Own Words (5)
Elvis is the king of rock and roll, who made white kids shake there shackle.
19 February, 2010. At "Viva Elvis Cirque du soleil. , 2010
I think Prince was heads, hands and feet about all the rest of them, I thought he left (Michael) Jackson in the dust. Prince was way beyond that. But how pathetic that he killed himself. Don't kid yourself, that's what he did. Slowly, I'll grant you … but that's what drugs and alcohol is: a slow death.
About Prince's death. (May 10, 2016) , 2016
We can't be The Beatles. I can't shine their shoes. I can't sing as well as Paul or John. I can't write those kind of songs. But they would die in my armour and my eight-inch platform heels, and Paul can't spit fire, so there you have it.
Mojo magazine (December 2009), p. 40. , 2009
A whore, in my estimation, has more credibility than a wife, and I'll tell you why. A wife is supposed to marry you for love. A whore is not there for love, she's there to service you. Now, the difference between them is a whore, before she does her work, will tell you exactly what it is. She'll tell you, "Blow job? This'll cost you seventy-five dollars. This is not love, and after I'm done I never want to see you again." Full disclosure is what they call it in court. A wife will tell you shit. A wife will tell you nothing. She's about to marry you. If you get divorced, she's going to take 50 percent of your gross pretax dollars and try to get more. Now, before you get married, if you dare bring up the notion, "By the way, let's just be completely honest with each other, what happens if we break up?" she will cry and tell you, "That's so unromantic." You know who's more credible? The whore.
2002
You know why I'm pulling your leg? Because I can't touch it from where I am.
2002
Timeline
The story of Gene Simmons, told in moments.
Born Chaim Witz in Tirat Carmel, Israel. His mother survived the Nazi concentration camps. The family emigrated to Queens, New York, when he was eight. He didn't speak English. Changed his name to Gene Klein, then Gene Simmons.
KISS plays their first show at a club called Popcorn in Queens. Fewer than 10 people are in the audience. Within two years they're selling out arenas. Simmons designs his own Demon persona: the face paint, the blood-spitting, the fire-breathing.
Alive! is released, recorded at concerts in Detroit, Wildwood, and Cleveland. The live album breaks KISS through commercially after three studio albums that underperform. It reaches No. 9 and eventually goes quadruple platinum.
KISS merchandise generates more revenue than any rock band's. Simmons personally controls the licensing. By 2006, KISS has licensed over 5,000 products, from coffins to condoms. He never drinks or does drugs.
KISS is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after years of being passed over. The original four members attend but don't perform together. Simmons and Paul Stanley refuse to play with Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
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