Джин Симмонс: Американдық рок музыкантының өмірі мен мансабы

American rock musician

Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz; ; born August 25, 1949) is an American musician. Also known by his stage persona "The Demon", 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 the early 1970s until their retirement in 2023. Simmons was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of Kiss.

Simmons was born as Chaim Witz on August 25, 1949, at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel, to Jewish refugees from Hungary. His mother, Florence Klein (1925–2018) was born in Jánd and survived internment in Nazi concentration camps. She and her brother, Larry Klein, were the only members of the family to survive the Holocaust. Simmons' father, Ferenc "Feri" Yehiel Witz (1925–2002), was a carpenter. Simmons spent his early childhood in Tirat Carmel and was raised in a practicing Jewish household. He has said that his family was "dirt poor", scraping by on rationed bread and milk. At the age of seven, he began to pick wild fruit and sell it on roadsides together with a friend. Aged eight, he and his mother emigrated to the United States, settling in New York City. His father remained in Israel, where he had another son and three daughters. In the United States, Simmons changed his name to Gene Klein, adopting his mother's maiden name. When he was nine, he briefly attended a Jewish religious school, Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, before transferring to a public school. He later attended Richmond College and Sullivan County Community College, both in New York, and chose a stage name in tribute to the rockabilly singer Jumpin' Gene Simmons. He practiced playing his guitar for hours on end. Before his musical career began, Klein worked a variety of jobs in the city. A proficient typist, he served as an assistant to an editor of Vogue, and spent several months as a sixth grade instructor on the Upper West Side. The Beatles had a significant 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 Show and I saw them. Those skinny little boys, kind of androgynous, with long hair like girls. It blew me away that these four boys [from] the middle of nowhere could make that music."

Simmons became involved with his first band, Lynx, then renamed the Missing Links, when he was a teenager. Eventually, he disbanded the band to form the Long Island Sounds, the name being a pun on the Long Island Sound. While he played in these bands, he worked at 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. He joined a new band, Bullfrog Bheer, and the band recorded a demo, Leeta; this was later included on the Kiss box set. Simmons formed the rock band Wicked Lester in the early 1970s with Stanley Eisen (now known as Paul Stanley) and recorded one album, which was never released. Dissatisfied with Wicked Lester's sound and look, Simmons and Stanley attempted to fire their band members. Met with resistance, they instead quit Wicked Lester, walking away from their record deal with Epic Records, as they decided to form the "ultimate rock band" in its place. Looking for a drummer, Simmons and Stanley found an ad placed by George Peter John Criscuola (known as Peter Criss), who was playing clubs in Brooklyn at the time; they joined and started out as a trio. During this time, Criss and Simmons also appeared on an unreleased album by Captain Sanity together with members from Criss' previous band Chelsea. Paul Frehley (better known as Ace Frehley) responded to an ad they put in The Village Voice for a lead guitar player, and soon joined them. Kiss released their self titled debut album in February 1974. Stanley took on the role of lead performer on stage, while Simmons became the driving force behind what became an extensive Kiss merchandising franchise. The eye section of his "Demon" makeup with Kiss came from the wing design of comic book character Black Bolt. In 1983, when Kiss's fame was waning, the members took off their trademark make up and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity that continued into the 1990s. At this time, Peter Criss, the original drummer, was voted out of the band, and a replacement was sought to fill his vacancy. The new drummer was Paul Charles Caravello, who went by the stage name of Eric Carr, and played for Kiss from 1980 until his death in 1991. The band hosted its own fan conventions in 1995, and fan feedback about the original Kiss members reunion influenced the highly successful 1996–1997 Alive Worldwide reunion tour. In 1998, the band released Psycho Circus. Since then, the original lineup has once again dissolved, with Tommy Thayer replacing Ace Frehley on lead guitar and Eric Singer (who performed with Kiss from 1991 through 1996) replacing Peter Criss on drums.

He has his own magazine, Gene Simmons Tongue Magazine, his own label, Simmons Records, and animated series, My Dad the Rock Star. Simmons Records has released albums by such bands as Kobra and the Lotus, Silent Rage, Gypsy Rose and House of Lords as well as Gene's own solo releases. In 1976–77, Simmons signed a management and production contract with the band Van Halen. He produced a Van Halen demo tape and attempted to find a record deal for the band with a variety of major record labels. When no deal materialized, he released them from their contract. In 1989, Simmons managed the recording side of Liza Minnelli's entry into mainstream pop. In 2002, Simmons launched Gene Simmons' Tongue, a men's lifestyle magazine. The magazine lasted five issues before being discontinued. From 2006 to 2008, Simmons served in a marketing and publicity role with the Indy Racing League. In 2012, Simmons headlined the Rock N Roll All Stars tour which performed in stadiums across South America. The project also featured several other Rock N Roll Hall of Famers including Def Leppard's Joe Elliot, Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan & Matt Sorum and Deep Purple's Glenn Hughes as well as Billy Idol's Steve Stevens, Collective Soul's Ed Rolland, Sebastian Bach, Alice in Chain's Mike Inez and the Cult's Billy Duffy. On March 1, 2012, the line up and the tour was revealed at a news conference hosted by Promoter Gabe Reed at the Roxy theater in Hollywood, CA. Simmons was in attendance and the entire news conference and subsequent tour was featured on Simmons Family Jewels' series finale episodes. In 2012, Simmons partnered with Paul Stanley and three other investors to form the restaurant franchise Rock & Brews. In August 2013, Simmons, Paul Stanley and manager Doc McGhee became a part of the ownership group that created the LA Kiss Arena Football League team, which played their home games at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The team has since folded. In 2017, Simmons launched "The Vault" which is a compilation of all of his major works selling for $2,000. In 2018, Simmons was named "Chief Evangelist Officer" of the Canadian cannabis company Invictus MD Strategies. Simmons also holds a large investment stake in the company.

Simmons plays bass, and lead vocals are split between Simmons and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley in most Kiss songs. Some notable songs featuring Simmons singing lead include "God of Thunder", "Rock and Roll All Nite", "Deuce", "A World Without Heroes", "I Love It Loud", "Calling Dr. Love", "Unholy", "You Wanted the Best" (first lead vocals), and "Christine Sixteen", among others. Simmons possesses a baritone voice.

In addition to playing bass, Simmons is known for his long tongue, which he frequently sticks out while performing, and on stage is known for his demonic figure by spitting fire and vomiting stage blood. Some publications reported that his tongue measured up to 7 inches long and he had it insured for $1 million, although Simmons himself has not commented on this.

Simmons lives in Los Angeles with his wife Shannon Lee Tweed, a Canadian actress and former Playboy Playmate. Although they began dating in 1983, they did not marry until 28 years later. Simmons often joked that he and Tweed were "happily unmarried" for over 20 years. He also often paraphrased Groucho Marx, saying "Marriage is an institution, and I don't want to live in an institution". Simmons and Tweed wed on October 1, 2011, at the Beverly Hills Hotel. They have two children: Nick (born January 22, 1989) and Sophie (born July 7, 1992). He formerly had live in relationships with Cher and Diana Ross, revealing that he fell in love with Ross while dating Cher. Simmons has boasted many times about having bedded thousands of women. In 2010, he claimed the tally stood at 5,000 and that he has a Polaroid picture of each liaison, including the hotel key where it took place. After their wedding, when Shannon found the key for the lockboxes containing the photos (confirming at least that much of the rumors), after a "loving confrontation" with Gene, she had every single Polaroid burned on national television during the final season of their reality show "Gene Simmons Family Jewels". By 1977, however, he would write in a letter of comment to Janus, "I haven't been active [in fandom] for about five years".

Simmons was a supporter of the foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration. He supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, writing on his website: "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 gave their life to fight a war that wasn't theirs in a country they've never been to simply to liberate the people therein". In a follow up, Simmons explained his position and wrote about his love and support for the United States: "I wasn't born here. But I have a love for this country and its people that knows no bounds. I will forever be grateful to America for going into World War II, when it had nothing to gain, in a country that was far away and rescued my mother from the Nazi German concentration camps. She is alive and I am alive because of America. And, if you have a problem with America, you have a problem with me". Following Obama's 2011 speech on the Middle East in which he called on Israel and the Palestinians to negotiate a settlement "based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps", Simmons told CNBC that Obama was gravely misguided. "If you have never been to the moon, you can't issue policy about the moon. For the president to be sitting in Washington D. C. and saying, 'Go back to your '67 borders in Israel' – how about you live there and try to defend an indefensible border – nine miles (14 km) wide?" Simmons also accused the United Nations of being "the most pathetic body on the face of the earth". In an April 2012 interview, Simmons endorsed Republican Mitt Romney for President: "America should be in business and it should be run by a businessman." In an August 2021 interview, regarding the honesty of Donald Trump and his presidential administration, Simmons said, "[W]e all lie to some extent, but what happened the last four years was beyond anything I ever thought imaginable from people who had lots of power — not just him, but the administration, everybody." On November 10, 2021, he stated that people who refused to get the COVID 19 vaccine are "an enemy" and called them "evil".

In March 2011, Simmons visited his birth country, Israel. He described the trip as a "life changing experience". He talked about how he still feels that he is an Israeli: "I'm Israeli. I'm a stranger in America. I'm an outsider". While there, Simmons met his half brother Kobi, and triplet half sisters Drora, Sharon and Ogenia. Simmons announced he has plans to take Kiss to Israel. He has said that he is an ardent supporter of Israel. At a press conference in Israel, he spoke in both Hebrew and English. During his visit to Israel in 2011, he also stated that the artists refusing to perform in Israel for political reasons are "stupid". During the 2006 Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Simmons sent a televised message of support (in both English and Hebrew) to an Israeli soldier seriously wounded in fighting in Lebanon, calling him his "hero". On November 6, 2015, he attended a Friends of the Israel Defense Forces gala in Beverly Hills, which raised more than $31 million.

In a 2004 interview in Melbourne, Australia, regarding Islamic extremists, Simmons described Islam as a "vile culture", saying that Muslim women had to walk behind their husbands and were not allowed to be educated or to own houses. He said: "They want to come and live right where you live and they think that you're evil." Muslim media identity Susan Carland argued that Simmons's stereotyping of Muslims was inaccurate. Simmons later clarified his comments on his website, saying he had been talking specifically about Muslim extremists.

During an interview on the National Public Radio (NPR) program Fresh Air on February 2, 2002, Simmons told Terry Gross: "If you want to welcome me with open arms, I'm afraid you're also going to have to welcome me with open legs", paraphrasing a lyric from the Who's 1981 song "You Better You Bet". Gross replied: "That's a really obnoxious thing to say". At the time, Simmons refused to grant permission to NPR to make the interview available online. However, it appears in print in Gross' book All I Did Was Ask and unauthorized transcripts are available. NPR re broadcast part of the interview in August 2007. In a 2014 interview with The Huffington Post, Simmons noted he was upset over what he perceived as Gross's "holier than thou" attitude, which included mislabeling his band Kiss as "the Kiss".

In 2007, Simmons openly spoke out against music piracy, and called for file sharers to be sued. A year later, he threatened further lawsuits, and to withhold new recordings, if file sharing continued. In 2010, Anonymous staged a DDoS on his website, prompting Simmons to hit back with provocative comments once he was back online, at which point Anonymous staged a second DDoS, taking Simmons's site down again. In September 2014, Simmons said "The death of rock was not a natural death. Rock did not die of old age. It was murdered." Simmons blames file sharing and that no one values music "enough to pay you for it" for the decline of the rock music scene.

In July 2014, Simmons made comments in an interview with Songfacts. com that encouraged those with depression to kill themselves. I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff. I'm the guy who says 'Jump!' when there's a guy on top of a building who says, "That's it, I can't take it anymore, I'm going to jump." Are you kidding? Why are you announcing it? Shut the fuck up, have some dignity and jump! You've got the crowd. The comments drew criticism from Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe, who had suffered from depression in the past. Following his comments, both Triple M and Winnipeg radio station Power 97 stated that they were pulling all Kiss songs from their lineup in protest. Simmons later clarified his comments and apologized for the incident.

On November 16, 2017, Simmons made an appearance on Fox & Friends to promote a new book, but shortly afterward, he burst into a staff meeting uninvited, unbuttoning his shirt and telling jokes. The next day, on November 17, Fox News announced that Simmons was banned for life from their program, as well as from entering any of the company's properties. Simmons later issued a statement saying that he has "a tremendous amount of respect" for the company's workers and apologized for "unintentionally offending" any staff members during his visit.

In 2018, Simmons settled a sexual assault lawsuit with an unnamed radio personality, who accused him of touching her inappropriately. The woman claimed that Simmons touched her and "turned standard interview questions into sexual innuendos." Despite the settlement, Simmons denied the allegations. In 2019, Ace Frehley, who played together with Simmons for years in Kiss, stated that Simmons had groped his wife, calling Simmons an "asshole and a sex addict".

Simmons is a known advocate for ChildFund International's work. He traveled to Zambia during his Gene Simmons Family Jewels show to visit several of his sponsored children, of whom he has more than 140. Simmons said that the trip "[was] a stark reminder that life doesn't treat everyone the same". Simmons's family received the MEND Humanitarian Award for their philanthropic efforts and support for Mending Kids International at the organization's annual gala on November 9, 2013. The award was presented by Mel Gibson. In his acceptance speech, Simmons spoke of his own difficult childhood in Israel in a bullet riddled house. He recalled his mother's excitement when they received a CARE box one day. Simmons helped found "The Children Matter", which is a collaborative initiative with the charity MATTER that fights to get kids around the world access to health care. He is an advocate for public safety during the coronavirus pandemic, encouraging people to wear face masks and following social distance protocols.

On January 28, 2011, Simmons was in Dallas, Texas, to host the Aces & Angels Salute to the Troops charity event. Simmons was presented the key to the city, and a street (Gene Simmons Boulevard) was named for him. Simmons and Tweed also visited the U. S. Army base at Fort Hood to support the troops as a part of the Aces & Angels event. On June 15 of the same year, he was given the key to the city in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 2012, Simmons was awarded the Golden God award by the Revolver magazine. In 2013, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History accepted an autographed Gene Simmons Axe bass into their collection from John Upshaw Downs Jr. The Smithsonian wrote, in part: "The bass will now be cared for in our permanent collections We are happy to include the Axe bass as it relates to the impact Mr. Simmons and his band Kiss have had on American culture, especially in the creation of a unique and iconic brand that has been embraced by fans worldwide The story of Mr. Simmons' American experience deserves to be preserved. An immigrant and son of a holocaust survivor, he used creative vision and entrepreneurial acumen to make a significant impact for our nation's popular culture, becoming an iconic figure in American music and entertainment." Simmons is an honorary board member of Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit that works to restore and revitalize music education in disadvantaged U. S. public schools. A&E's Gene Simmons Family Jewels visited a Little Kids Rock classroom and featured the segment on the show. He also decorated a guitar for auction with his son Nick. On December 15, 2014, Simmons was awarded the Golden Medal by the Reial Cercle Artístic de Barcelona (Royal Artistic Circle of Barcelona). In 2020, Simmons won two Guinness World Records for "highest flame projection in a music concert" and "most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert. Both of the records were established at the KISS 2020 Goodbye concert.

Year Film Role Bandmates Miscellaneous 1978 Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park The Demon/Himself Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley TV movie 1984 Runaway Dr. Charles Luther 1986 Never Too Young to Die Carruthers / Velvet Von Ragnar 1986 Trick or Treat Nuke (radio DJ) 1987 Wanted: Dead or Alive Malak Al Rahim 1988 The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years Himself Paul Stanley Documentary 1989 Red Surf Doc 1999 Detroit Rock City Himself Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley Simmons also produced 2001 Wish You Were Dead Vinny 2002 The New Guy Reverend 2008 Detroit Metal City Jack lll Dark Japanese movie2009ExtractJoe Adler2010Expecting MaryTaylor2010Rush: Beyond the Lighted StageHimselfDocumentary2013Sample This: The Incredible Story of the Incredible Bongo BandHimselfDocumentary2015Scooby Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery Himself Paul Stanley, Eric Singer, Tommy ThayerVoice only2016We Are XHimselfDocumentary2016 Why Him? Himself Paul StanleyCameo2017Armed ResponseMale Suspect 2022In Search of TomorrowHimselfDocumentaryTBAUntitled Scooby Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery Sequel Himself Paul Stanley, Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer October 31, 1998 (#406) Himself Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley. Halloween special; performed in five sketches 1998 Millennium " Thirteen Years Later" October 30, 1998 Hector Leachman Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley 2001 Family Guy "A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas" Animated version of himself Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley2001Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? May 27, 2001 Himself Won $32,000 for a charity 2001 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart June 12, 2001 Himself 2002 Family Guy "Road to Europe" Animated version of himself Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley Lois Griffin claims she dated Gene Simmons while they were in high school, and calls him by his birth name, Chaim Witz. 2002 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno September 6, 2002 Himself 2003 King of the Hill "Reborn to Be Wild" Jessie 2004 Third Watch "Higher Calling" Donald Mann 2004 Third Watch "Monsters" Donald Mann 2004 Third Watch "More Monsters" Donald Mann 2005 American Idol "Auditions: New Orleans" Himself guest judge 2005 Family Guy "Don't Make Me Over" Animated version of himself/ Prisoner No. 3 2005 Mind of Mencia Episode #1.7 Himself 2005 Rock School Himself 2006 The View August 1, 2006 HimselfPromotional appearance for Gene Simmons Family Jewels 2007 SpongeBob SquarePants "20,000 Patties Under the Sea" Sea Monster 2007 Shrink Rap "Gene Simmons" Himself UK's More4 show 2008 Entertainment Tonight January 2, 2008 Himself 2008 Jimmy Kimmel Live! January 18, 2008 Himself 2008 Rachael Ray March 11, 2008 Himself 2008 Criss Angel Mindfreak "Mindfreaking with the Stars" Himself 2008 Ugly Betty "The Kids Are Alright" Himself 2008 Ugly Betty "A Thousand Words by Friday" Himself 2008 Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Episode #3.9 Himself Won $500,000 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation charity 2008 The Celebrity Apprentice First three episodes Himself Won $20,000 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation charity; Fired in the third episode 2008 Jingles Celebrity judge Mark Burnett reality show2009Glenn Martin DDSGlenn Gary, Glenn Martinhimself2009American Idol Season Finale Himself Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley Performed medley of 3 songs with contestant Adam Lambert 2009 The Fairly OddParents "Wishology – Part 1: The Big Beginning" Animated version of himself Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley 2009 The Fairly OddParents "Wishology – Part 3: The Final Ending" Animated version of himself Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley2010 I Get That a Lot Episode 2 As Himself Simmons appeared as a psychic working at the Mystic Journey Bookstore in Venice, California2010 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Episode 160 As Himself Kiss made a personal appearance during the Wagstaff family's vacation in Disneyland and honored them as special guests at one of their concerts. Kiss also made a personal appearance at a local school where a donation of new musical instruments was made in the Wagstaff family's name.2010 I'm in a Rock 'n' Roll Band! Episode 1 And 5 As Himself Discussing the requirements of being in a rock band.2011 Castle To Love and Die in LA As Himself 2014 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Long Road Home As Himself 2014 American Idol Season 13 Finale Himself Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley Performed with Caleb Johnson2014 Welcome to Sweden S1 Ep4: Get a Job/Farthinder Himself 2015 Scorpion S2 Ep1: Himself September 30, 2015, Himself, Interview 2016 Angie Tribeca (2016 TBS TV Series) S1 Ep9: Himself 2018 Jeopardy! October 31 episode Himself Reading clues about Halloween in costume and makeup. As a publicity stunt, Alex Trebek was briefly made up and costumed as Simmons. Short video of that appeared as a commercial bump; longer video posted to show web site.2019Kouhaku Uta GassenDecember 31, 2019HimselfEric Singer, Tommy Thayer, Paul StanleyPerformed "Rock And Roll All Nite –YOSHIKISS version" with Yoshiki2020RidiculousnessJanuary 9Himself2022Hell's Kitchen"Just Wingin' It"Himself20232023 AFL Grand Final HimselfEric Singer, Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley Performed "I Was Made for Lovin' You", "Shout It Out Loud" and "Rock and Roll All Nite" during the pre match entertainment

In 1994, Simmons appears as auditioning for the band with actor Al Lewis & comedian Gilbert Gottfried in a music video for "I'll Talk My Way Out Of It" by Howard Stern comedian Stuttering John. In 2007, he appeared alongside other celebrities, as well as regular people, in the music video for "Rockstar" by Nickelback.

Gene Simmons is a playable character in Tony Hawk's Underground, unlocked when completing the story mode on Normal difficulty, and also appears with his Kiss bandmates in the Hotter Than Hell level to play one of three songs upon collecting the four K I S S letters. Gene Simmons's Kiss character, the Demon, is a playable character in Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child. Simmons also has a large role in the 2010 music video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. In addition to narrating the main storyline, voicing the character Demigod of Rock in cutscenes, and doing advertising for the game, the Kiss song "Love Gun" is playable. A Dark Normal Type Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield known as Obstagoon the Blocking Pokémon resembles Gene Simmons's KISS character: The Demon.