Many who are familiar with the music industry have heard of the bass-playing, fire-breathing performer who has been around for decades; this write-up would be taking you deeper into his life. He was born in Israel as Chaim Witz but later migrated to US and changed his name to the infamous Gene Simmons. There was always an inherent desire for him in music and after watching several scintillating performances from the Beatles, Witz decided to become a rock star. He was gifted his first guitar by his mother and has since then remained committed to achieving his goal.
Date of Birth: August 25, 1949
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
As a teenager, Gene played in a garage band called Lynx and from there joined several other bands but never found the success he craved for. It seemed like he was left with no other choice but to form his own band and he did exactly just this. The first band he formed with Paul Stanley again met him with disappointment as their only album was never released till they disbanded. All along, the aspiring legend was not disheartened and he tried one more time by recruiting a drummer and guitarist for a new band that would later be known as Kiss.
Within a few years, the flamboyant band became one of the best known bands in the 1970s for their portrayal of wild comic book characters on stage and Simmons who was the “Demon” character remained the front-man all through the years. The Kiss band thrived for almost four decades and is still giving performances till date. As crazy as Simmons is, he never smoked or drink and he has been a great father and lover to those closest to him.
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Gene Simmons parents
Feri Yechiel Witz (father)
Feri Witz with his other 4 kids
Year of Birth: 1925
Year of Death: 2002 (age 77)
He was the Israeli carpenter who impregnated Flora when she migrated to Israel. He lived with her just for a short while after their child Gene was born. Feri left his young family penniless and never looked back till he passed on. Simmons learned that his father had an infamous desire for sex and there was no lady he didn’t want to mount on. At the time of his death, a Russian lady was found with him and the famous singer even added that he might have gotten his womanizing ways from his late father.
Gene was definitely angry with his dad for abandoning them when he was young and was bent on proving to everyone that he didn’t need his father. Once he became successful, he still stood stubbornly and never saw Witz till he stood over his grave. Guilt-filled, the rock and roll legend broke down in tears at the burial of his father because it dawned on him that it was stupid not to have made contact with his father while he was still alive. The fire-breathing performer was financially supportive of his estranged father but never saw him again while he was alive.
Flora Klein (mother)
Year of Birth: 1926
Date of Death: December 5 or 6, 2018 (age 92)
If there is any human that Gene could worship on earth, it is no doubt his mother. He received all his direction, nurture and inspiration from her. She was a brutal Holocaust survivor who watched her family die in the concentration camps when she was only a teenager. After the World War II ended, she headed to Israel where she met the man who would later become Chaim’s father, Feri. After her marriage with Feri ended, things became really tough for the single mother as she had to raise her son all by herself, struggling for their day-to-day existence. She found work in a coffee shop and often left her son in the care of babysitters.
Klein took her son to US in 1958 and this ultimately became one of the best decisions she made for Simmons. He attended public school there and gradually honed his music skills till it brought him into limelight. Klein was ever supportive of her son’s career but she made sure he completed his education even though the wannabe star was bent on plunging head-on for the performing arts. Although she had been through horrific experiences, she instilled in her son a fearless backbone and raised him to see the good in the world.
Gene Simmons siblings: 3 half-sisters and a half-brother
Drora “Noya” Roth Witz, Sharon Vitz, Ogenia Malka (paternal half-sisters)
(L-R) Kobi, Drora, Gene, Sharon, Ogenia
For years, Gene never set eyes on his half-siblings until he went to Israeli where his wife had planned a surprise meet up with his half-brother and half-sisters. There is an information that his half-sisters are triplets, but we think Sharon and Ogenia are twins according to the photo here and with their father above.
Kobi Weitz (paternal half-brother)
Kobi is the only male sibling to the rock legend and they both share a strong resemblance. He is married and has 3 kids.
Gene Simmons wife
Shannon Tweed (spouse)
Duration of Marriage: October 1, 2011 till present (dated since 1982)
Date of Birth: March 10, 1957
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Shannon is one of the most successful actresses in mainstream erotica and is identified with the erotic thriller genre. She was one of the top models in the 80s, and was even named the Playboy Playmate of the Year in 1982. She met Gene while she resided at the Playboy Mansion and they gradually built their chemistry from there.
Before marrying Tweed, Simmons dated her for 28 years and they even became parents to two kids. In 2006, the Simmons-Tweed family made a leap to reality television on the A&E television network with a show called Gene Simmons Family Jewels (2006 – 2012). The reality show reveals different family adventures and its sixth season featured the 2011 Beverly Hills wedding between Shannon and her long-time partner.
Gene Simmons children
Nicholas Adam Simmons (son with Shannon Tweed)
Date of Birth: January 22, 1989
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Nick is the only son to the wild musician and is also a reality TV personality. The tall actor graduated in 2001 with a degree in English Literature and has also performed as a voice over actor for Robot Chicken (2005 – present). Adams is also planning on forming his own music band and according to his dad has inherited the infamous “freakishly” long tongue.
Sophie Alexandra Simmons (daughter with Shannon Tweed)
Date of Birth: July 7, 1992
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
She is also known for her recurring appearance on the family reality television show and is an actress. She was in Republic of Doyle (2010) and in Country Crush (2016). Sophie is also a designer and a model; she revealed that it was not easy for her to get into modelling as she was not “small enough” but thanks to her mother, she was inspired to love herself and join in the curvy models and healthy body image campaigns. Sophie struggled with the fact that she did not have the same slim model body like her mother but is now a proud “plus-sized” model that has since left her days of fad dieting.
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