Gene Simmons Facts: Gene Simmons, the iconic bassist of the legendary rock band KISS, is a multifaceted musician and entrepreneur with a fascinating array of facts to his name. Born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel, on August 25, 1949, he moved to the United States as a child, where he later co-founded KISS in 1973. As “The Demon,” one of his stage personas, Simmons became famous for his tongue-wagging and fire-breathing performances, leaving a lasting impression on rock music’s theatricality. Beyond music, he has ventured into acting, appearing in films and TV shows, and has showcased his business acumen by skillfully licensing the KISS brand for merchandise. Additionally, Simmons has a diverse collection of over 10,000 individual pieces of memorabilia, making him a passionate collector. His undeniable impact on popular culture, both as a musician and entrepreneur, has cemented his place as an enduring and influential figure in the world of entertainment.
Gene Simmons Facts
1- “Despite the rock ‘n’ roll culture of the ’70s and ’80s, Gene Simmons has never done drugs, smoked cigarettes or drank alcohol.”
2- “Gene Simmons is 6′ 2″” tall.”
3- “He owns a football team”
4- “Gene Simmons first decided he wanted to be in a band while in middle school, after watching girls scream at The Beatles on TV”
5- “In 1978, Simmons released his self-titled solo album in which he played electric and acoustic guitars. The album also featured guest appearances by other well-known musicians”
6- “He also appears in some video games as playable character”
7- “On December 15, 2014, Simmons was awarded the Golden Medal by the Reial Circle Artístic de Barcelona (Royal Artistic Circle of Barcelona)”
8- “Good friends with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.”
9- “He is Designer of the axe shaped bass guitar.”
10- “Gene Simmons is a former member of the Mickey Mouse Club”
11- “In 2013, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History accepted an autographed Gene Simmons Axe bass into their collection”
12- “Gene Lived with Cher for several years”
13- “He’s a philanthropist”
14- “He launched a magazine, ‘Gene Simmons’ Tongue’ in 2002 which was discontinued after only five issues.”
15- “Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Richmond College in Staten Island, New York.”
16- “Gene’s famous tongue has been measured at over 7 inches in length.”
17- “In 1970, he met guitarist Paul Stanley who shared his dreams of forming a band”
18- “Simmons’ 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”
19- “Over the next few years, Simmons acted in a number of lesser known movies like ‘The New Guy’ (2002), ‘Extract’ (2009), and ‘Expecting Mary’ (2010).”
20- “Gene played in a band called Cathedral several years before forming KISS”
21- “Gene accidentally caught his hair on fire on December 31, 1973 in New York.”
22- “Simmons was born in Israel as Chaim Witz”
23- “There’s a baby calf that looks just like him”
24- “Gene speaks 5 languages fluently: Hungarian, Hebrew, High German, Japanese and, of course, English”
25- “Gene had many jobs before he was in KISS, but the two most notable were as a 6th-grade teacher at Spanish Harlem in New York City and a brief stint working at Vogue Magazine.”
