History of Gene Simmons in Timeline
Gene Simmons, also known as "The Demon", was the bassist and co-lead singer of the rock band Kiss. He co-founded the band with Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss in the early 1970s. Kiss retired in 2023. Simmons was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of Kiss.
1925: Birth of Gene Simmons' Parents
Gene Simmons' mother, Florence Klein, and father, Ferenc Yehiel Witz, were both born in 1925.
August 25, 1949: Gene Simmons is Born
Gene Simmons was born Chaim Witz on August 25, 1949, in Haifa, Israel.
February 1974: Kiss Releases Debut Album
Kiss, co-founded by Gene Simmons, released their self-titled debut album in February 1974.
1976: Management of Van Halen
Gene Simmons signed a management and production contract with Van Halen in 1976 but ultimately released them from the contract.
1978: Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park
Gene Simmons starred in the made-for-television movie Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park in 1978.
1980: Eric Carr Joins Kiss
Paul Charles Caravello, known as Eric Carr, became Kiss's drummer in 1980.
1981: Release of The Who's "You Better You Bet"
The Who released the song "You Better You Bet" in 1981.
1983: Kiss Abandons Makeup and Experiences Resurgence
Kiss's popularity waned, leading them to shed their signature makeup in 1983 and enjoy a revival in popularity.
1984: Role in Runaway
Gene Simmons acted in the Michael Crichton thriller Runaway in 1984.
1985: Appearance on Miami Vice
Gene Simmons appeared in an episode of the TV series Miami Vice titled 'The Prodigal Son' in 1985. This marked the premiere of the show's second season.
1987: Role in Wanted: Dead or Alive
Gene Simmons appeared in the Gary Sherman action film Wanted: Dead or Alive in 1987.
1989: Managing Liza Minnelli's Recording
Gene Simmons managed the recording aspect of Liza Minnelli's foray into mainstream pop music in 1989.
1991: Death of Eric Carr
Kiss drummer Eric Carr passed away in 1991.
1994: Cameo Appearance in Stuttering John's Music Video
In 1994, Gene Simmons made a cameo appearance in the music video for "I'll Talk My Way Out Of It" by Stuttering John, a comedian from The Howard Stern Show. He appeared alongside actor Al Lewis and comedian Gilbert Gottfried.
1995: Kiss Fan Conventions
Kiss hosted their own fan conventions in 1995.
1996: Kiss Reunion Tour Begins
Influenced by fan feedback, Kiss embarked on the highly successful Alive Worldwide reunion tour in 1996.
1997: Kiss Reunion Tour Continues
The Alive Worldwide reunion tour continued into 1997.
1998: Psycho Circus Album Release
Kiss released their album Psycho Circus in 1998.
February 2, 2002: Controversial NPR Interview
On February 2, 2002, Gene Simmons gave an interview on the National Public Radio (NPR) program Fresh Air. During the conversation with host Terry Gross, Simmons made a sexually suggestive remark, paraphrasing a lyric from the Who's 1981 song "You Better You Bet." His comment was met with disapproval from Gross, who labeled it "obnoxious." The interview remained unavailable online for a period due to Simmons withholding permission for NPR to publish it, although unauthorized transcripts circulated, and excerpts were included in Gross's book "All I Did Was Ask." NPR eventually re-broadcast a portion of the interview in August 2007. In 2014, Simmons reflected on the incident in an interview with The Huffington Post, revealing his dissatisfaction with what he perceived as Gross's "holier-than-thou" attitude. He also pointed out her mislabeling of his band as "the Kiss."
2002: Launch of Gene Simmons' Tongue Magazine
Gene Simmons launched a men's lifestyle magazine titled Gene Simmons' Tongue in 2002, which was discontinued after five issues.
2002: Death of Ferenc Yehiel Witz
Gene Simmons' father, Ferenc Yehiel Witz, passed away in 2002.
2004: Controversial Comments on Islam
In 2004, during an interview in Melbourne, Australia, Gene Simmons sparked controversy by describing Islam as a "vile culture." He made generalizations about Muslim women, stating they had to walk behind their husbands and were not allowed education or property ownership. He also expressed concerns about Muslims wanting to live amongst others while viewing them as evil. These comments drew criticism from figures like Muslim media identity Susan Carland, who argued that Simmons's portrayal of Muslims was inaccurate and stereotypical. Simmons later attempted to clarify his remarks on his website, claiming he was specifically referring to Muslim extremists, not the entire religion.
2006: Marketing and Publicity Role with Indy Racing League
Gene Simmons took on a marketing and publicity role with the Indy Racing League in 2006.
August 2007: NPR Re-broadcast of Controversial Simmons Interview
In August 2007, NPR re-broadcast part of the controversial interview with Gene Simmons that originally aired on February 2, 2002.
2007: Appearance in Nickelback's "Rockstar" Music Video
In 2007, Gene Simmons appeared in the music video for "Rockstar" by Nickelback. The video featured other celebrities and regular people.
2007: Simmons Speaks Out Against Music Piracy
In 2007, Gene Simmons took a public stance against music piracy, advocating for legal action against those engaging in file-sharing.
2008: End of Indy Racing League Role
Gene Simmons' tenure in a marketing and publicity role with the Indy Racing League concluded in 2008.
2010: Appearance in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
In 2010, Gene Simmons had a significant role in the music video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. He narrated the main storyline, voiced the character Demigod of Rock in cutscenes, and appeared in advertising for the game. The Kiss song "Love Gun" was also playable in the game.
2010: Simmons Targeted by Anonymous DDoS Attacks
In 2010, Gene Simmons' website experienced Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks orchestrated by the hacker group Anonymous. The attacks were a response to Simmons' threats of lawsuits and withholding new music releases if file-sharing persisted. The first DDoS attack prompted Simmons to respond with inflammatory statements once his site was restored. These remarks provoked Anonymous to launch a second DDoS attack, bringing Simmons's website down again.
January 28, 2011: Simmons Honored in Dallas
On January 28, 2011, Gene Simmons was honored in Dallas, Texas, during the Aces & Angels Salute to the Troops charity event. He received the key to the city and had a street named after him - Gene Simmons Boulevard. As part of the event, Simmons and Shannon Tweed visited the U.S. Army base at Fort Hood to show their support for the troops.
March 1, 2012: Rock N Roll All Stars Tour Announcement
Gene Simmons headlined the Rock N Roll All Stars tour, which was announced at a news conference on March 1, 2012, at the Roxy theater in Hollywood, CA.
2012: Formation of Rock & Brews
Gene Simmons partnered with Paul Stanley and three other investors to establish the Rock & Brews restaurant franchise in 2012.
2012: Simmons Receives Golden God Award
In 2012, Gene Simmons was recognized for his contributions to music with the prestigious Golden God award presented by Revolver magazine.
August 2013: LA Kiss Arena Football League Team
Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and manager Doc McGhee became part of the LA Kiss Arena Football League team's ownership group in August 2013; the team has since folded.
November 9, 2013: Simmons Family Receives MEND Humanitarian Award
On November 9, 2013, the Simmons family was honored with the MEND Humanitarian Award at the Mending Kids International annual gala. The award recognized their philanthropic work and support for the organization. Mel Gibson presented the award. In his acceptance speech, Simmons reflected on his challenging childhood in Israel, recalling his family living in a bullet-scarred house and the joy they experienced upon receiving a CARE package.
2013: Simmons' Bass Guitar Added to Smithsonian Collection
In 2013, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History accepted a significant donation: an autographed Gene Simmons Axe bass guitar from John Upshaw Downs Jr. The museum acknowledged the bass's cultural significance, stating that 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." They further emphasized the importance of preserving Simmons' American journey, highlighting his immigrant background as the son of a Holocaust survivor and his achievements as a creative visionary and entrepreneur who significantly impacted American popular culture, solidifying his status as an iconic figure in music and entertainment.
July 2014: Simmons Makes Controversial Comments About Depression
In July 2014, Gene Simmons sparked outrage due to insensitive remarks he made during an interview with Songfacts.com. He suggested that individuals struggling with depression should consider suicide, drawing widespread condemnation for his insensitive and harmful statements.
September 2014: Simmons Blames File-Sharing for Rock's Decline
In September 2014, Gene Simmons made a statement attributing the decline of the rock music scene to file-sharing. He argued that rock's demise was not a natural death but rather a murder, blaming the devaluation of music through file-sharing and people's unwillingness to pay for it.
December 15, 2014: Simmons Awarded Golden Medal by Reial Cercle ArtÃstic de Barcelona
On December 15, 2014, Gene Simmons was bestowed with the Golden Medal by the Reial Cercle ArtÃstic de Barcelona (Royal Artistic Circle of Barcelona).
2014: Guest Appearance on CSI
Gene Simmons guest-starred as himself in a 2014 episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation called 'Long Road Home.'
2014: Simmons Addresses Controversial NPR Interview
In 2014, Gene Simmons addressed his controversial 2002 NPR interview with Terry Gross during an interview with The Huffington Post. He expressed his displeasure with what he perceived as Gross's "holier-than-thou" attitude and criticized her for mislabeling his band as "the Kiss."
2014: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Gene Simmons was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Kiss in 2014.
March 2015: Erebus Pictures Founded
Gene Simmons established the film production company Erebus Pictures in March 2015 and announced Armed Response as their first project.
November 16, 2017: Simmons Banned from Fox News
On November 16, 2017, Gene Simmons appeared on Fox & Friends to promote a new book. Following his appearance, he disrupted a staff meeting by entering uninvited, unbuttoning his shirt, and telling jokes. The next day, on November 17, Fox News announced a lifetime ban against Simmons, barring him from their program and any company property. Simmons issued a statement expressing respect for the company's employees and apologizing for any unintended offense caused by his actions during the visit.
2018: Death of Florence Klein
Gene Simmons' mother, Florence Klein, passed away in 2018.
2018: Simmons Settles Sexual Assault Lawsuit
In 2018, Gene Simmons settled a sexual assault lawsuit filed by an unnamed radio personality who accused him of inappropriate touching. The woman alleged that Simmons made unwanted physical contact and transformed standard interview questions into sexual innuendos. Despite settling the lawsuit, Simmons denied the allegations against him.
2019: Ace Frehley Accuses Simmons of Groping His Wife
In 2019, Ace Frehley, Simmons' former bandmate in Kiss, made serious accusations against Simmons, claiming he had groped Frehley's wife. Frehley publicly denounced Simmons as an "asshole and a sex addict," further intensifying the controversy surrounding Simmons's behavior.
2020: Simmons Sets Two Guinness World Records
In 2020, Gene Simmons achieved two Guinness World Records for his pyrotechnic performances during the KISS 2020 Goodbye concert. He earned the titles for "highest flame projection in a music concert" and "most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert."
2022: Judge on Yoshiki Superstar Project X
Gene Simmons became a judge on the talent show Yoshiki Superstar Project X in 2022.
September 14, 2023: Introduction of Yoshiki at TCL Chinese Theatre
Gene Simmons was one of the guest speakers introducing Yoshiki at his imprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre on September 14, 2023.
2023: Kiss Retires
Kiss, the hard rock band Gene Simmons co-founded, retired in 2023.
June 15 of the same year: Simmons Receives Key to the City in Winnipeg
On June 15, Gene Simmons received the key to the city in Winnipeg, Manitoba.