It Happened Today: Aug. 25, 1949

08/25/08 2:33pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Kiss bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons was born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel, 59 years ago.

Simmons immigrated with his mother to the U.S. when he was eight and later formed several bands as a teenager. In the early '70s, he and guitarist Stanley Eisen (Paul Stanley) were in a band called Wicked Lester that later called it quits after Stanley and Simmons tried to fire their other band members because they weren't satisfied with their aesthetics.

The two responded to an band ad placed by drummer Peter Criss in a newspaper, and guitarist Ace Frehley later answered an ad the trio put in The Village Voice, and Kiss was formed. The band have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and 24 of their albums have gone gold.

Simmons and Stanley are the only two members of Kiss who have been with the band since the beginning of their career. Criss left the band several times, and his most recent departure came in 2004. Frehley also quit the band numerous times only to rejoin, but as of 2002 he is no longer part of the band.

In addition to making music with Kiss, Simmons has solo releases under his belt and hosts his own television show, Mr. Romance. Gene Simmons Family Jewels, a reality TV show, follows the lives of Simmons and his family members. He also briefly published a men's lifestyle magazine, which was discontinued after just five issues. Simmons is married to former Playboy playmate Shannon Tweed, with whom he has two children.

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