Gene Simmons
Birthday: 25 August 1949, Tirat Carmel, Israel
Birth Name: Chaim Weitz
Height: 188 cm
Best known as the fire breathing, blood splitting and larger than life co-founder of hard rock supergroup, KISS. Simmons was actually born Chaim Witz in August 1949 in Haifa, Israel, the son of Hungar ...Show More
It is time for me to grow up. I'm 62. I've been doing a lot of wacky stuff for an awfully long time. Show more
It is time for me to grow up. I'm 62. I've been doing a lot of wacky stuff for an awfully long time... and there's nobody I've ever said 'I love you' to. I even find it difficult to say 'I love you' to my mother. But I love Shannon with all my heart and all my soul, and always will. Hide
I think Shakespeare (William Shakespeare) is shit. Absolute shit! The guy may have been a genius in Show more
I think Shakespeare (William Shakespeare) is shit. Absolute shit! The guy may have been a genius in his time, but I can't relate to it at all. 'Thee, thou...' The guy sounds like a fairy. Hide
You can't argue with facts and figures. Either people want it, in which case they pay for it, or it' Show more
You can't argue with facts and figures. Either people want it, in which case they pay for it, or it's two guys sitting around at the Plaza having a discussion, which means nothing. I mean, Titanic (1997). I wasn't crazy about the movie. But you know what? I'm gonna shut up, because the people have spoken. End of story! Hide
[on why he was voting for George W. Bush in 2004] When you walk through a bad neighborhood, you don' Show more
[on why he was voting for George W. Bush in 2004] When you walk through a bad neighborhood, you don't want a poodle by your side. You want a Rottweiler. Hide
David Bowie, you will be sorely missed. Bowie's 'Changes' and the Ziggy story songs were a major inf Show more
David Bowie, you will be sorely missed. Bowie's 'Changes' and the Ziggy story songs were a major influence for me. Hide
Where's the next Bob Dylan? Where's the next Beatles (The Beatles)? Where are the songwriters? Many Show more
Where's the next Bob Dylan? Where's the next Beatles (The Beatles)? Where are the songwriters? Many of them now have to work behind the scenes, to prop up acts and write their stuff for them. Hide
Anyone who tells you they got into rock n' roll for reasons other than girls, fame and money is full Show more
Anyone who tells you they got into rock n' roll for reasons other than girls, fame and money is full of shit. Hide
I have never been high or drunk in my life.
I have never been high or drunk in my life.
When I'm gone, on my tombstone I'd like 'Thank you and goodnight', because I have no regrets. The sa Show more
When I'm gone, on my tombstone I'd like 'Thank you and goodnight', because I have no regrets. The sad thing is most people have to check with someone before they do the things that make them happy. We're all passing through; the least we can do is be happy, and the only way to do that is by being selfish. Hide
We own some very big houses that critics have bought us with their bad reviews. Critics are an unnec Show more
We own some very big houses that critics have bought us with their bad reviews. Critics are an unnecessary life form. There's a large Kiss cemetery at the back of our houses where we bury them. Hide
Music, marriage and religion, it's all a business. Even God passes the hat around. It is your fiduci Show more
Music, marriage and religion, it's all a business. Even God passes the hat around. It is your fiduciary duty not just to understand how to play a minor chord but how to maximize your pay. Hide
[on pop duo "Boy Meets Girl", aka George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam] Their worst and only mistake was Show more
[on pop duo "Boy Meets Girl", aka George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam] Their worst and only mistake was actually getting married, when they already had a gorgeous little girl *and* a booming music career. Had those two just left well-enough alone, like Shannon (Tweed) and I have, they'd probably still be a couple today. Hide
No karaoke singers allowed. No fake bullshit. Leave that to Rihanna-Schmianna and everybody else who Show more
No karaoke singers allowed. No fake bullshit. Leave that to Rihanna-Schmianna and everybody else whose name ends with an 'a.' Hide
This is a privileged life. There are rewards. But at any time I could say 'I don't want to do this, Show more
This is a privileged life. There are rewards. But at any time I could say 'I don't want to do this, don't bother me' and quit. I do it because I love it. Hide
Don't believe bands who say it's all about the fans and they want to give their music away for free. Show more
Don't believe bands who say it's all about the fans and they want to give their music away for free. The result is they will continue to live in their mother's basement. Hide
People think that, in KISS, Paul and I are alike, as are Peter and Ace with each other. Bullshit. Pa Show more
People think that, in KISS, Paul and I are alike, as are Peter and Ace with each other. Bullshit. Paul and I are like black and white; there's almost nothing we share an opinion on. I think Judge Dredd is one of the greatest movies ever made, and Paul think it's a piece of shit. The one guy in KISS that I have much in common with would be Peter. Hide
The best you can do is set your kids on the right track; staying on it without falling is up to the Show more
The best you can do is set your kids on the right track; staying on it without falling is up to the kids. Hide
It's a dirty job but somebody's got to do it.
It's a dirty job but somebody's got to do it.
If someone offered me a billion dollars for the Kiss brand I wouldn't sell. We now have 3,000 licens Show more
If someone offered me a billion dollars for the Kiss brand I wouldn't sell. We now have 3,000 licensed products. There's no limit to what Kiss can do. We have everything from condoms to caskets - we'll get you coming and we'll get you going. Hide
The TV show, for me, is medicinal. I'm able to watch it and realize that I'm not aware how I come of Show more
The TV show, for me, is medicinal. I'm able to watch it and realize that I'm not aware how I come off. I can be short, I can be impolite, and not be aware of it, and it certainly hurts people's feelings. Hide
I think Barack Obama is actually a good guy. He has no fucking idea what the world is like because h Show more
I think Barack Obama is actually a good guy. He has no fucking idea what the world is like because he doesn't have to live there. Hide
We broke Lawrence Welk's attendance record in Abilene, Texas. I'm very proud of that.
We broke Lawrence Welk's attendance record in Abilene, Texas. I'm very proud of that.
The first thing I did when I met Shannon Tweed, or Cher, was say: 'Here, there are no skeletons in G Show more
The first thing I did when I met Shannon Tweed, or Cher, was say: 'Here, there are no skeletons in Gene Simmons's closet.' I refuse to lead a Dr Jekyll-and-Mr Hyde life. There are DJs who get caught with prostitutes, MPs with stockings on their head. It's a waste of time. Just say, 'This is who I am. Take it or leave it'. Then you sleep well. Hide
I would urge all bands that say they only care about credibility and don't care about money to send Show more
I would urge all bands that say they only care about credibility and don't care about money to send Gene Simmons every dollar that they don't want. I'd be happy to take it off them. Hide
That beautiful idea in religion about the meek inheriting the earth is naiveté at its highest. The Show more
That beautiful idea in religion about the meek inheriting the earth is naiveté at its highest. The strong inherit the earth; the meek inherit shit. Hide
Kids should never be allowed, much less forced, to leave the nest until and unless they can fly - or Show more
Kids should never be allowed, much less forced, to leave the nest until and unless they can fly - or, preferably, soar. Hide
I think people should get over it and move on. He's our President and that's it, end of story.
I think people should get over it and move on. He's our President and that's it, end of story.
[on touring as a family group] I think it's good for me and good for the family. It forces [us] to c Show more
[on touring as a family group] I think it's good for me and good for the family. It forces [us] to confront issues that would normally be hidden. We've been together twenty-eight years and I don't know of a single highway you can drive on that doesn't have bumps in the road. Love is the answer. If you care enough about somebody, you confront those issues. Hide
Whoever said 'Money can't buy you love or joy' obviously was not making enough money.
Whoever said 'Money can't buy you love or joy' obviously was not making enough money.
Politicians trot out celebrities and rock stars to convince us they're worthy of the job, and we the Show more
Politicians trot out celebrities and rock stars to convince us they're worthy of the job, and we the masses, fall for it. Shame on us. Celebrities are morons, myself included. They should stick to what they do best. Act. Sing. Or burp. But keep the candidates clean of their stains. Hide
It's very sad for new bands. My heart goes out to them. They just don't have a chance. If you play g Show more
It's very sad for new bands. My heart goes out to them. They just don't have a chance. If you play guitar, it's almost impossible. You're better off not even learning how to play guitar or write songs and just singing in the shower and auditioning for The X Factor (2011). Hide
[on Radiohead's plan in 2007 to let fans choose how much to pay for their new album] That's not a bu Show more
[on Radiohead's plan in 2007 to let fans choose how much to pay for their new album] That's not a business model that works. I open a store and say, 'come on in and pay whatever you want'. Are you on fucking crack? Hide
[on his children, Nick Simmons and Sophie Simmons] Why are they so funny and creative and charming a Show more
[on his children, Nick Simmons and Sophie Simmons] Why are they so funny and creative and charming and generous? Because I won't stand for them being anything less, that's why! Hide
Everyone has SOMETHING for which everybody else will gladly shell out a ton of money...whether or no Show more
Everyone has SOMETHING for which everybody else will gladly shell out a ton of money...whether or not they know exactly what it is. Hide
The root of all evil isn't money; rather, it's not having enough money.
The root of all evil isn't money; rather, it's not having enough money.
Some bands use a lot of tapes...U2? I'm sorry, it's a fucking tape. The great bands like Metallica, Show more
Some bands use a lot of tapes...U2? I'm sorry, it's a fucking tape. The great bands like Metallica, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin - what you see and what you hear is what these people are actually playing. Hide
Marriage is an institution, and you must be fully committed to it. That sounds crazy to me.
Marriage is an institution, and you must be fully committed to it. That sounds crazy to me.
[on the dismissal of his KISS band-mates Peter Criss and Ace Frehley in the early 1980s] They were l Show more
[on the dismissal of his KISS band-mates Peter Criss and Ace Frehley in the early 1980s] They were let go for being into alcohol and worse drugs, pure and simple. I love both those guys to death. But I didn't want them to die on tour. Hide
Walk amongst the natives by day, but in your heart be Superman.
Walk amongst the natives by day, but in your heart be Superman.
My hero is me. Why? Because I was a poor little kid who was told, 'Hey stupid, can't you speak Engli Show more
My hero is me. Why? Because I was a poor little kid who was told, 'Hey stupid, can't you speak English?' Now all those people work for me. Despite whatever circumstances I came across, I was always able to rise to the top and there's only one way to do that - by being selfish, but also by believing in yourself. Belief is self-knowing. Even Yoda out of Star Wars said, 'Do or do not. There is no try.' Hide
The best things in life are never given; they're earned. Responsibility, for instance.
The best things in life are never given; they're earned. Responsibility, for instance.
Gene Simmons'S roles
