Gene Simmons is one of rock’s most fascinating figures. The KISS co-founder was born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel on August 25, 1949. When he was only eight years old, he and his mother, Florence, immigrated to the United States.
Simmons has often recalled growing up poor with his mother, who was a Holocaust survivor. He’s given many interviews over the years about how his very humble beginnings inspired him to want to be a success. Once the success came, Simmons was far from wanting to be humble about it. He has many notorious quotes about that and more, which we will explore here.
One of the many reasons why The Demon is so interesting is because he’s not afraid to speak his mind. It seems like so many rock stars today hold back on what they really think about a given topic. However, that has never been Gene’s style, which is something he is often loved and hated for.
So, how do you honor such a prolific presence in rock history? In the case of Simmons, you do so by looking back on some of his most brash, yet poignant quotes that have been attributed to him. Enjoy! (We know Gene totally would!)
