Genres: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal Active: 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000's Born: August 25, 1949 in Haifa, Israel
The Beatles, Ian Hill, Jimi Hendrix, Dennis Dunaway, John Paul Jones, The Yardbirds, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Jeff Beck, Cliff Burton Tom Hamilton, Mark Mendoza, Jason Newsted, Dee Dee Ramone, Rudy Sarzo, Mel Schacher, Derek Smalls, Cliff Williams, Bobby Dall, Joey DeMaio, Nikki Sixx, Rob Zombie, Rex Rocker, Lemmy, Blackie Lawless, GWAR, Skid Row, Soundgarden, Melvins GWAR, Skid Row, Soundgarden, Melvins, Marilyn Manson, Frank Bello, King Diamond, Blackie Lawless, Jason Newsted, Layne Staley, Bobby Dall, Joey DeMaio, Nikki Sixx, Rob Zombie, Rex Rocker, Gravedigger, Harem Scarem, Grave Digger |  |
Although Gene Simmons found fame as a blood-spurting, fire-breathing, bass-playing demon with Kiss, his early years were about as far removed as you can possibly get from the notorious heavy metal band. Born August 25, 1949, and named Chaim Witz, he and his mother left Israel by the late '50s, relocating to the United States (New York City, to be exact). Witz's name was then changed to Gene Klein, as he discovered comic books and rock & roll soon after (he was even being groomed to be a rabbi at one point). As a teenager, he played bass in a number of New York-area bands (Long Island Sounds, etc.), and while in his early 20s, even tried his hand at teaching grade school. His teaching career was short-lived, as he meet another young rock & roll hopeful around this time: Stanley Eisen.
Together, the duo formed their first band together, Wicked Lester, who borrowed heavily from their heroes, the Beatles, and just about any other hip musical style at the moment.
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Release: September 28, 2004
Label: Sanctuary
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Release: May 17, 2004
Label: Sanctuary
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