Gene Simmons and Son Nick | Wanna Play Music

Gene Simmons is an American hard rock bassist, vocalist and actor. He is best known as "The Demon," the blood-spitting, fire-breathing and tongue-wagging bassist in the hard rock band KISS, an act he co-founded in the early 1970s with Paul Stanley. Despite his “rock god” status, Simmons contends that he has "never been high, drunk or smoked in [his] life."

Simmons performed with numerous bands before creating the “ultimate supergroup”: KISS. The band, known for its trademark stage makeup and outfits as well as its wild on-stage antics, released its self-titled debut album in February 1974. Stanley quickly took on the role of lead performer on stage, while Simmons became the driving force behind what became an extensive KISS merchandising franchise. In 1983, while KISS's fame was waning, the members took off their trademark make-up and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity that continued into the 1990s. In 1998, the band released Psycho Circus, its first album in almost 20 years by the original line-up.

Gene Simmons has two children with partner Shannon Tweed, a former Playboy Playmate. Son Nick is also a musician and performed at the 2009 NAMM Show with his band Hands of God. During the show, Nick’s performance, as well as his father’s speaking engagement at a NAMM University Breakfast Session, were recorded for the A&E reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels.