By: Michael Drukarsh - Gene Simmons’ music career started in the mid 60s, at the age of 15, a mere six years after arriving in the US from Israel with his mother Florence. Taking on a variety of “9-5” jobs to help support his family and supplement his musical aspirations, Simmons continued to search for success and grasp the gold ring that comes with fulfilling the “American Dream”.
58 years later, in 2023, after not only achieving the “American Dream”, but living the dream of millions of fans around the world, Kiss, the band Gene founded with partner and “brother” Paul Stanley, hung up their 7 inch leather heels for good. It was the end of an iconic band and what most thought would be a fade to black for the Demon and the Star Child.
While Paul Stanley has not really stepped out into the limelight again, Gene has decided that, at the age of 75, rather than sitting around with the risk of becoming an alta kaker (it’s yiddish... Gene knows), it’s time to hit the road once more, only this time he’s leaving the Demon behind.
Gene’s GS Band includes Brent Woods (WILDSIDE, SEBASTIAN BACH, VINCE NEIL) and Zach Throne (COREY TAYLOR) alongside drummer Brian Tichy (LYNCH MOB, THE DEAD DAISIES, WHITESNAKE, BILLY IDOL, FOREIGNER, PRIDE & GLORY, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT). With such incredible talent, the GS Band covers a wide range of music and while the Kiss classics are certainly in the set, other classic tunes from bands such as Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and Motorhead are also featured.
“The shows are almost never alike,” Simmons said. “We toss around songs; if somebody in the band says, ‘Hey, why don’t you do [Cream’s] ‘Sunshine of Your Love?’ we look at each other and go, ‘What key?’ and there you go.”
“We’re like a commando unit; there’s no manager, no road crew, no trucks, no buses, nothing. No big PR campaign. We fly commercial or we’ll get an SUV and travel from city to city,” he added. “The promoters provide the backline, the amplifiers and drums; we just come with a guitar and a guitar pick. It’s really fun.”
So far, the GS Band has only one stop in Canada in 2025, playing the OLG stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario on May 15. In what is guaranteed to be a fantastic night of music and stories, the opportunity to see the man behind the makeup take center stage is not something you want to miss. According to Gene Simmons himself, "There are no rules, which is my favorite thing in life. Anything is bound to happen. I may jump off the stage and get into the audience. We may pull some folks out of the audience. You wanna sing 'I Was Made For Lovin' You'? Here's the mic. Good luck."
Gene Simmons Online
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