Gene Simmons Family Jewels

Gene Simmons: Master Drum Player?

2009-01-17T21:51:00.000-08:00

Playing the drums at NAMM 2009:

Nick Simmons Performs at the NAMM Show

2009-01-17T04:30:00.000-08:00

Gene Simmons' son, Nick Simmons, and his band performed for the first time live in Anaheim, California on Thursday. Gene reports on his website that they "hoped to keep this under wraps," due to it being recorded for an episode of Gene Simmons Family Jewels. "But in this day and age, it's practically impossible." A video of the band playing surfaced on YouTube.

The NAMM Show is a trade show organized by the non-profit National Association of Music Merchants, which promotes the creation of music to people of all ages. The trade show's festivities are open to members only - the industry's instrument manufacturers and retailers - as well as their guests.

So here's the spoiler of Nick Simmons as a lead singer:

Gene Simmons on CBC Q

2009-01-12T17:57:00.000-08:00

Gene Simmons spoke on his Simmons Records venture to CBC Q host Jian Ghomeshi. Did you happen to notice how good looking he is?

New Year's Eve Fremont Street Experience

2009-01-03T04:28:00.000-08:00

KISS Over Las Vegas:

Nick at Nite: Stop-Motion 'Gene Simmons'

2009-01-03T04:18:00.000-08:00

In a new Michael Eisner produced television series coming to Nick at Nite, Gene Simmons will play himself as an animated character in a stop-motion comedy. The show is about a family whose house gets burned down. The father - a dentist - and his family get in their motor-home, "the dentist mobile" topped with a giant toothbrush, and travel the country.

Source: Spinner.com

Simmons Family / LA Derby Dolls Photo Gallery

2008-12-17T11:04:00.000-08:00

LAist.com photographer Michael Zampelli captured the Los Angeles Derby Dolls event, in which Sophie Simmons - along with her parents - sang the national anthem.

The gallery includes photos of Gene, with Sophie and live-in girlfriend Shannon Tweed, as well as the two female roller derby teams the LA-Riettes (a super-squad of the best skaters from the LA Derby Dolls league) and Santa's Little Helpers. The LA-Riettes adopted a jewish theme, and won with a score of 75 to the Santa's Little Helpers' score of 68.

Click here to view.

Albertan bands Turn It Up & Soul Side In play in front of Gene Simmons

2008-12-16T18:33:00.000-08:00

Rhonda Nye of CityTV.com's City Scene interviews two Canadian bands that were handpicked to play in front of Gene Simmons during his recent trip to Edmonton. Turn It Up of Red Deer, Alberta, and Edmonton's own Soul Side In. Gene is also featured in the following video:

KISS to record new album in 2009, future tour

2008-12-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

Not so long ago, Gene Simmons spoke to Billboard Magazine of his frustrations with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for not having KISS inducted by now. There's been much talk about the possibility of KISS recording a new album for several months, although Gene denied the idea because he was/is not happy with the way the recording industries in the music business have been working.

Recently it was confirmed that KISS now will record another album. It is now said that Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons will start recording in 2009. This will be the first new album recorded by KISS since Psycho Circus in 1998.

Gene stated at the Billboard Touring Conference in his keynote address back in November that they are working out details for an upcoming tour, possibly this coming summer.

Sophie Simmons to Sing "Star Spangled Banner" at L.A. Roller Derby

2008-12-06T15:25:00.000-08:00

Gene Simmons' daughter Sophie Tweed-Simmons will be performing the American national anthem at the Los Angeles Derby Dolls banked track roller derby Saturday, December 13. Gene will be backing up Sophie on bass-guitar.

Simmons, who has gained TV-fame at a young age through her father's A&E reality-show Gene Simmons Family Jewels, has previously sang on the show's third season epidsode "Raw and Uncut" -- a track titled "Take Me Away," originally recorded by Wendy Ip, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ip, whose musical sound is described in part as the result of a turbulent and rebellious childhood growing up in an eccentric household, ultimately left her home in Canada as an escape to find freedom, and ended up in New York City.

Sophie Simmons' performing of "Star Spangled Banner" and the L.A. Derby Dolls league of roller derby skaters can be witnessed live at 1910 Temple St. (The Doll Factory) in Los Angeles, CA, 90026. Tickets are available online and at the door. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted, so bring your fake I.D. if you're not of age.

General Tickets (Standing): $20
V.I.P. Tickets (Seated): $40

Visit the L.A. Derby Dolls Official Website.
Purchase Tickets to attend the event.

Listen to Wendy Ip's "Take Me Away" song.

Buy Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Complete Third Season on DVD.

Future Shop: Gene Simmons Appearing in Edmonton for the Third Time This Year /Revision/

2008-12-01T23:53:00.000-08:00

In his third appearance in Edmonton this year, Gene can be seen this Saturday at the new, over 53 thousand square foot Future Shop out at South Edmonton. He will be there to sign autographs and to cut the ribbon to welcome fans to the store, a new hybrid electronics/high-end instrument store selling HDTV's, guitars, drums, exercise equipment, and much more.

Gene Simmons' last appearance in Edmonton included the Simmons-Abramson and IndyCar Series' unveiling of the I AM INDY marketing campaign.

Future Shop Ltd. has sent out a memo and revisions on the store and the Gene Simmons appearance dates at their new South Edmonton, Alberta location.

From 4-8pm on Dec. 5th, gamers will battle it out for a chance to play Rock Band with Gene, plus win a $500 gift card.

You will still be able to meet Gene on December 6th, as there will be an autograph session inside the store from 2-4pm.

Ethan Moreau of the Edmonton Oilers will be signing autographs as well, from 4-6pm on December 7th.

If you see the Future Shop SUV on the streets of Edmonton at all, they'll give you a wrist-band to have front-of-the-line access to meet Gene.

Go to CNW Group for more information on the Future Shop Grand opening ceremonies.

Gene Simmons on CBC's The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos

2008-11-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

Canadian television and radio personality George Stroubmouloploulos (formerly of Canada's MuchMusic station) sat down with Gene Simmons, Thursday, on his one hour late-night talk show The Hour on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).

Gene was heavily featured on the show, and so I'm not going to bother wasting much more of your time before linking to the video. The interview was aimed prominently at his Simmons Records label and his plans for the Canadian music industry.

Link: View Gene Simmons on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos

Other topics discussed included Gene's famous hand signs, his Simmons Abramson venture and the I AM INDY campaign, his mother and the wisdom he picked up, a mention of Gene Simmons Family Jewels and its success in over eighty countries, plus an explanation of his views on money.

SPOILER?: There were no comparisons made between the length of Gene's tongue and the length of George's last name on the show.

Simmons Records to Create New Market for Canadian Bands

2008-11-26T10:42:00.000-08:00

Gene Simmons plans to get Canadian bands into the mainstream with the revival of his Canadian record label SIMMONS RECORDS, through partnership deals and a reality TV series. "We'll follow them from the time they start making their first album," he says.

"For years, the only way Canadian acts could make it was to go to the States and more or less become an American band," Simmons told Toronto media.

Gene Simmons plans to develop bands identities in Canada first before looking for international merit. He is partnering up with Magna auto parts heiress and former Member of Parliament, 43 year-old Belinda Stronach of Newmarket, Ontario.

Belinda was caught up in a publicized frenzy of gossip earlier this decade by media tabloids and newspapers after being present at a dinner party with former President Bill Clinton, where the two were photographed together.

Simmons and Stronach have known each other for years. Frank's Energy Drink, promoted by the Simmons Abramson venture, is actually a drink that was created by Belinda's father, Frank Stronach.

Gene's plan is to sign three Canadian acts to his label each year, and is currently interested in snatching up hip hop group Down With Webster. He plans to get a cut of the money from pretty much every funnel of profit from all musical talent he signs to his label through the controversial "360-degree" deal. This would include touring, merchandising, publishing, licensing, television, and product placement revenues, according to Simmons.

The Toronto Sun has a video here.
The Toronto Star has an article here.

Genethoven

2008-11-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

Reece Ward got the idea for this t-shirt of Beethoven in Gene Simmons makeup from an ad he saw with Mozart's name in the font type that the band Metallica uses.

I just think this is a great t-shirt design.

"Keep the Money in America"

2008-11-22T04:46:00.000-08:00

FOX Business caught up with Gene Simmons at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) after he rang the opening bell on Wednesday morning, November 19th.

When asked about the Detroit Auto industry, Gene said that the Auto industry needs to stop spending money in China and in the Middle East. "Keep the money in America," he says.

View the interview below.

Family Jewels Season 3 Release Date - TODAY

2008-11-18T05:17:00.000-08:00

This is the day you have been waiting for. Either you've already pre-ordered the 4-disc collection of Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Complete Season Three from Amazon, or you've been waiting for its official release date.

Well, the time has come. * Special reminder if the above paragraph hits home with you.

Of course, time isn't running out. If you're not up to speed, or you'd like to be even more up to speed about this DVD, I can hopefully help take care of that for you.

But my time on the other hand is running out, so I'll need to leave that for later.

Until I get a hold of the collection so I can review it myself, I'll be on the lookout for other reviews I can point you to.

God bless

Over $1-Million for Charity: 25th Annual Love Ride

2008-11-13T19:08:00.000-08:00

The 25th Annual Love Ride, which took place on October 26th, has raised over $1,000,000 to benefit numerous charities in Southern California. The Love Ride is the world's largest one-day motorcycle fundraising event. Since 1984, charitable non-profit organizations have received over $21-million in funds as a result of the efforts made over the last two and a half decades.

Gene Simmons was a celebrity rider for this year's Love Ride, among "Grand Marshall" Jay Leno -- yes, the host of NBC's The Tonight Show -- and many other notable celebrity riders.

The event was capped off by the musical performances of the Tubes, the Foo Fighters, and ZZ Top.

View the Love Ride Press Release by clicking the link below.

25TH ANNUAL LOVE RIDE RALLIED TO RAISE OVER $1,000,000 FOR CHARITY, WITH FESTIVITIES AT POMONA FAIRPLEX CAPPED BY FOO FIGHTERS AND ZZ TOP SHOW

A Year Long Fashion Store

2008-11-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

HollywoodToday.net has an article about the Los Angeles clothing store that Gene Simmons and Canadian clothing designer Jason Dussault opened during the filming of Gene Simmons Family Jewels in 2007.

The Dussault Apparel Motel anniversary was celebrated this past Saturday, November 8th.

Friday's 5th Grader show NO GOOD?

2008-11-09T13:44:00.000-08:00

Regardless of whether or not Gene Simmons uttered the words "I am not smarter than a 5th grader," on FOX television this past Friday, is now irrelevant.

Gene Simmons is Chairman of NO GOOD TV, and Richard Abramson -- the other half of the SIMMONS ABRAMSON venture -- is a Board Member.

The two have brokered a deal on behalf of NO GOOD TV with Mark Burnett, the head of Mark Burnett Productions. Mark Burnett Productions is the home of NBC reality series' Survivor and The Apprentice, as well as the the FOX gameshow Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?.

The deal between Mark Burnett Productions and NO GOOD TV kicks off with a late night talk show in the works, hosted by the main anchor of NO GOOD TV, Carrie Keagan.

For more relevant information on the deal, visit GeneSimmons.com.

By the way, Gene did prove he was smarter than a 5th grader, and is donating the sum of $500,000 that he won from the gameshow to the Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

5th Grader Gene Simmons Interview

2008-11-04T00:56:00.000-08:00

FOX posted this Gene Simmons interview on their YouTube to promote Friday's episode of the Jeff Foxworthy-hosted Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

5th Grader Gene Simmons Quiz

2008-11-04T00:35:00.000-08:00

FOX television has uploaded the following Gene Simmons Quiz to their YouTube page in order to compliment this Friday's episode of Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? which will feature a test of Gene's own knowledge. The show starts at 8/7c on, of course, FOX.

How well did you do?

Payment to Game Controller Designers AXED?

2008-11-03T22:57:00.000-08:00

Curt Vendel (holding guitar) and Legacy Engineering Group

Legacy Engineering, the team that say they designed the new Gene Simmons Axe controller for Guitar Hero, has made a statement claiming that over 5 (total) months spent working on the project have not been compensated for.

The Legacy Engineering Group claim they were contacted in Mid December 2007 by I2G and asked for a line of gaming products for Simmons. Legacy and chief designer Curt Vendel say they've "never been paid or compensated for the immense effort that went into the design and engineering of the product."

"It's a shame that our talents and abilities were used, and abused and taken advantage of - something that perhaps Gene Simmons personally should know."

While noticeably unhappy, Legacy promotes that they are extremely pleased with the end result of the product and even give insight to how the device was worked on.

Perhaps a more interesting story is that they also say they developed a controller based on Gene's Punisher guitar.

Former Gene Simmons Residence FOR SALE

2008-11-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

$2.795 million is being asked for the once home of Gene Simmons. Gene's not the only famous person to have lived in 32D on 10 West 66th Street, in New York City. Jim Steinman, the song writer for Meat Loaf's album Bat Out of Hell and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" resided in the two-bedroom, two-bath 1,500-square-foot co-op. apartment after purchasing it from Simmons.

Simmons made the apartment his home for ten years. Of course, it's gone through a big makeover since then.

For more info click here.

Gene Simmons Makes Top 20 List of Creepiest Celebrities

2008-11-02T10:39:00.000-08:00

Market research firm e-Poll released a list of the 20 creepiest celebrities. Gene Simmons made the list, falling in at #17, ahead of Tom Green (The Tom Green Show), Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), and M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense), but far from Marilyn Manson, Michael Jackson, and OJ Simpson who fell into the first three spots as most creepy.

e-Poll tracks the popularity of actors and musicians, as well as other famed personalities. The list of creepiest celebrities was compiled with the percentages of both the creepiness and the appeal ratings of each celebrity.

The list, picked up by Reuters, goes as follows:

#. Name (Creepy) (Appeal)
1. Marilyn Manson (76%) (9%)
2. Michael Jackson (67%) (14%)
3. OJ Simpson (59%) (3%)
4. Stephen King (51%) (61%)
5. Howard Stern (45%) (13%)
6. Andy Dick (44%) (17%)
7. Ozzy Osbourne (43%) (29%)
8. Criss Angel (43%) (45%)
9. Flavor Flav (41%) (17%)
10. Paul Reubens (41%) (22%)
11. Courtney Love (40%) (7%)
12. Carrot Top (39%) (17%)
13. Don Imus (38%) (26%)
14. Keith Richards (38%) (26%)
15. David Blaine (37%) (36%)
16. Woody Allen (35%) (24%)
17. Gene Simmons (33%) (30%)
18. Tom Green (31%) (30%)
19. Tommy Lee (29%) (25%)
20. M. Night Shyamalan (27%) (53%)

Gene Simmons "Loveless" in Tennessee

2008-11-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

BACK in early October, Gene Simmons was in Nashville, TN for filming of the next season of the Gene Simmons Family Jewels reality series.

Sources such as the Tennessean and Blabbermouth.net revealed prior to the tapings that Gene could be seen with cameras following him as he took a midday cruise on the General Jackson Showboat.

It turns out that wasn't the only public spot in Tennessee the crew filmed Gene at for the fourth season episode.

At the historical 'Loveless' cafe and restaurant, the night after the cruise, Gene enjoyed a meal and the crew filmed a portion of the episode with him outside which included country jamming around a fire pit with several Tennesseans.

The Loveless Cafe has been featured in a number of widely viewed TV programs and print publications such as People Magazine, FOX News, Martha Stewart; USA Today, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

Sophie Simmons' Sweet 16 Set for Season IV?

2008-10-31T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last week, the Gene Simmons Family Jewels crew filmed the so-called birthday party of Gene's daughter Sophie, in Los Angeles, CA, which is apparently to be broadcast next March as the series' season première.

My assumption is that this would be Sophie's Sweet 16 party. According to several online sources, Sophie's birth date is July 7th, 1992, which would mean she's been 16 for nearly four months now.

With reality shows such as MTV's My Super Sweet 16, it seems to be the likely premise for the Simmons family's own reality show. Perhaps Sophie and her mother Shannon Tweed play a role in getting Gene to go overboard. Regardless of that speculation, Sophie will no doubt come off much classier than the brats on MTV, I'm sure.

Professional makeup artist Nicolle Landre was hired for the event, and will appear on the episode. In a recent interview with the Modesto Bee, Landre said "I'm not really comfortable with it. I wore black, if that says anything. I really like being behind the scenes."
Her most noteable work to date includes doing body paint on the famous "painted ladies" of the Playboy Mansion for events by companies that rent the mansion for use.