News Archive August 2011

Gene Simmons And Shannon Tweed Honor The Troops
From: Homefront Journal
by Donna Teresa
Posted: August 2, 2011

They are affectionately known to their fans as "The Hottest Band in the World." Since the early 1970s, they have sold more than 100 million albums around the world.

They have enjoyed sold-out tours and hit songs such as the rock anthem "Rock and Roll All Nite," "Beth," "Detroit Rock City", "Hard Luck Woman," "I Was Made for Lovin You," and, my personal favorite, "Shout It Out Loud."

The American band KISS thrilled and entertained audiences with their original line-up of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley. Some of the members have changed, but the band continues to record and perform, most recently on television's popular "American Idol."

Wearing their famous make up and costumes, they have successfully maintained one of rock's longest running fan clubs, The KISS Army. Their songs have continued to appear on television and in the movies.

Gene Simmons is considered to be one of rock 'n' roll's most famous frontman. He emigrated from Israel to America and lived with his mother, Florence, a single-parent and Holocaust survivor.

A savvy businessman who worked as school teacher, he has successfully marketed KISS merchandise to eager fans. They have embraced his popular reality show, "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" on the A&E Network.

The show follows the lives of Gene, his longtime girlfriend, former Playboy Playmate Shannon Tweed and their children, Nick and Sophie, and Snippy, the rescue dog.

The show received one of its highest ratings recently when Simmons finally proposed marriage to Tweed on the season finale. Although that was one of the series best episodes, my favorite show was the episode titled The Demon Salutes. It focuses on Gene and Shannon visiting the troops at Fort Hood, Texas, to attend an Aces and Angels charity event that benefited the USO and wounded warriors.

Gene visited and worked out with wounded veterans who were doing rigorous exercises to heal their bodies for a return to the military or civilian life. Shannon visited with wives of the military and heard of the struggles and loneliness of having a loved one be away from home and family for so many deployments and trainings when they are at home.

A touching moment came when Gene and Shannon said farewell to a unit leaving for deployment and shook their hands and gave them hugs until they all boarded the plane for the Middle East.

This wasn't the first time that Simmons has visited the troops. In a prior episode, Gene took his daughter, Sophie, for a visit to Camp Pendleton to see what life is like at a Marine boot camp.

Gene and Sophie visited veterans at the Long Beach Veterans Hospital. He heard the story of a Vietnam veteran and his struggles since the war. Their visit was emotional and showed a renewed appreciation for the service of our nation's veterans.

Tweed and Simmons have generously given their time to lend support to the military and their families in fundraisers, concerts, hospital visits and military bases. They give what the troops, veterans and their families need, their time and a listening ear.

These veterans don't want to be forgotten, the families of the fallen want their loved ones to be remembered and their service and sacrifice appreciated.

So, thank you Gene and Shannon for taking the time for our troops and caring. I dedicate this to the KISS Army and the countless fans that wrote to me and asked that I write about Gene and Shannon.

And to my brother and - although he denies it - to a time long ago when he and neighborhood friends dressed as KISS and made a homemade garage video and he painted his face like Gene.

And to KISS, a band that deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.