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From: Madison County Herald Like many performers who entertain with loud lyrics and audacious displays of rebellion, GENE SIMMONS, of the legendary band KISS, was a notorious '70s rock star with an outrageous reputation perpetuated by elaborate costumes and makeup, smoking guitars and acts of fire-breathing and blood-spitting. Idolized by some; demonized by others - Simmons, and his famous tongue, became another iconic musical symbol of defiance. That's why it's hard to believe that his offspring, teens Nick and Sophie, are such well-behaved kids. With a rock star for a dad and former Playboy Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed for a mom, you'd expect the Tweed-Simmons children to be a little on the wild side, but Jack and Kelly Osbourne they aren't. Those who watch the A&E reality show "GENE SIMMONS Family Jewels," will see that Nick and Sophie are very grounded and respectful. And while Simmons' life in Pasadena, Calif., is unconventional, he's a family man, not the egocentric, self-serving rock star you might envision. He's also a businessman who helped found one of the most successful bands and identifiable brands of all time. A&E reports that KISS merchandising includes 2,500 products, including the latest - two fragrances from Gemini Cosmetics called KISS Him and KISS Her. Simmons will promote his fragrance line at Northpark mall's Belk store from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Shoppers who purchase a large spray may have their bottle autographed and a picture taken with Simmons. No other autographs will be permitted. Ridgeland resident Don Jorgenson didn't get Simmons' autograph in 1978 but he almost got a KISS guitar. As a junior at the University of North Dakota, Jorgenson attended a KISS concert with his friend Mike. In a tightly packed arena, the two stood 15 feet from center stage with cotton stuffed in their ears for noise protection. "They played all of their hits from their first four years in their 5-foot platform boots and face paint," said Jorgenson, who now owns a commercial real estate appraisal company in Ridgeland. "GENE SIMMONS was the primary entertainer, climbing the monitors, running around the stage, sticking out his long tongue and spitting fake blood. "Three of them took a break while the drummer, PETER CRISS, sang his ballad 'Beth' on stage alone during one of the three encores. Near the end of the concert, PAUL STANLEY threw a guitar into the audience, and I had to duck to avoid getting hit in the head." When Ridgeland resident Ken Gill, 45, was a student at Murrah High School, he and his friends were "rabid" KISS fans. "I owned every album from the 'makeup' years," said Gill, who handles crime prevention for the Ridgeland Police Department. "As a matter of fact, I have the original album covers of 'Destroyer' and 'Rock and Roll Over' framed and hanging on the wall in my office." Gill said he saw KISS perform in 1977 and 1979. The group faded in the 1980s, but in 1996, Gill was thrilled when his wife presented him with tickets to a KISS reunion tour concert in Tupelo. "We drove up to see the show, and it was every bit as loud and explosive as it was back in the day," said Gill, who also attended a 1999 KISS farewell tour concert in Memphis. "Now that I'm old," he said, "I still remember that feeling when the house lights went down and the gravely voice announced: 'You wanted the best; You got the best - the hottest band in the world ... KISS.' "My 11-year-old daughter can name every band member, and sometimes listens with me." Madison resident Tanya Russell, 38, is still a loyal KISS fan. "To look at me, you probably would never guess that I was an '80s punk girl," said Russell, who now works as a coder in a medical records department. Russell and her childhood friend attended a 1990s KISS concert at the Mississippi Coliseum. "We were all decked out with our hair as high as the hairspray would allow it," Russell said. "We thought we were really cool until we saw the picture that my friend's sister took of us." During the concert, Russell and her friend made their way to the front row and got Simmons' attention. "Gene walked to the edge of the stage, and I yelled (his name) as loud as I could," she said. "You know what came next? He stopped the music. Everything was quiet. He looked at me and said, 'What?' "I was so overwhelmed that he made eye contact with me, I froze in place, grinned, did a weak little smile and said, 'Hey.' How stupid could I have been?" Back in the day, Ridgeland resident Greg Cox, 44, painted his face like a KISS band member for Halloween. "I dressed up as PAUL STANLEY, and my sister dressed up as ACE FREHLEY to go to a Halloween party at our church when I was in high school," he said. "Interestingly, not one person had a complaint about it." Cox, now director of risk management for a transportation company in Ridgeland, also has watched Simmons' reality show. "The surprising thing to me is the fact that although he's GENE SIMMONS, he still gets the eye rolls from his kids," Cox said. "They don't think he's nearly as cool as he thinks he is, which makes him very much like the everyday parent." |
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