+John L Check out his bio, KISS AND MAKE-UP...remarkable story...he came from absolutely nothing. His mother, Florence, would make his infant / toddler clothes from table cloths, they were that poor. Phenomenal work ethic from the get-go. No games, no BS, no drugs & alcohol. Gene allowed absolutely nothing to deter his vision for succeeding in life.
His mother. He is her only child and she devoted her life to him. And he said that after everything she went through and did for him, he would do everything to succeed, and not disappoint her in any way.
Even without the makeup, Gene had a very intense, spellbinding presence back then. And I always thought his acting was quite good. Thanks for posting this rare, amazing video. KISS rules.
Gene Simmons is one of my fave celebrities! So cool with no ego, yes even when he talks of the women its without judgement towards himself he says it how it is...real!
Very little of his story of the beginning of Kiss is true. I hate it when he makes shit up. But at that moment, he was much more into becoming an actor, so possibly it didn't matter to him. He was just going for a sound bite.
Who promised you a rock star would give you every truth and accurate detail? Who really cares who was in and who wasn't. It affects nothing. It changes nothing. It ain't rocket science
I like Gene, but let's be real. Kiss played at Coventry in late '73, early '74. They most certainly weren't headlining anywhere, and most certainly Madison Square Garden. Really!
He's a fan of many things: His children & family, the country to which he immigrated and the men & women who defend it, The Beatles, etc...check out another interview, or maybe read a book, Scott. Why don't you spend a few minutes' of time educating yourself about someone you don't even know, rather than look like an ignorant troll on TH-cam?
No, Scott--sarcasm isn't lost on me. Sarcasm is lost when you try to communicate it through text--in a TH-cam comment section, without a smile or a wink, or even maybe *sarcasm*. Oh well, no biggie. At least you have good taste in music.
"a year later, we were playing Madison Square Garden". BULLSHIT again Gene. first gig was January '73.... they didn't play the Garden until January '77.
@Nelson Robert Willis Yeah, Gene practically left KISS during his Hollywood phase. Animalize, Asylum, Crazy Nights, and Hot in the Shade are more or less Paul Stanley albums, since Paul said that Gene's involvement was limited to hastily recording a handful of demos before going off to film his next movie.
"Can we say that on tv?" He said that during Tom Snyder interview. Dork. He played the crazy demon but really compared to Ace and Peter Gene was a textbook nerd. Embarrassing when he opens his mouth
one of the few non-makeup interviews where Gene actually looked relaxed, cool and down-to-earth, instead of ACTING like a pompous/arrogant know-it-all rockstar
Interesting. Is it fair to say that there's a fine line between narcissism and humility? He may be full of himself and concerned almost entirely about himself, but at least he'll tell you that, as he seems to do here. Almost everyone is selfish and is looking out mainly for themselves and/or their family, he's just more forthright about it. I don't know as much about Gene Simmons as some might, and I'm sure he's got a sizable ego, but those are just my impressions from what I've seen. :-)
So, if this is 1980, then people already saw one of the Band members faces. They took the make up off in 1983 on MTV. My point is, alot of people already seen them without makeup before 83.
@YooTubeSuxLikeHell Ironically that surgeon Dr.Ryan died awhile back..But yes I look at the way he looked then all the way up to the reunion tour.after the facelift he never looked the same.he def needs a do over..
@believin13 He got a facelift a few years ago, they even showed it on his reality show. He's looked weird ever since. They surgeons did a bad job and he should be pissed.
I'm not sure, when in the eighties this was. It has to be after they took off the makeup, so I'm guessing, maybe 1985. I know he did some movies around that time. Keep Rocking KISS brothers and sisters. Brother Gary
They both started out in the NYC area in the 1970s, so it would've been typical of them to consist of either Jewish, Italian, Irish, German or Puerto Rican members (which they were). Not many Mexicans in NYC at that time.
Hey!! You can see make-up on his face at the very beginning of the video, but he wears the same closes!! Did he he put on his make-up back for the shot?
Magically Gene and Paul's hair has grown since the 80's !
He looks a Persian rug salesman
Yes, even in the eighties 🤣
Gene is such a Badass! that he could tell you the story of Golidilocks and its a thriller!
I wonder where Gene got his bullet-proof confidence, he had enough confidence for the whole band!
+John L Check out his bio, KISS AND MAKE-UP...remarkable story...he came from absolutely nothing.
His mother, Florence, would make his infant / toddler clothes from table cloths, they were that poor.
Phenomenal work ethic from the get-go. No games, no BS, no drugs & alcohol. Gene allowed absolutely nothing to deter his vision for succeeding in life.
John L he was an only child and his Mumma told him he was a prince, every day of his life.
His mother. He is her only child and she devoted her life to him. And he said that after everything she went through and did for him, he would do everything to succeed, and not disappoint her in any way.
Hes a HUGE mamas boy! And he'll admit it!!
My God! From 3:00 to 3:23, Gene is humble
You can see even here Gene is an egomaniac but also extremely smart and intelligent.
And absent-minded.
Even without the makeup, Gene had a very intense, spellbinding presence back then. And I always thought his acting was quite good. Thanks for posting this rare, amazing video. KISS rules.
He’s such a talented ego maniac! His self assurance is off the chart. He’s a talented man in so many facets.
Gene Simmons is one of my fave celebrities! So cool with no ego, yes even when he talks of the women its without judgement towards himself he says it how it is...real!
No ego? Gene himself has admitted he has a huge ego
With all due respect, his ego is off the chart. Being confident is one thing, but the man is clearly a narcissistic egotist.
I think he looks great old..always handsome and self assured
4:14 He took a shot at Paul Stanley there. Paul Stanley wasn't happy with Gene wanting to act in Hollywood.
Gene Simmons is a very intelligent and charismatic man.
His hair now looks like a bunch of audio cassette tape glued to his head.
If you insist on posting at least try and be clever
It’s amusing. You’re free to feel upset.
Gene is a very amusing man, always have a chuckle about him
1 year later my ass!
Very little of his story of the beginning of Kiss is true. I hate it when he makes shit up. But at that moment, he was much more into becoming an actor, so possibly it didn't matter to him. He was just going for a sound bite.
This was back when Gene didn't brag his ass off in interviews. I wish he had stayed that way.
when I look at this vid I can see how his son and daughter looks so much like him.
Love or Hate him, He has a vision and he is a workaholic.
i love and hate him
@keef Edgar Cayce had a vision as well, in fact, you could say second sight…
Quite correct , the original Kiss members werent even in Wicked Lester at the time, gene falls over his Lies all the time
Who promised you a rock star would give you every truth and accurate detail? Who really cares who was in and who wasn't. It affects nothing. It changes nothing. It ain't rocket science
@@picassoboy52 shut up and learn to discern
lmao at that photo in the beginning with the superimposed makeup.
Gene is awesome!
That story contrasts with the story of how the name KISS came up in some limo...
I like Gene, but let's be real. Kiss played at Coventry in late '73, early '74. They most certainly weren't headlining anywhere, and most certainly Madison Square Garden. Really!
Gene is a fan of only one thing..... Gene Simmons.
And money a close second.
He's a fan of many things: His children & family, the country to which he immigrated and the men & women who defend it, The Beatles, etc...check out another interview, or maybe read a book, Scott. Why don't you spend a few minutes' of time educating yourself about someone you don't even know, rather than look like an ignorant troll on TH-cam?
fidoflint sarcasm is lost on you. Also have you know I am a big fan of KISS.
No, Scott--sarcasm isn't lost on me. Sarcasm is lost when you try to communicate it through text--in a TH-cam comment section, without a smile or a wink, or even maybe *sarcasm*. Oh well, no biggie. At least you have good taste in music.
fidoflint My musical taste, well at least I got that going for me LOL 😂
I think he’s gorgeous
There are several band member accounts of how they came up with the name. I think Gene alone has multiple stories.
Gene was a good actor
"a year later, we were playing Madison Square Garden". BULLSHIT again Gene. first gig was January '73.... they didn't play the Garden until January '77.
Coldacre I caught that too. What’s he thinking!?
Thats exactly what i was thinking 🤔
Coldacre that is correct
@Mooch 514 not looking for correct dates. just an honest answer / estimation. we all know Gene likes to tell porky pies to make himself look good
February 1977
Agree, i think the only other people that he actually cares about is his mother, Shannon and his kids!
What the fuck???? Wicked Lester turned into kiss on one night? Huh egomaniac!!###
These guys from kiss are some of the most interesting character studies of all time. You could probably write a doctoral thesis on the entire dynamic
i prefer his work with Kiss Meets The Phantom of the Park
2:00 Episode aired Jan 28, 1986 (The Hitchhiker)
Gene was just saying that KISS was kindda thought up overnight. It took longer than that but it was just kinnda overnight. . .
Paul Stanley was actually the starter of KISS. Although, Gene gives himself way too much credit.
@Nelson Robert Willis Yeah, Gene practically left KISS during his Hollywood phase. Animalize, Asylum, Crazy Nights, and Hot in the Shade are more or less Paul Stanley albums, since Paul said that Gene's involvement was limited to hastily recording a handful of demos before going off to film his next movie.
Playing Madison Square Garden a year after playing the Coventry in 73' !
*Not!*
@utgrad92 Agreed. There was more to it than that. Their makeup evolved and Ace made the logo...he wasn't in Wicked Lester.
Gene Simmons
25/08/1949
72 años (73)
1:18 Yngwie Malmsteen was the guitarist in Keel.
Nick looks just like his daddy Gene
Exactly
I think Gene would've made a great Dracula.
Or a great Joker for a Batman movie.
Ace says he came up with the look the makeup and everything!! This dude says it was like by chance....
He looks like an older version of his son, Nick in this video.
This was 1986, I wonder if he somehow met Shannon on or via The Hitchhiker series, she did two episodes in 1985 and 1987.
he's so full of it. he can't even tell the story of his own band right lol.
Go elsewhere if you dont like gene.
brucekulickfan 😀😀😀😀😀Absolutely
I know! He wasn’t in Wicked Lester then a year later playing Madison Square Garden.
brucekulickfan u right!!!!
Because it's an actor playing the character there have been many people play the role of Gene Simmons.
Richie Finestra in Vinyl
I forgot I had heard that "story" back then
Everything Gene said here is highly inaccurate. Read Paul Stanley's book if your interested in the real story.
You can also read Ace's book "No regrets" which colaborates what Paul says.
+Liam Caffety Lol... Gene telling a story for the sake of telling a story???? Well no shit. Welcome to showbiz,folks...
RastaSaiyaman corroborates ... not collaborates
Paul tells Paul's side. Genes book tells genes side. That's how the human personalities work. The truth is probably in the middle
you´re only looking at this, ´cause you´re a Kiss fan
and hmm....let see
who is a vital member of Kiss
aaaaahhhh
I wonder if this was from his appearance in HBO’s The Hitchhiker Tv series.
"Can we say that on tv?" He said that during Tom Snyder interview. Dork. He played the crazy demon but really compared to Ace and Peter Gene was a textbook nerd. Embarrassing when he opens his mouth
damn gene exudes confidence....he should bottle it and sell it
“Confidence” from Coco Chanel!!!
one of the few non-makeup interviews where Gene actually looked relaxed, cool and down-to-earth, instead of ACTING like a pompous/arrogant know-it-all rockstar
Interesting. Is it fair to say that there's a fine line between narcissism and humility? He may be full of himself and concerned almost entirely about himself, but at least he'll tell you that, as he seems to do here. Almost everyone is selfish and is looking out mainly for themselves and/or their family, he's just more forthright about it.
I don't know as much about Gene Simmons as some might, and I'm sure he's got a sizable ego, but those are just my impressions from what I've seen. :-)
EZtalkman I think the fine line is between narcissism and self-confidence 🙄
EZtalkman Are you jewish also?
I prefer this Gene to the arrogant, boorish one. This Gene is one to look up too and emulate.
Well the movie "Runaway" grossed 6.7 mill. .-)
Didn’t they play MSG in 1977??? Not a year after they formed!!!!
Arthur Brown was the first to wear makeup on stage
i think gene was a good actor
starting to lose his hair here.... now his hair looks like ink dyed cotton candy
So, if this is 1980, then people already saw one of the Band members faces. They took the make up off in 1983 on MTV. My point is, alot of people already seen them without makeup before 83.
It says interview from the "80's". This was not an interview from 1980. This is post makeup reveal.
Wow he just outed Tom Selleck.
@YooTubeSuxLikeHell Ironically that surgeon Dr.Ryan died awhile back..But yes I look at the way he looked then all the way up to the reunion tour.after the facelift he never looked the same.he def needs a do over..
He looks like Julio Iglesias.
Um gene...you didnt play the garden till 1977...duh
January 1986
@believin13 He got a facelift a few years ago, they even showed it on his reality show. He's looked weird ever since. They surgeons did a bad job and he should be pissed.
I'm not sure, when in the eighties this was. It has to be after they took off the makeup, so I'm guessing, maybe 1985. I know he did some movies around that time. Keep Rocking KISS brothers and sisters.
Brother Gary
Es atractivo
He looked much better then.
i thought various bands such as kiss and twisted sister consisted of mexican or italian band members lol
They both started out in the NYC area in the 1970s, so it would've been typical of them to consist of either Jewish, Italian, Irish, German or Puerto Rican members (which they were). Not many Mexicans in NYC at that time.
@@minooch5670 they usually have dark curly hair in these bands
Gene nice Wig, you were bald in 1970 lol
Destroyed by the Norwood Reaper
What is he talking about??. I've Never heard that origination story.
Gene speak with fork tongue
Didnt think they mad garden until 1977?
A year later they were not playing madison square garden and the makeup worn that wasn't what it is now
Gene not only put RUSH in the business ,,but VH as well Much Thx!!!
Put RUSH in the business??? BWWWAAAAHHHAAAA 🤣
He looks like Malak El Rahim
when he wasnt 2 money hungery
Gene looks like Krusty the Clown.
uh, nevermind, he blew it at the very end= "I want it ALL" whatever
40's... 50's... 60's ... mid-60's...
Hey!! You can see make-up on his face at the very beginning of the video, but he wears the same closes!! Did he he put on his make-up back for the shot?
It was superimposed over his face, Einstein.
Damn ,he's actualy a very polite Jew Yoik Businessman.And me always having nightmares about a fire breathing dragon.▼Ŀ▼
1:27,2:40
Lies, Chaim, lies...
And one of the few interviews he didn't said bullshit. Nowadays he only says shit.
gene has a huge head!
It's not a forehead, it's a five-head.
They created the four original makeup styles and the logo in one night. lol Yeah, sure you did. Any other lies??
Bullshit story.
its pretty bad back then he looked like a rockstar now he looks like a rabbi indian chief hahahahahahahaha
Nice hair! lol
i think he does it to cover up the fact he is not good looking overweight and has funny looking hair he is insecure
Cute
Bullsh#t, this is the first time I've heard this
What is the point of this gigantic lie of a story? Jeez, the surest way to know if something is utterly untrue is if Gene says it.
Simmons was probably so weary of answering questions about Kiss' origins that he felt compelled to fabricate responses just for giggles.
He dated Diana Ross and Cher ! Ok bye !
Wow, Gene's real hair!😆