[wallace144]

Gene Simmons' birth name is Chaim Witz. He was born in Haifa, Israel and once considered becoming a rabbi.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

More from Gene: "I am passionate about America. It has given me (and in my estimation, the world) everything I ever wanted... including the right to disagree, without winding up in a can of dog food. And, because of my passionate love of America, warts and all, I will stand up and defend her at the drop of a hat. [...] I wasn't born here. But, I have a love for this country and its people that knows no bounds. I will forever be grateful to America for going into World War II, when it had nothing to gain, in a country that was far away...and rescued my Mother from the Nazi German Concentration Camps.

"She is alive and I am alive because of America.

"And, if you have a problem with America, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME."