One of my favorite KISS appearances.
Kudos to Mr. Simmons for doing a good thing by sending his best to the wounded Israeli soldier.
Posted on 08/26/2006 11:51:34 AM PDT by Jaysin
The flamboyant, Israeli-born rocker Gene Simmons has sent a televised message of support to an Israeli soldier seriously wounded in fighting in Lebanon, calling him his 'hero.'
Simmons, 57, founded the heavy metal band Kiss in the 1970s and became famous for wearing white and black face makeup, spitting fire and sticking his tongue out at sold-out elaborate performances.
Simmons, the band's bass player, was born Chaim Witz in the northern Israeli city of Haifa before emigrating to New York as a child.
Simmons sent a video message this week to Ron Weinreich, an Israeli soldier and die-hard Kiss fan, who was seriously wounded in Israel's 34-day fight with Hizbullah guerrillas in Lebanon. Weinreich remains hospitalized and is paralyzed from the chest down. Above his hospital bed, a Kiss poster is spread across the wall.
Weinreich's brother had his wedding relocated this week to the hospital, so his brother could attend. At the wedding, the surprise recording was played.
"Hi Ron, this is Gene Simmons. I'm talking to you from my home. I can't tell you how proud I am of you, and how much the world and Israel owes you a debt of gratitude," he said. "From the bottom of my heart, you are a real hero, you are everybody's hero, you are my hero and I wish I could be there with you."
Suddenly switching to confident Hebrew, Simmons added: "My name is Chaim, I was born in Haifa."
He concluded by saying in English: "I wish you my best, a happy life and I hope the wedding comes off and everybody should honor you because you are a real hero."
He's a self-proclaimed liberal, but on this issue, he gets it.
Actually, I would define him as more of a Libertarian. Very strong on defense issues.
I do remember him in an interview during the worst days of the intifada in 02 that Israel should be tougher on their enemies, he then went further and said the the US/west should be fighting much harder too.
"My name is Chaim, I was born in Haifa."
One of my favorite KISS appearances.
Kudos to Mr. Simmons for doing a good thing by sending his best to the wounded Israeli soldier.
Thanks for correcting the kneejerk spin against the man.
Gene Simmons and Alice Cooper have Never been Liberals!
Gene Simmons seems to disagree with you(from his website):
I have said in this political climate, that I am ashamed of the behavior of people who call themselves either members of the Democratic Party (whose politics I usually support, incidentally) or as Liberals (funny, I always thought I was one). But, I will not hesitate to tell someone off. I believe in a form of politics that supercedes philosophical discussions. I believe in Pragmatism.
bttt
I've watched his new show on A&E, "Family Jewels" a few times. He's got a great personality, reasonably good charactor, and a great sense of humor.
WK: Does Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry have any realistic chance of winning any Southern electoral college votes?
Simmons: That’s a good question. I just want to say this for the record: emotionally, ethically, morally, I side with [Kerry]. But there is not a chance in Hell I want him to be President. And I’ll tell you why. I want a complete Rottweiler to be in charge of that country. Someone who is hated around the world, including in Canada, because in a time of war, when you’ve got maniacs willing to blow themselves up to get at you, you need a madman in charge. A war President. The worst thing for America, as far as I’m concerned, is to have someone who is ethical and moral, like John Kerry, because he is going to want to sit down and have a conversation with maniacs. Not good.
He's a political conservative if a social liberal.
That would make him a a libertarian.
This...
"someone who is ethical and moral, like John Kerry"
... would make him uninformed.
He is no more a conservative than Joe Lieberman.
without hearing it, you couldn't tell how much of it was tongue-in-cheek and how much of it was just intentional rudeness, but...
the liberal b***h probably earned far worse in her career...
it was absolutely hilarious...
That ain't KISS.
http://www.maniahill.com/funny/Gene_Simmons_Terry_Gross_Fresh_Air_02_04_2002.htm
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