Kiss and tell Israeli-style
KISS bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons (pictured) has labelled fellow musicians who boycott performing in Israel as “fools”.
KISS bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons (pictured) has labelled fellow musicians who boycott performing in Israel as “fools”.
In an interview conducted in Israel with the Associated Press, the 61-year-old Israeli-born rocker, whose real name is Chaim Witz, said despite having lived in the United States for over 50 years, he still felt like an Israeli.
“I’m a stranger in America. I’m an outsider,” he said. “I was born here and I’m proud of it.
“Coming back to Israel is a homecoming.”
Performers who have refused to play in Israel include folk-rock singer Elvis Costello and alternative-rock band The Pixies.
Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz reported last month that Roger Waters, the founder of legendary ‘70s progressive rock group Pink Floyd, has voiced his support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.
Simmons, whose mother was a Holocaust survivor, said their energies were being misdirected.
“The countries they should be boycotting are the same countries that the populations are rebelling,” he said. “People long to be free … and they sure as hell don’t want somebody who’s a ruler who hasn’t been elected by them.”
Simmons was in Israel to film segments for his reality television show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, which follows around the enigmatic personality, his long-time girlfriend Shannon Tweed, and their children as they go about their lives.
Kiss shot to fame in the 1970s, fusing hard rock with face paint and using pyrotechnics at their concerts.
Some of their hit songs include I Was Made For Lovin’ You, Rock and Roll All Nite and Shout It Out Loud.
The band has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.
GARETH NARUNSKY
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