During a recent appearance on the Adam Carolla Show, KISS bassist Gene Simmons reflected on his relationship with his father, who left him when he was a child.
Gene Simmons was born in Israel to Jewish parents, as you may know. His mother was a Holocaust survivor who lost her family in the concentration camps. When his mother fled to Israel after the end of World War II, she met the man who would become Simmons’ father. However, their marriage began to dissolve in the later years, and they decided to split when Simmons was a small child.
His father stayed in Israel, but the bassist came to the United States with his mother at eight. He changed his name shortly after coming to the US and worked in many different jobs in the country as they struggled in poverty. Thus, it is publicly known that Gene Simmons didn’t have an easy childhood. During the interview, he talked about if he contacted his father in the following years.
Simmons explained that his father would send him letters, but he never actually spoke to him since he left them. However, he always felt that he owed his father for bringing him to life. The bassist revealed that he financially supported his father until his death. Simmons bought him a house and also met all his basic needs. Gene helped not just his father but also his children from other marriages. Simmons stated that he never wanted to have a real relationship with him, but he wanted to help because he had financial means.
Gene Simmons reflecting on his relationship with his father after he left them:
“Once he left us, I never actually spoke to him, although he kept sending letters. I did feel I owed him an ethical return. He sent me letters in America with my mother, and he was back in Israel. I supported him until the day he died. I bought him a place to live, spending money and all that, plus his other children from other marriages.
It is a fair trade. You gave me life; you were there so I could afford it, so why not make your life better. It doesn’t mean I want to hang out and have a social relationship. I probably had a lot of pent-up finger-pointing and all that. Of course, it was a different time right after World War II. It is difficult for anybody to make heads or tails of what life is, what is happiness.”
You can watch the full interview below.
