
Gene Simmons
Born Chaim Witz and an émigré to Jackson Heights (from Israel) at the tender age of eight, Kiss’s blood-spitting, bass-playing Demon has always put glitzy showmanship first. He’s infamous for proudly calling his multimillion-record-selling group a “brand,” not a band, and even though his asshole rep precedes him, Simmons seems to be having the last laugh. This year, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally came calling.