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August 07, 2006
Wow ~ How Can You NOT Love This?
"I left Hungary for Israel, and when Gene, whose name then was Chaim, which means 'life,' was 9 we came here. To Williamsburg. I went to work, $39 a week, as a piece-goods worker in a factory and enrolled him in Yeshiva. He spoke Hungarian and Hebrew, but the boys beat him up because he didn't speak English. I told him, 'Go to the bakery. There they speak Hungarian.' He said, 'Because they speak Hungarian, I don't go there. I want to speak English.' "..."Always he wanted to be a musician, but I said, first you finish college. This is a country, I told him, that if you work hard you can make it. Friends called him a sissy because they smoked but not him. He wouldn't drink. Didn't do drugs. He was very hardworking. He would pray then go to school then do a paper route in Jackson Heights. Out of a schmatta, I made a bag to hold those newspapers. And the first money he got he bought me a corsage. My boy became a mensch all by himself. Never asked help from nobody."
That would be Gene Simmons' mom (yes, that Gene Simmons) talking. And this would be her boy talking...
"American TV must be broadcast around the world. Arab countries need to see that here women have two eyebrows not just one. It's jeans, rock 'n' roll and hamburgers that won the war on communism. Nobody's saying, 'Let's go grab some hummus.' They're saying, 'Let's grab a burger.' Our culture must be heard around the world."
Rock ON!
Posted by tree hugging sister at August 7, 2006 10:05 AM
Comments
I worked with Gene Simmons for about 6 months on the advertising (trailers and TV commercials) for "Detroit Rock City" when I worked for New Line Cinema and I loved working with him. Did not take himself seriously at all.
Posted by: Susanna at August 7, 2006 10:24 AM
He was in KISS. Of course he didn't take himself seriously.
Okay, snark aside, I know that he was also a schoolteacher before catching the rock 'n' roll bug. I just kinda wish he'd hooked up with a band that was, uh, good.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at August 7, 2006 10:32 AM
He would call my private line at work and say,
"Hey, it's the big Joo in the tall shoes."
or
"Ralph Wombat here. Listen..."
Posted by: Susanna at August 7, 2006 10:39 AM
I'm still laughing at Arab countries need to see that here women have two eyebrows not just one.
Posted by: Cindermutha at August 7, 2006 10:40 AM
Well, really, that eyebrow comment was out of line. Brooke Shields did finally shave the middle.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at August 7, 2006 10:42 AM
I have read some really good things about Gene Simmons. And I have read some really bad things about him.
When it comes to capitalism and the American Dream, the man is all over it. When it comes to morality, maybe not so much.
Posted by: Cullen at August 7, 2006 11:10 AM
When it comes to morality, maybe not so much.
Well, that's a shocker with a rocker...
Posted by: tree hugging sister at August 7, 2006 11:35 AM
Hey, I only have one eyebrow! Watch it, Geno. But I will still pay respect...
Posted by: Nightfly at August 7, 2006 01:45 PM
Last I checked, Fly, you were not of the female persuasion. But I've only got one, too.
Posted by: John at August 7, 2006 03:01 PM
You checked?
Hell, I just took 'Fly's word for it...
You scientists, always doing experiments.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at August 7, 2006 03:03 PM
I just kinda wish he'd hooked up with a band that was, uh, good.
You think KISS wasn't good? What, they didn't play banjos?
Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at August 7, 2006 03:22 PM
Mr B. trust, but verify.
Posted by: John at August 7, 2006 03:30 PM
You think KISS wasn't good?
Uh, you don't?
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at August 7, 2006 04:08 PM
Hehe, indeed, John.
Indeed.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at August 7, 2006 06:35 PM
Trust, but verify.
Never on a first date, John.
Posted by: Nightfly at August 7, 2006 06:48 PM
'swhat they invented DNA tests for, Fly.
Posted by: John at August 7, 2006 10:47 PM