Before KISS, Gene Simmons Made $30 a Week Lugging Meat Up Stairs

The bassist on his mother’s Holocaust survival, starting work at 12 and how the rock band was formed

Gene Simmons, 76, is a bassist and co-founder of the rock band KISS and of Simmons/Hamilton Productions, which recently released the new film “Deep Water.” He is currently on tour as a solo artist. [Photo above of Gene Simmons in 2025 by John Cotter/Sound Exchange]

If you have a WSJ.com subscription, you can read my House Call column with Gene Simmons he…