Home Searched In Internet Child Crime Probe, Rocker Gene Simmons Asked To Keep Mum


His home searched by Los Angeles police Thursday, KISS rocker Gene Simmons is withholding comment until the investigation runs its course. Police officers armed with a warrant entered Simmons’ Benedict Canyon home near Beverly Hills, showcased in the Gene Simmons: Family Jewels reality series.

According to CBC, police spokesman Lieutenant John Jenal stressed that Simmons and his family were “extremely co-operative” and none of them are suspected of a crime. Police and the Simmons family have refrained from adding any further comment that could jeopardize the investigation.

Meanwhile, the rock star’s wife, Shannon Tweed-Simmons, sent out this grateful tweet at 12:32 a.m. on August 21, 2015.

“Thanks for your support. We couldn’t be more horrified that someone used our residence for such heinous crimes. Law enforcement is on it.”

The KISS bassist has a reported net worth of $300 million, and has been dogged by odd incidents seemingly drawn to his stage persona — such as people impersonating him.

On Sunday, August 9, a woman named Stefanie tweeted Simmons to thank him for making a young girl’s day by posing with her. A snapshot with the message showed a girl, presumably Stefanie’s daughter, standing beside a swarthy, long-haired man in a red shirt, with a passing resemblance to Simmons.

Simmons tweeted back the following reply, after which the photo was deleted.

“So sorry, but that’s not me. There are a number of people going around impersonating me. Apologies.”

Born Chaim Witz in Israel on August 25, 1949, Simmons emigrated at the age of eight with his mother to New York City, leaving his father behind to raise another son and three daughters. He was brought up by his mother, a Holocaust survivor from Hungary, and was inspired by the Beatles to practice the guitar at home.

According to Wikipedia, Simmons searched for his niche in the musical scene as a teenager, joining Lynx, later renamed The Missing Links. The band broke up to form The Long Island Sounds where he played while in community college. Then he joined Bullfrog Bheer, and in the early 70s formed Wicked Lester. He moved on to organize KISS, releasing its debut album in 1974, and the group slowly waned in popularity before experiencing a resurgence in 1996.

As a bass guitarist for KISS, Simmons played the “Demon” with his makeup scheme and costume.

After live-in relationships with Cher and Diana Ross, he dated Canadian former Playboy Playmate Shannon Lee Tweed for 28 years, a union he describes as “happily unmarried.” They had two children, Nick and Sophie, before getting officially married on October 1, 2011.

With his extraordinary, sometimes bizarre, life experiences, Simmons finds another one for the books, as his home is searched by investigators for internet activity that may have happened there last year while he was away on tour with KISS.

[Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images]

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