KISS Overflowing

KISS

KISS

KISS

KISS

KISS

   

Quick!  How many members of KISS were born Jewish?  It's a trick question.  

Original founding members Paul Stanley (Stanley Harvey Eisen, born in Queens, New York) and Gene Simmons (Chaim Witz, born in Israel) are, but Peter Criss and Ace Frehley are not, Jews.

Later members Eric Singer (Eric Doyle Mensinger) and Bruce Kulick (real name!) are also Jewish.

HERE, Gene speaks about his mother surviving Nazi Germany.

For more information, I recommend the books "Kiss and Make-Up" (2001, Gene Simmons), "Kiss: Behind the Mask" (2008, Leaf/Sharp), "Kiss: I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night" (2009, Aileen Weintraub), and "Power Chord" (2012, Thomas Scott McKenzie, talks a bit about Bruce Kulick being Jewish).

And now, here are 3 live videos of an entirely Jewish KISS, Simmons/Stanley/Kulick/Singer:

 

               

NOTICE: All videos, photos, and articles are copyright their respective owners.

Geddy Lee in a rush

For no apparent reason, we start with the bass player from Canadian power triumvirate Rush.

Is he Jewish?  LINK

HERE, Geddy speaks about his mother at Auschwitz.

There is some kerfuffle over whether or not Geddy Lee is atheist.  In THIS interview, Geddy is somewhat definitive about it.  However, atheism is a state of mind, not a belief.  As the lyrics say in Rush's "Faithless" (2010), "I don't have faith in faith, I don't believe in belief."  But if Geddy returns to faith, or begins again to believe, I think I can guess his direction.  And, by the way, Alex Lifeson is credited with writing that song.

Now, enjoy Rush "YYZ" and "Cygnus X-1" live:

 

NOTICE: All videos, photos, and articles are copyright their respective owners.

Why Are You Here?

Well, I certainly hope it's because you are excited, thrilled, or at least mildly curious to know who is Jewish in the world of rock and jazz.  I know I was, and therefore this compilation.  This blog is in process, and entries will be ongoing, so check back often.  And now, enjoy the music and the stories. 

Warning:  I do this from pride, not animosity.   If you've come to leave dirty footprints, they will be wiped clean.   I think you know what I'm saying.