10 Rare Photos Of Gene Simmons Before KISS: From Israeli Immigrant Chaim Witz To Spanish Harlem School Teacher

Few rock stars have a backstory as improbable as Gene Simmons. The man known globally as "The Demon," the fire-breathing, blood-spitting bassist of KISS, was not born into rock and roll royalty. Born in Israel to a Holocaust survivor, his early life was one of poverty and immense change. The search for "Gene Simmons young pictures" is a quest to find the face behind the iconic makeup, revealing a fascinating journey from a young immigrant named Chaim Witz to a budding musician, and even, surprisingly, a brief career in education.

As of December 2025, the most compelling and fresh information about his early years continues to revolve around the rare, pre-fame photos that capture his evolution. These images, often from the early 1970s, show a young man with a distinctive look—long, dark hair and an intense gaze—long before the iconic black and white makeup, dragon boots, and massive stage persona made him a legend. They offer a glimpse into the life of Gene Klein, the ambitious young man who would soon co-found one of the biggest bands in music history.

Gene Simmons: A Complete Early Life Biography (Chaim Witz to The Demon)

The journey of Gene Simmons is a testament to the American dream, starting thousands of miles from the stages of Madison Square Garden. Understanding his biography is key to appreciating the rare young pictures that surface from his past.

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• Birth Name: Chaim Witz (Hebrew: חיים ויץ)
• Date of Birth: August 25, 1949
• Place of Birth: Haifa, Israel
• Parents: Flora Klein (mother, Hungarian Holocaust survivor) and Ferenc "Feri" Yehiel Witz (father, carpenter)
• Immigration to the U.S.: Moved to New York City with his mother in 1958 at the age of eight.
• Name Change Progression:
  • Upon arriving in the U.S., Chaim Witz adopted the name Eugene Klein (using his mother's maiden name).
  • He later shortened it to Gene Klein.
  • He officially changed his professional name to Gene Simmons in the late 1960s, reportedly as a tribute to rockabilly artist Jumpin' Gene Simmons.
• Education: Graduated from Richmond College, St. George, in 1970 with a Teaching Degree.
• Early Career: Worked as a newspaper delivery boy at age 13 and briefly as a sixth-grade teacher in Spanish Harlem before committing fully to music.
• Pre-KISS Bands: Wicked Lester (with Paul Stanley/Stanley Eisen) was the most notable band before the formation of KISS.

The Shocking Career of Gene Simmons: Sixth-Grade Teacher in Spanish Harlem

One of the most surprising facts revealed by "Gene Simmons young pictures" research is his brief, but documented, career as an educator. Before he was "The Demon," Gene Klein was a certified teacher.

In the early 1970s, while struggling to make it in the New York music scene, Simmons earned a teaching degree from Richmond College (now part of the College of Staten Island). He took a job teaching sixth-grade students in Spanish Harlem, a stark contrast to the rock and roll lifestyle he was pursuing.

This period of his life is one of the most intriguing because it captures him at a true crossroads. He was a young immigrant, highly educated, and trying to balance the stability of a teaching job with the chaotic, all-consuming ambition of becoming a rock star. He ultimately gave up teaching after a short stint, famously realizing that his true calling was on the stage, not in the classroom. Photos from this era are exceedingly rare, showing a clean-cut, professional look that is worlds away from the theatricality of KISS.

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Rare Photos of Gene Simmons Without Makeup: The Transition Years (1970-1973)

The pictures that truly capture the "young Gene Simmons" are those taken in the short window between his teaching career and the formal adoption of the KISS makeup. This is the period when he and his musical partner, Paul Stanley (then Stanley Eisen), were developing the band's core concepts.

The most sought-after images come from the rehearsal loft at 10 E. 23rd St in New York City, just before their debut. These photos show a band still experimenting with their look. Gene Simmons, or Gene Klein as he was still known, appears with a raw, rock-and-roll edge, but without the elaborate costuming that would define the band's global success.

Key visual entities from this era include:

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• The Pre-KISS Look: Photos from 1973 often show Simmons with a simple black t-shirt, jeans, and his trademark long, dark, wavy hair. His intense, focused expression is already present, but the theatrics are absent.
• Wicked Lester: Images of his previous band, Wicked Lester, are a fascinating glimpse into a failed musical direction. This band wore no makeup and had a more eclectic, less hard-rock sound. Simmons is seen with an acoustic guitar in some of these photos, a stark contrast to the Destroyer-era bass he would later wield.
• Early Makeup Tests: Some extremely rare photos from 1973 and 1974 show the band experimenting with their face paint. The designs are often rougher and less defined than the final "Demon" persona, highlighting the creative process that led to the KISS brand.

These young pictures are crucial because they show the man who was still figuring out how to fuse his identity with his ambition. He was trying on different personas—Chaim Witz, the Israeli immigrant; Eugene Klein, the American student; Gene Klein, the teacher; and finally, Gene Simmons, the rock star.

The Iconic 1970s Photos: The Birth of The Demon

While the pre-KISS photos are the rarest, the most widely circulated "young Gene Simmons pictures" are those from the mid-to-late 1970s, specifically the *Alive!* and *Destroyer* eras. These images cemented his legacy as "The Demon."

The look in these pictures is fully formed: the iconic makeup, the towering platform boots, and the elaborate leather and armor. These photos are a visual record of his transition from a struggling musician to a global phenomenon. Topical entities from this period are numerous and include:

• The Demon Persona: The makeup, inspired by comic books and horror films, gave him the name that would become synonymous with his stage presence.
• The Signature Tongue: Photos from this era often feature his legendary long tongue, a visual entity that became a core part of the KISS mythology.
• The 1974 Promo Shots: Early promotional photos, particularly those taken around the time of their debut album, show a raw, hungry band on the verge of superstardom.
• The No-Makeup Glimpses: Even during the height of their makeup era, a few candid backstage or interview photos from the 1970s exist where Simmons is seen without his full costume, offering a rare, unvarnished look at the man behind the mask.

Ultimately, the search for "Gene Simmons young pictures" is a fascinating historical exercise. It’s a journey from a young boy who spoke no English, Chaim Witz, to a dedicated student and teacher, Eugene Klein, and finally to the legendary, larger-than-life rock and roll mogul, Gene Simmons. His early pictures are a powerful reminder that "The Demon" was once just an ambitious young man with a dream that was too big for any classroom.