It was worth the long wait and long lines as hundreds of people came face to face with rock legend Gene Simmons and family in View Royal on Saturday.
The famed reality TV clan B次元官网网址� Simmons, his wife Shannon Tweed and their kids Nick and Sophie B次元官网网址� were met with screams and cheers from more than 1,500 people packed outside the Great Canadian Casino.
Speaking about the roaring audience, the Kiss frontman shrugged: B次元官网网址淭he rest of the world says Canadians are nice. ItB次元官网网址檚 true.B次元官网网址�
In quick interviews with the Gazette and other local media, Simmons, 61, played coy on if he plans to wed his long-time partner Tweed, as alluded to on their reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels. Tweed was not wearing a wedding band during the event.
B次元官网网址�IB次元官网网址檝e never been married. I desperately love Shannon Tweed. WeB次元官网网址檝e been together 28 years,B次元官网网址� Simmons said. B次元官网网址淲e have two great kids. Tomorrow is another day. All I can deal with is today.B次元官网网址�
After decades of success with the rock band Kiss and the long-running reality TV show, Simmons says he has always lived the life he wanted.
When Simmons was a boy growing up in Israel and then the U.S., his parents only had one dream for him. B次元官网网址淭hey wanted me to be anything (I wanted to be). Healthy and happy,B次元官网网址� Simmons said.
His advice to kids dreaming of becoming rock stars is be prepared to go B次元官网网址渨here the fires are burning.B次元官网网址� Waxing philosophically, he said if you have the talent and the drive often people have to find the right place at the right time for themselves.
B次元官网网址淲hatever it is you want to become, sometimes where you are from doesnB次元官网网址檛 have it all. ThatB次元官网网址檚 just life,B次元官网网址� Simmons said. B次元官网网址淏e proud of who you are, but the mountain is never going to come to you.B次元官网网址�
Now in its sixth season, Gene Simmons Family Jewels has cast SimmonsB次元官网网址� partner and kids in the spotlight, and helped him gain insight into his own personality.
B次元官网网址淚 think it has made us a closer family,B次元官网网址� Simmons said. B次元官网网址�(The show) helps me realize my perception of myself isnB次元官网网址檛 accurate. Sometimes I can be short, arrogant, selfish. ItB次元官网网址檚 good to watch.B次元官网网址�
Despite a busy schedule with the reality show B次元官网网址� which was filming during the View Royal stop B次元官网网址� and touring dates with Kiss, Simmons still revels in the personal meet-and-greet events, such as in View Royal.
B次元官网网址淪taying home and twiddling my thumbs and watching I Love Lucy reruns or coming out here, what would you chose?B次元官网网址� Simmons asked.
Sophie Tweed-Simmons, Simmons daughter, said she loves travelling with her family and coming to places such as View Royal. B次元官网网址淚 have been travelling since I was 13,B次元官网网址� said Sophie, 19. B次元官网网址淚 have been to 15 different countries and lived in five.B次元官网网址�
Even with a rock-star father and model mother, Sophie said her parents are strict. B次元官网网址淭here is zero tolerance for drinking or partying. My parents do encourage us to go out, but just not to be idiots about it.B次元官网网址�
Fans waited in the morning sun for hours and some all night for a chance to meet the rock icon and his family. Crowds waiting to get a glimpse of the Simmons family were mostly made up of families themselves.
Along with his parents, Landen Shaw, 11, brought his guitar in hopes of getting a photo with the Simmons family. When Landen met Simmons on stage, he played him a few chords of the Kiss song B次元官网网址淚 was Made For Loving YouB次元官网网址� and got some guitar pointers from the Kiss bass player himself.
B次元官网网址淭his has got to be the biggest day in View Royal history,B次元官网网址� remarked View Royal Mayor Graham Hill. B次元官网网址淚 have been asked to welcome royalty here today.B次元官网网址�
Rob Cuitanovic of Victoria, brought his children Sofia, 8, and Marco, 6, to meet the Simmons family. A hardcore Kiss fan, Cuitanovic brought the board game Kissopoly, B次元官网网址淜iss ThisB次元官网网址� bottle of wine and a 1997 Kiss tour program.
HeB次元官网网址檚 been collecting Kiss memorabilia for 14 years and seen Simmons perform three times. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 cool (Simmons and family are coming). As a family they are pretty grounded. Not like typical celebrities.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淢eeting Gene would make my life,B次元官网网址� remarked Kayla Butts, 16, who drove from Salmon Arm for a chance to meet the family. B次元官网网址淢y dad has listened to Kiss my whole life. My 95-year-old grandma loves them too.B次元官网网址�
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
