Rock band Kiss just announced an upcoming concert in Israel scheduled for this coming summer, as part of a tour celebrating the band's 40 year anniversary. Co-lead singer Gene Simmons, whose original name is Chaim Witz, was born in Haifa, but left Israel for the United States as a small child. He is the child of a Holocaust survivor. Paul Stanley, the band's other lead singer, is also Jewish. In an interview with Israel Hayom in 2011, Simmons said that he still has family living in Haifa and that Kiss has wanted to perform in Israel for a long time. Leading producers in Israel were surprised by the announcement, with some saying they had not been in touch with Kiss regarding the concert plans. Simmons has always expressed strong support for Israel, saying that he still feels like an Israeli.
