I have a confession – I’ve watched more than one episode of Family Jewels, and I didn’t hate it. That’s the reality show about Gene Simmons, Shannon Tweed and their two kids. Gene seems like a douche (a smart douche, and a great businessman), but I was surpised by how much I liked Shannon Tweed and their kids. Their son Nick is especially nice, in that I’m slightly surprised that he’s the son of a rock star – he’s very well adjusted and kind, which might be a testament to how well Shannon raised him. Anyway, I’ve followed some of the storylines of the show, so I know that Shannon wanted to make her 28-year relationship with Gene official at long last. Still, I didn’t know that they were actually going to go through with it – but they did. They were married yesterday in Beverly Hills:
Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed have made it official!
After 28 years together, the KISS bassist, 62, married his longtime girlfriend in an evening ceremony outside on the crystal lawn at the Beverly Hills hotel on Saturday, their rep confirms to PEOPLE. The couple’s guests cheered when Simmons said “I do” to his partner.
Tweed, 54, walked down the aisle in an ivory Priscilla of Boston gown – one of three dresses she chose for the big occasion – and carried a bouquet of ivory garden roses.
The couple exchanged vows they wrote themselves in front of 400 guests including Hugh Hefner, Bill Maher and the KISS members (Paul Stanley was in the wedding party).
Also in attendance were the couple’s two children Nick, 22, and Sophie, 19, who was the maid of honor.
And their planned first dance is quite fitting for a couple who have been together for almost three decades: “At Last” by Etta James, to be performed by their daughter Sophie.
[From People]
Sounds like a nice ceremony. I’ve got to wonder if Gene made Shannon sign a prenup after all of these years, though. I bet he did. Also, according to some reports a few months ago, Gene also refused to promise fidelity to Shannon, only saying that he’ll “do his best”. Eh… either they won’t make it a year now that they’re married, or they’ll make it for the rest of their lives.
Photos courtesy of Fame & WENN.
He has cheated on her for YEARS. why???
Is it a legal marriage? I believe it was just staged for TV. LEt’s see the marriage license.
Shannon is such a beautiful woman. There is a lot of goodness in Gene. I truly hope he does not mess up. She does not deserve that.
I’ll admit to watching their show and actually liking it. Wishing them a happy marriage. Hope it doesn’t change because of a piece of paper.
Amazed he’d find volunteers to cheat with.
I always felt badly for the daughter. No one deserves for their geeky awkward years to be televised. Yes the son seems remarkably well-adjusted considering. Unfair to give all the credit to the mother tho. Dad may be a douche but he seems to genuinely love his kids.
She needs to lay off with the plastic surgery. She’s starting to look like a muppet.
lets face it. Gene Simmons has been an old “married”man for nearly 30 years.
I don’t believe for one minute he has ever cheated on Shannon, or ever will.
For all his created personna attributes, he’s really just a nice jewish boy who found the perfect woman.
@ Kath & Kim- That’s exactly what I was thinking. I could see how, being a rock legend at 30 years old, how difficult it would be to be faithful. But 62? Time to grow up and keep it in your pants, dude.
Her dress in the bottom pic looks like something Duchess Kate wore in Canada, and that got me thinking, DAMN and we call her Waity Kaity? Then wth do we call someone who waited 28 years???
This is not my idea of romance lol.
I don’t believe his ‘number’. It’s a gimmick. He wouldn’t know what to do with himself if Shannon left him. Besides, it’s about time he grew up.
It takes a man 28 years to realise that he wants to marry the woman he “loves” – pathetic!! No wonder men today are so spineless and weak.
At least, they got married!
It’s always a good day when people’s limits on ‘how long to stay in a consensual relationship without marriage’ can be rubbished.
Congrats to them!
I love watching this show. Gene’s a dick, but Shannon and the kids are so nice. I remember one episode where their daughter Sophie said “I thought he was a great provider growing up, but never a great father.” It was very sad. I also saw when and he Shannon were on Chelsea Lately and they showed the scene where she see’s a picture of him on TMZ with two women and Shannon starts crying. Chelsea chewed his ass out for treating his partner that way.
Shannon Tweed is phenomenal; I have always like her. She should be on tv more often.
#8, Sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s hardly a secret that Gene Simmons is an absolute pig. Perhaps he is a nice man on the TV to his wife, but in real life he is a sexist creepy asshole. Everyone in the entertainment industry knows it, it’s completely out in the open for all to see. I’ve personally witnessed him being an outright prick to any woman who was not “working” at making themselves sexually available or attractive to him. He’s gross.
I don’t believe his number, either. However, i found him kind of a dick to watch. My boyfriend was disgusted by how often Gene was going on about how he didn’t want to get married, blah blah, and found it really insulting to Shannon and a bad thing to say in front of the son and daughter, putting down their mom. He was more annoyed by it than I was. So we didn’t keep watching.
Well, I hope it lasts. I mean, if they can’t make a marriage work after being together (basically married) for 28 freaking YEARS, they shouldn’t have stayed together for 28 years!
I am so happy about this…I just hope he is gives this woman and the kids the respect they deserve after all this time. Love a happy ending…
I had sex with Gene 2 years ago while he was on tour with Kiss. He basically stalked me as soon as he saw me, having his manager “collect” me. Not like I was against it, I’ve heard stories about all the women he’s been with and his massive member and tongue. I had never seen his show, he told me that he wasn’t with Shannon, it was “just for ratings”. Best sex I’ve ever had and I certainly felt like a rock star. He’s a man who always get what he wants, I doubt he will ever be faithful. But I’m sure Shannon knows that, they are just doing it for the children I think. Who cares, just thought I’d share.
Nick Simmons was accused for plagiarism for basically copying or tracing others peoples artwork for his “original” manga. They pulled it from the shelves when people realized it. I don’t think that is very well adjusted.
Well, Lola. You knew who he was and that he had a long-term partner but you still had sex with him. Nice.
wtf i thought they were already married!
She needs to stop messing with her face right now. Its starting to look very strange.
I never saw what other people saw in him. If he cheats, he’s a fool.
He has a bad porno out.
Shannon should have cut her losses, he lied to her face for 27 plus years saying he didn’t cheat. That’s what he said.
Then someone taped themselves having sex with this old man and she cries and marries this old pig?
I’m sure the pre-nup is as stingy as his “cohabitation agreement” so she should move on.
She’s a beautiful 50. But will she have any options at 68? Time to bale is now. It’s not too late, just bale now.
Good Lord, Tweed looks likes Madam!
@ Linnie I was thinking the same thing. Some women just don’t care, it’s pathetic. Just because he doesn’t have a ring on and he’s a known womanizer then it doesn’t seem to matter if he cheats. If I knew a man was in a relationship I would never sleep with him, also obviously he wouldn’t say he and his wife were happy together. Rather doubtful you would stay with someone for 25 years and the last few be only for tv. I think Shannon is a fool for staying so long and marrying him even though he didn’t give her a real commitment. She must have low self esteem. I’m sure she could have left and found herself a good man and not looked so pathetic.
There’s a video featuring Gene and a woman who is not Shannon. It’s from 2008, and it is the most unflattering tape ever. Gene is pretty much the king of “wham bam, thank you, ma’am” making no attempt whatsoever to pleasure his partner.
There’s a funny rundown here:
http://gawker.com/5003214/how-gene-simmons-sex-tape-is-the-fairytale-romance-of-our-time
I don’t know why anyone would want to have sex with this old man. All you’d get is a bunch of STDs, and don’t forget that there’s still no cure for herpes.
Shannon deserves way better than this sleaze, but for whatever reason she really wanted to marry the guy so I hope the marriage works out for her.
They are practically married for almost 30 years.
This is a romantic gesture as it’s obvious they are devoted to one another and love each other, hence- the 28 years together.
I like them (him too!!! he is awesome and so real), so I wish them all the best.
@lola: Thanks so much for the Sunday afternoon dry heaves. You’re too kind. Anyway, morality issues aside, if that creepy, helmet-haired turd provided you the best sex of your life, I’d say it’s high time you upped your standards. He’s nauseating.
I used to work in an office bldg with several radio stations. Twice (a yr apart) I ended up in the elevator wit him & handlers. I’m hardly covergirl material & I’m 40, still he hit on me both times. (Both times it began with complimenting my boots) I wasn’t paying attention either time when I got on the elevator, amusing, coincidence, but not interested. At all.
I watched this show in the beginning, really liked it. Then things started feeling really scripted so I stopped watching. Yesterday I watched a marathon of last season and was shocked by how real everything seemed. I would guess that Shannon wants the ring just to have it. I couldn’t believe that she would even consider marrying him. I’m sure the pre-nup is still good enough that in a couple years she can walk away and not be scared. I hope anyways.
He’s repulsive. I don’t know why anyone would want to marry him, let alone have kids with him. Ick.
I read on Wikipedia that Shannon’s family ran a farm; her father was injured and her mother had to sell the farm eventually. When her dad was told his wife had sold it, he divorced her. So I think that must’ve left her with massively low self-esteem and an unwillingness to let go of her man, shitty as he may be.
@Kate Alston:
Gene has cheated on her numerous times. All you have to do is Google his name and there’s a video of him having sex with some other girl.
I know he loves her, but he loves himself and his money more.
@ Lola…really? If you only knew how that little bit of information made people on here view you, you might have thought twice before you shared…But, I digress. I used to watch the show all the time and actually thought that the kids seemed well adjusted and normal. He just always seemed to be genuinely in love with his family. Haven’t watched in awhile and from what I read and heard about it, glad I haven’t.
Regarding Lola’s comment: Were we supposed to be impressed with your account of epic sleaze?
We’ve got your number Groupie. It’s Zero.
Show is terribly scripted.
I find egotist dicks kind of funny, but Gene is a total dick because it’s not an act. I’m not sure how KISS became so popular but if I was in that band, I would feel lucky to be so rich, not act like I was God’s gift to music. He’s a good business man, but only when it relates to the band. His solo ventures generally flop.
Their daughter would get it though. Not sure where her looks came from since Gene is gross and Shannon was decent IMO.
Yeah…I’m goona go there.
#8. Katie Alston–
So…you think he never cheated? Do you still leave milk and cookies at the fireplace for Santa the night before Christmas? Anyway…
Here’s an example of a long-term relationship of 28 years (obviously more than 14 years) that finally results in a marriage. I feel like he did this for Shannon and the kids. I doubt he will ever truly be “faithful.”
to Lola: Congratulations on your having fun on the tears of a doting mother and woman who has waited close to 30 years to get a legal and public “commitment” from the man whom she considers the love of her life. You seem to know your place with men.
Shannon will never leave him. Gene is a very shrewd businessman and I have no doubt that she was made to sign cohabitation agreements and a prenup that gives her absolutely nothing if they were to break up. In ths unlikely instance that they were to break up, I’m sure that Hugh Hefner would step in and help her out. I always thought that Shannon was a favorite of his.
I think Gene is a digusting human being and I think he’s done everything to take away any self-worth Shannon had for herself in order to keep her around. He strikes me as the type of guy who does whatever he wants and does just enough to keep Shannon around. The way I see it, he’s financially trapped her and has brainwashed her into believing that no one else wants her. I find it to be a real sad situation.
I cannot believe that people pay plastic surgeons money…to come out looking so awful! Shannon used to be so gorgeous…now, she looks frightening! Why do women do this to themselves? Put on some Pond’s Face Cream…and leave the knives to your neighborhood butcher shop!
I watch the show – his kids really are great, and this makes happy for them and for Shannon. She did a wonderful job raising them and it shows. You can tell they adore her, too.
Someone mentioned getting married was a “romantic gesture”… hmmm. I’d like to think so but the pieces of last season I caught up with make that possibility only a maybe.
Shannon went on a extended stay to her family in Canada. I think Gene genuinely missed her and considered the monumental f%#$ up he’d made (not screwing whatever woman but I think the, um, high profile nature of it). While I thought his proposal was decent and genuine I think he probably feels pressured into it and that includes pressure by himself.
The kids and Shannon seem pretty grounded and nice. I hope this isn’t a band aid that will ultimately draw more blood if it’s ever ripped off.
Shannon need to marry him for financial security. Since their kids are now all grown up, she couldn’t get any child support if they broke up. And with her looks fading fast, it would be very hard for her to find another sugar daddy.
Sad but true.
@Violet
Ha, ha. Thanks for the link to the Gawker recap of the 2008 sex tape, (and no I did not click on the link to see it.) My favorite Gawker comment was, “It’s like a less attractive Ron Jeremy”, which is exactly what I think of Simmons.
Why any woman would want to be with that hideous,(inside and out), toad for even 1 second is beyond me. Tweed could have done so much better. Fortunately, their kids got both her looks and her personality.
IMO Kiss sucked as a band and only became famous because of the make-up gimmick.
I don’t think his son is all that great. He is a plagiarist. He traced one of the most famous manga out there thinking people wouldn’t notice? Lame…
When Gene was in Melbourne a few years ago he was at parties walking up to women in their early twenties and smelling them. When they asked him what he was doing he’d say “I just wanted to know what a beautiful woman smelt like” Smoooth. 🙂
Oh come on. Shannon would not be with Gene if he wasn’t “Gene Simmons from KISS” and didn’t have squillions of dollars. Look at the amazing lifestyle they lead. Sophie is nice and Nick is a douche. Yes they could have turned out a lot worse. Shannon fully knows what type of person Gene is and she has turned a blind eye for years. The “will they/won’t they marry” is just drama for the show. I saw Gene interviewed by Pamela Stevenson – he was a rude pig. Kudos to him for being a good businessman. A lotta baggage goes with it.
He’s a pig and she has no self-esteem, plain & simple.
Plus he kept his shirt, watch & socks on in that sex tape. If that ain’t a turn-off nothing is.
She should’ve left him. She’ll never be able to trust him. Their kids turned out ok….which is a testament to Shannon….not Gene.
she must feel so good knowing that she finally forced him to marry her. happy times will ensue, i’m sure.
My mom and dad have been married for 40 years. She knows he cheats and has been doing so throughout their marriage. Eventhough my sister and I love our dad we have zero respect for him. We have begged our mom countless times to leave him. She always say “he sleeps with these women but he comes home to me”. She is Latina and says that is just part of her culture but I know it kills her inside. It is infuriating, heartbreaking and I will never understand it. The only thing I can do about it is not repeat the pattern.
@neff
I did end up watching the clip and Gawker doesn’t exaggerate at all! I think the main reason he’s been with thousands of women is because 99.9% of them don’t want a repeat of such a sorry performance, so he constantly has to find someone new. That’s probably becoming more and more of a struggle for him, so that’s probably why he finally married Shannon.
I did watch a few shows leading up to their engagement. I enjoyed it and hope he puts more effort in. I am happy for them both! He is very into himself and they both know that.. but seem to love each other.
Those that have followed their show will remember that Gene and Shannon did a radio interview based on the lie detector test given to Gene with regard to the alleged number of his conquests. At the interview Shannon had confessed that she would not be with Gene if not for his millions. Don’t feel sorry for Shannon.
@violet: you made my day, thx, 🙂
@52/violet lol! that’s funny and actually a plausible theory
I love their show and got hooked this past year. I wish them well and I hope he continues to get treatment for his issues. Maybe that will keep him from straying to feed his ego.
I must be older than everyone here because I remember when he dated Cher and Diana Ross and he was with this woman at that time. So those of you who don’t beleive he cheats on her, I have a bridge to sell you.
@S and @smh – You’re welcome and thanks 🙂
@ kara, et al. – He recently has had an affair last year and that’s why Shannon left him, and Sophie told him he was a terrible father and that she was taking her mom’s side in the issue. Read up.
He’s disgusting. He walks around like he’s still in his heyday. Why would ANY woman let him touch her? Oh yes, and WTH did she do to her face?
Who cares! At least he could have bought a new rug for the occasion. He’s too arrogant maybe Shannon thinks it’s cute but he’s annoying and icky.
Gene is just a pig of a man. Shannon could have done so much better. He is truly a beast inside and out and she is the beauty. Why she settled for that ugly unfaithful Jewish slob is beyond me.
I was so disappointed with the lie detEctor because the guy asks if he’s made love to another woman since he was with Shannon. He should have asked if he banged another woman since Shannon. I used to feel bad for her but I didn’t know the lie detector also revealed she’s only with him for the $ omg…lol yikes. I hope she is but she’s the one who brought up the prenup so I don’t know. Shan look at your ex bf John from the Saskatoon episode if you want a real man…seems like a stand up guy if ya ask me and give her a break about the plastic surgery. It is bad but if I w as 55 and man was banging 20 yr olds I’d have some self esteem issues too
In my defense, I really didn’t know that he was in a long term relationship, I had never seen the show. I only shared my story because it happened, and.. I felt like it, not because I care what anyone thinks of me. So, call me a groupie or whatever but the point is that AFTER THE FACT, when I saw the show, I was shocked but I think the whole married thing is just for show. Either that or she is the stupidest woman alive. He and his manager continued to call me for a year and even offered to fly me to LA, I am sure I was one of hundreds and maybe even thousands of women that he was with. Maybe he is a changed man now, but I doubt it.
In case anyone is still wondering they are having a Prenup Shan brought it up…that’s like a slap in the face after 28 years…flipping cheapsk8 shouldn’t someone in his life be like come on man cut it out with the disrespect
Congrads to the intire family. Every one wants to bash on Gene, for what? Put Shannon on your arm and leave them young girls in the dust.
I understand why Shannon decided to marry Gene and I understand her “pain” and inability to trust him. Why? Because I have lived it. I can say for me, it did not work out but I am just a romantic enough to hope that it can work for someone else. Gene reminds me of my soon to be ex but there is one big difference he has a vulnerability that does come through where his family is concerned. When you throw in the fact that he is not getting any younger, I think they stand a chance. I don’t think that Shannon is in it for the money. She could have exploited that path long ago if that was her aim. Palamony, selling her story to the Enquirer, or a tell all book, etc. That isn’t it. She loves this man, warts and all and she deserves her day. I say let her have it she has earned it and if anyone can make it work it will be her.
To Lola and all you others that would go there I can only say that if women would be willing to unite instead of stab each other in the back or in this case the heart we could rule the world. Think about it.
I am watching Shannon & Gene’s wedding.
Gene is a VERY, VERY LUCKY MAN, and although he knows WHO Shannon IS, Gene FINALLY REALIZED:
RESPECTING Sophie’s MOTHER is a Testament of LEADING BY EXAMPLE I WISH YOU BOTH THE BEST…
I would Like to wish the newly married couple all the best it was time. I think Shannon did a good job helping Gene face allot of fears,but now they are starting a new life with a new family so I hope you both enjoy your new start. I wish you all the very best for years to come.
I have watched this show for years with my wife son and daughter… on and off for me anyway. My two young children enjoy it a lot more as does my wife. I watched the shows leading up to the wedding, the marriage boot camp, and the the shrink sessions. It seemed that Gene was getting all the flak for being a dog. He has always been a dog, even before they met. Shannon stuck around for 28 years and she has known for many many years that Gene was seeing other women. She is not that STUPID. After all they met at the PLAYBOY mansion. A place that she spent four years at working!! I would love a video of those 4 years!! Now maybe she has never cheated on Gene but I doubt it.
After 28 years in CA law she is entitled to half. I do not think a judge would consider a pre-nuptial contract, after 28 years to be even valid. The judge would throw it out in this case and give her HALF, which she deserves after 28 years. If Shannon has any self respect she would leave him,but she stays. If she stays now then it is her own fault. What bothers me does Gene not have any respect for his own daughter and son. He is a dog and will continue to be one as long there is at least one female fan still alive. Gene is very selfish in this area and seems to be oblivious to the damage he is doing to his family and also Shanon for staying and putting up with it. Money can make you do a lot of things you would not under normal circumstances, like sell yourself out.
This saga is about a woman who knows she deserves better…but lives in Disneyland. She spents her life at a therapist’s office trying to figure him out…but really it is about figuring herself out and why she puts up with it. But she already knows the answer to that…the money, the fortune and the fame. She needs to quit locking him out of the bedroom and lock him out of her life. She knows no one would watch the Shannon Tweed show so she settles for so much sadness in her life and lives (and will die) hoping he can just love her. He gets more than any public toilet seat and she wants it to be just hers. Maybe she should sell her own line of furniture.
If Shannon want’s to adopt a child so what! Lower and middle income, non-self-centered people do it all the time! And why do Shannon & Gene need to make it OK with Nick & Sophie? They don’t live a home anymore right? The kids like the focus on them, the cameras the fame and money, they would have to share all of this with a child. Sophie acted like she didn’t want to influence her mother, right, she made sure not to support any choice Shannon chose unless it was not too, and by the why Sophie, when you called the child an “it” that showed your hand. Shannon & Gene don’t need their two spoiled, selfish, fame whore grown kids opinions. They also want Shannon and her caring ways for their future children for Shannon to babysit for them.