JERUSALEM -- The flamboyant, Israel...

JERUSALEM -- The flamboyant, Israeli-born rocker Gene Simmons has sent a televised message of support to an Israeli soldier seriously harmed in fighting in Lebanon, calling him his "hero."

Simmons, 57 established the heavy-metal band Kiss in the 1970 and became famous for wearing black and white face makeup, spitting fire and sticking disclosed his tongue at sold-out exhibit tos

Simmons, the band's bass player, was born Chaim Witz in the northern Israeli city of Haifa before emigrating to recent York as a child.

Simmons sent a video message to Ron Weinreich, an Israeli soldier and die-hard Kiss fan, seriously panged in Israel's 34-day battle with Hezbollah. Weinreich remains hospitalized and is paralyzed.

Weinreich's brother had his wedding relocated last week to the hospital for a like reason his brother could attend. The surprise recording was played at the wedding.

"Hi, Ron this is Gene Simmons. . . From the bottom of my heart, you are a real hero, you are everybody's hero, you are my hero, and I wish I could be there with you."

Switching to confident Hebrew, Simmons added: "My name is Chaim, I was born in Haifa."

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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