Gene Simmons Sings Jazz for Dennis Quaid Movie—and I’m as Surprised as You Are

Gene Simmons singing sultry jazz music for a movie about former President Ronald Reagan starring Dennis Quaid might sound like something that came out of a 1980s fever dream, but this collaboration is 100% real life. “The Demon” traded his spiked platform boots for tinkling piano with his rendition of the 1933 torch song “Stormy Weather.” Simmons’ cover joins the ranks of countless other artists who have covered the nearly century-old song, including Etta James, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald, to name only a few.

Is it weird to watch Simmons singing a breathy jazz song about rocky romance after getting to know his wild, hard-rock persona in KISS? Yes. Does Simmons sound great on the track? Also yes.

Watch Gene Simmons Sing Jazz For Dennis Quaid Movie

Former KISS bassist and co-vocalist Gene Simmons contributed his cover of “Stormy Weather” to the 2024 Dennis Quaid vehicle, Reagan. The biographical drama follows former President Ronald Reagan from his time as a Warner Bros. movie actor to his turbulent presidency to his death in 2004. Quaid, of course, plays the late president, alongside Penelope Ann Miller as Nancy Reagan and Jon Voight as ex-KGB agent Viktor Petrovich.

The film also covers Reagan’s first marriage to Jane Wyman, which ended in divorce after he became involved in politics and the death of their daughter, Christine. Reagan includes shots of the former president and his first wife in a smoky jazz club, which, of course, requires smoky jazz music as a soundtrack. “It seemed to me during the scenes where Ronald Reagan was sitting with Jane Wyman at the club, there would probably be music playing in the background,” Simmons told Newsweek in late November 2024.

“I was actually thrilled that the producers thought my version of the song would work in the scene,” he continued. And indeed, it really does. Would I have been able to say with absolute uncertainty that the whispering crooner I was hearing was Gene “The Demon” Simmons? No, absolutely not. But therein lies the beauty of Simmons’ rendition of “Stormy Weather.” His artistry defies genre, allowing him to approach each project with a clean slate with no leftover remnants of his past personas, KISS or otherwise.

Nevertheless, in case you needed definitive proof that the sultry singer you’re listening to is Simmons, the Reagan Movie YouTube channel shared a video that features cuts from the film and footage of Simmons singing in the studio.

More Covers Might Be On The Way

Those more familiar with Gene Simmons’ solo career already know that the rock ‘n’ roller is no stranger to doing covers. His 1978 eponymous album featured a cover of the Disney classic “When You Wish Upon a Star,” and the following record included a Bob Dylan cover, “Waiting for the Morning Light.” According to Simmons, there are still covers yet to do.

In his exclusive interview with Newsweek, Simmons hinted at the possibility of a cover album à la Johnny Cash’s American Recordings series, which includes his enduring cover of Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt.” Simmons told Newsweek, “I sat down with producer Rick Rubin, who worked on those Johnny Cash albums, and we had a brief conversation about the very same subject.” The singer said there were no definitive plans yet but that a project might be in the works soon.

After hearing Simmons’ cover of jazz standard “Stormy Weather,” might I humbly suggest more lounge music?

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