Rocker Gene Simmons is heading back to Israel for the first time in more than 50 years to explore his Jewish roots.

The KISS star, born Chaim Witz, emigrated to America with his mother Flora, a Holocaust survivor, at the age of eight after his parents divorced, and he has never returned.

But the 61 year old is now planning a trip with his girlfriend, former Playboy model Shannon Tweed, as part of his reality TV show Gene Simmons Family Jewels, according to the New York Post.

The bass player will visit the hospital where he was born, in Haifa, and he hopes to be reunited with long-lost relatives, and meet the half-siblings and cousins he has never known.

He will also tour the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during the trip.

KISS singer-guitarist Paul Stanley told CNN that there is no possibility of a reunion of the four original KISS members.

"The word that comes up is 'closure.' We had a good time that deteriorated over time. When we did the farewell tour I realized I didn't want to say farewell to KISS, I wanted to say farewell to two of the members."

In other KISS news, original lead guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss are each writing their memoirs in order to present their side of the story of the band's history.