11 Facts About Simone Simons

Simone Johanna Maria Simons was born on 17 January 1985 and is a Dutch singer.

Simone Simons is best known for being the lead singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, which she joined at the age of seventeen, releasing eight studio albums and touring the world.

Simone Simons has a side pursuit as a lifestyle blogger, via her website SmoonStyle.

Simone Simons has a younger sister named Janneke who was born on Simone's second birthday.

Simone Simons sang in a choir for a few months, and later joined Epica at the age of 17, after meeting Mark Jansen through the After Forever's blog and fanclub.

Simone Simons cited her musical influences as Lacuna Coil, Nightwish, Tristania, Kamelot, Within Temptation, Dimmu Borgir, Tiamat, and some classical music such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

In late 2002, the band courted Helena Iren Michaelsen as its frontwoman, but shortly after she was replaced by the then unknown Simone Simons, who was Jansen's girlfriend at the time.

In January 2008, Simone Simons was suffering from recurrent MRSA infections.

Simone Simons and long-time partner, Kamelot keyboard player Oliver Palotai have a son, Vincent Palotai, born on 2 October 2013.

In December 2013, Simone Simons announced on her blog that she had recently married Palotai.

Simone Simons first met Jansen in the chatroom on After Forever's website, when Jansen was searching for a singer for a side project, with the then-16 year old Simone Simons making a positive impression after singing to him over the phone during their first telephone conversation.