This morning, Las Vegas–based chef Kerry Simon passed away at the age of 60, owing to complications from a rare form of Parkinson’s disease called MSA (multiple system atrophy). Simon has a long and illustrious career: He worked for Jean-Georges Vongerichten, won Iron Chef, and opened multiple restaurants in Las Vegas, including KGB at Harrah’s, Clarkson Kitchen, and Simon Kitchen + Bar at the Hard Rock. He had also been developing two new restaurants: another location of Simon in Henderson and one in a Dominican Republic resort.
Rock stars famously loved Simon, too. He cooked for members of Motley Crüe and Led Zeppelin, and he had been working on his first food memoir, which will still be published next year. Per his request, the proceeds from the book will go toward fighting MSA.
