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Danno · November 14th, 2010, 02:02 PM

Any fans here? Don't want to get into a discussion about how insufferable he can be (for the record I believe he is a good father and I have read countless stories of his always making time for fans - that goes a long way in my book.

He has always downplayed his bass playing ability and is never one to talk technical aspects. I've been a fan since '76 and have only in the past few years realized how great his playing is. For all that is going on stage he really nails some tasty bass lines. I think he is vastly underrated.

Probably opening a can of worms but I think he is the best hard rock bassist out there (all due respect to Steve 'arris - he's Metal anyway).

Not really showing off his playing but he's a pretty dang good singer too (and a HUGE Beatles fan):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoyJ_EW0aZI

Okay, this one more shows my point:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ-wW...eature=related

acalan · November 14th, 2010, 02:22 PM

I think he's a much better bassist that a reality show star.How old is he anyway?

casterway · November 14th, 2010, 02:28 PM

There's a lot of tasty Kiss basslines, but rumor has it that a lot of it wasn't even him on a lot of songs.

fidopunk · November 14th, 2010, 02:29 PM

What do they taste like exactly?

casterway · November 14th, 2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fidopunk

What do they taste like exactly?

Like this

Danno · November 14th, 2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casterway

There's a lot of tasty Kiss basslines, but rumor has it that a lot of it wasn't even him on a lot of songs.

I've heard of Paul and Ace playing bass sometimes but that has been pretty rare. Gene has played guitar on some tracks and played nothing but 6 strings on his '78 solo album

He's certainly pulled off those bass lines live.

Casterway - good call. Getaway has such a cool bass line. Favorite KISS album hands down - their "Revolver" as far as I'm concerned.

fidopunk · November 14th, 2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casterway

Like this

So like old cheese?
No, I'm just kidding-- you set me up too well for it.
Gene's okay, and I appreciate his taste in Ripper's/Grabber's.

psycho gun · November 14th, 2010, 03:09 PM

I like Gene Simmons, as a showman, a bass player (very "melodic rock'n'roll"), I often prefer Paul Stanley's songs but some Simmons stuff is good : War Machine, Deuce, Unholy, Love for Sale... most of his tracks are classic rock'n'roll based, Stanley is more a heavy metal/hard rock composer.

Gene plays well, singing and "fighting" on stage in order not to let Paul rules... it's a good duet, the Beauty and the Beast.

The songs they made together are really good KISS classics. As Simmons said once : "Paul and I are different but complementary : if there's a cream cake on a table, I'll eat the cream, he'll eat the cake".

The sound of his bass : sometimes the old Gibson Grabber and Ripper, sometimes a modern distorted tone from EMG pickups. Lot of mediums, solid guitar pick technic, he likes slides on the high octave.

Tim Armstrong · November 14th, 2010, 03:46 PM

I've read that KISS pioneered the practice, so common now, of miming their stage act to prerecorded music, so I don't know how accurate it is to say that Gene's a good live bassist...

Just sayin'...

Tim

frayne · November 14th, 2010, 06:52 PM

Call me old fashion but I have a real problem taking seriously any band that has to dress up like a bunch of clowns, regardless of their talent or lack of.

casterway · November 14th, 2010, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frayne

Call me old fashion but I have a real problem taking seriously any band that has to dress up like a bunch of clowns, regardless of their talent or lack of.

You're old fashioned.

martini · November 15th, 2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frayne

Call me old fashion but I have a real problem taking seriously any band that has to dress up like a bunch of clowns, regardless of their talent or lack of.

Its all part of the act.

Personally, I love it and I think Gene is a very underated 4 stringer.

guitarzan13 · November 15th, 2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

I've read that KISS pioneered the practice, so common now, of miming their stage act to prerecorded music, so I don't know how accurate it is to say that Gene's a good live bassist...

Just sayin'...

Tim

Ouch! I heard them last year.... They were very much live.... I am a Big Fan.

Tim Armstrong · November 15th, 2010, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarzan13

Ouch! I heard them last year.... They were very much live.... I am a Big Fan.

How can you be sure? Let's face it, they're pros, have had many years to hone their act! They were absolutely doing the mime thing back in the late 70s.

Tim

Danno · November 15th, 2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

How can you be sure? Let's face it, they're pros, have had many years to hone their act! They were absolutely doing the mime thing back in the late 70s.

Tim

From what I've seen on youtube, Gene misses more lyrics and Paul hits some strays here and there. Good or bad - it's live.

I have seen dozens of full shows from the 70's and they are all live. Lots of screw ups, rushed tempos, and, well, Gene forgetting lyrics then too. The only "mime" stuff is the promos they did for a couple of the first albums and the ALIVE promos. They did doctor ALIVE in the studio a bit but I've seen shows from that period ('75-'76) where they were totally on and pulled off great, tight versions of all those songs.

Danno · November 15th, 2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frayne

Call me old fashion but I have a real problem taking seriously any band that has to dress up like a bunch of clowns, regardless of their talent or lack of.

Totally.

frayne · November 15th, 2010, 05:30 PM

OK, I am an old bastard but I don't mind the dress up crap but I do draw the line at make-up !

Stratburst · November 15th, 2010, 05:45 PM

Yes, there are better rock bassists out there (Dusty Hill, Mike Mills, Flea, Tomy Shannon, Geddy Lee, just to name a few) but Gene gets the job done. His bass playing is essential to KISS's sound; so much so that Paul Stanley insisted that Gene play every bassline on the new record, so that it would sound more like classic KISS.

dan1952 · November 15th, 2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frayne

OK, I am an old bastard but I don't mind the dress up crap but I do draw the line at make-up !

I don't like Dylan, Jagger, Richards, Little Richard, and a whole bunch of other make-up wearin' freaks either...oh, I about forgot The Band in the Last Waltz...who did I leave out...Jeez, I don't like music in general, I guess...

voodoo_idol · November 15th, 2010, 06:00 PM

Damn, I hadn't noticed this was in the bass forum and was expecting the original Gene Simmons.

Sorry to hijack, back to the thread.

November 14th, 2010, 02:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Danno Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NC Age: 46 Posts: 935	Gene Simmons Any fans here? Don't want to get into a discussion about how insufferable he can be (for the record I believe he is a good father and I have read countless stories of his always making time for fans - that goes a long way in my book. He has always downplayed his bass playing ability and is never one to talk technical aspects. I've been a fan since '76 and have only in the past few years realized how great his playing is. For all that is going on stage he really nails some tasty bass lines. I think he is vastly underrated. Probably opening a can of worms but I think he is the best hard rock bassist out there (all due respect to Steve 'arris - he's Metal anyway). Not really showing off his playing but he's a pretty dang good singer too (and a HUGE Beatles fan): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoyJ_EW0aZI Okay, this one more shows my point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ-wW...eature=related __________________ "I can do it quick. I can do it cheap. I can do it right. Pick any two." - Red Adair

November 14th, 2010, 02:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
casterway Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aldergrove, British Columbia,Canada Age: 45 Posts: 4,720	There's a lot of tasty Kiss basslines, but rumor has it that a lot of it wasn't even him on a lot of songs. __________________ If Meg White can call herself a musician, then so can I.

November 14th, 2010, 03:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
psycho gun Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Caen (France) Age: 40 Posts: 163 6 Photos	I like Gene Simmons, as a showman, a bass player (very "melodic rock'n'roll"), I often prefer Paul Stanley's songs but some Simmons stuff is good : War Machine, Deuce, Unholy, Love for Sale... most of his tracks are classic rock'n'roll based, Stanley is more a heavy metal/hard rock composer. Gene plays well, singing and "fighting" on stage in order not to let Paul rules... it's a good duet, the Beauty and the Beast. The songs they made together are really good KISS classics. As Simmons said once : "Paul and I are different but complementary : if there's a cream cake on a table, I'll eat the cream, he'll eat the cake". The sound of his bass : sometimes the old Gibson Grabber and Ripper, sometimes a modern distorted tone from EMG pickups. Lot of mediums, solid guitar pick technic, he likes slides on the high octave. __________________ "Frets are Evil..."

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November 14th, 2010, 02:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
acalan Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ormond Beach Fl. Age: 60 Posts: 2,416	I think he's a much better bassist that a reality show star.How old is he anyway?

November 14th, 2010, 02:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
fidopunk Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 227	What do they taste like exactly?

November 14th, 2010, 03:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Super Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Age: 53 Posts: 18,821	I've read that KISS pioneered the practice, so common now, of miming their stage act to prerecorded music, so I don't know how accurate it is to say that Gene's a good live bassist... Just sayin'... Tim

November 14th, 2010, 06:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
frayne TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Chattanooga Posts: 33	Call me old fashion but I have a real problem taking seriously any band that has to dress up like a bunch of clowns, regardless of their talent or lack of.

November 15th, 2010, 05:30 PM	#17 (permalink)
frayne TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Chattanooga Posts: 33	OK, I am an old bastard but I don't mind the dress up crap but I do draw the line at make-up !

November 15th, 2010, 06:00 PM	#20 (permalink)
voodoo_idol Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Age: 48 Posts: 2,016	Damn, I hadn't noticed this was in the bass forum and was expecting the original Gene Simmons. Sorry to hijack, back to the thread.

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