Carol Kaye gives Gene Simmons a bass lesson

Carol Kaye gives Gene Simmons a bass lesson

 

It's amusing no matter how many times it gets posted.

 

The search feature seems to be an under-used function:

 

I just watched The Wrecking Crew, spurred by the death of Glen Campbell. Carol is just amazing. Such a legend. If you haven't seen it, go run and see it on Netflix.

 

I get the impression that Carol resents that movie (I want to see it). She goes to great trouble make it clear she was a studio musician, and there were a pool of studio musicians who were part of that era.

 

I'm sure Carol Kaye could give a lot of people bass lessons.

 

I haven't heard this. I can't imagine that she would resent the movie as she is presented in such a positive light. She was one of the biggest stars, got paid very well, and was respected greatly by everyone. She said loved being a studio musician as it allowed her to go home every night to be with her family.

 

I think she doesn't want to be singled out, and that the pay for everyone per session was equal, regardless of instrument, gender, colour, etc.

 

Too late, I'd say.

 

What's too late... Carol Kaye not wanting to be singled out... or Gene Simmons's bass lesson?

 

Gene Simmons' bass lesson.

I have nothing but respect for Carol Kaye.

 

Yes, a real shame. With proper schooling he probably coulda made something of himself someday.

 

She absolutely resents the movie, she says they were lied to and it was edited to change the context of what was said. I remember her posting a lot about that on Facebook back when I was on it. I'm not sure why though, I didn't think it was negative at all.

 

I refuse to watch that video for fear that Gene will sue me for 'usage' or some other nonsense.

 

I think you're way off base here - pun intended. There's 40+ years of Kiss music and in 90% of it the bass line is a throwaway? What criteria are you using to determine this? It sounds suspiciously like you're discounting anything where the guitar and bass are doing essentially the same thing. In that case, your issue is not with Kiss, but with a lot of other rock music as well. Joe Osborn once said that "The song will tell you what to play, if you listen" Are you saying that in that 90% there is a "better" bass line, lurking, somewhere, waiting to be played - and that Gene missed it? Or that somebody else would have done it better? Care to cite some, or even a couple, specific examples?
Gene has always maintained that he is an entertainer first, so you're not breaking any ground there, but that does not preclude him from playing what is right for the song.