well if anyone hates him they are pure ignorant, since the odds that anyone on here knows him personally are pretty slim. I just don't think he is a technically skilled bass player. Right or wrong, my logic is: If I can do it, it ain't that hard.
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Gene Simmons is Good
- Thread starter tapehead
- Start date
+1.
I don't think I'll ever understand how "fans" can get so pissed off when someone makes a disparaging remark about whomever they idolize. People need to chill out and try to understand where other people are coming from.
Still, this argument that someone famous must be extremely talented in music is just wrong. Plain and simple. If that's the case, we could say the Jonas Brother must be extremely talented at their instruments and can probably play circles around people like Steve Vai and Victor Wooten because more people know about them (the J Bros) and more people in general will probably remember them.
These guys are extremely talented at being entertainers and appeasing their respective audiences, but that doesn't mean they're any better at playing than they are.
Okay, everyone sing "you're gonna lose your mind in detroit, rock city" while playing the bass line, it's not easy 
with that being said I still think he's an average bassist but there are some songs that are tough to sing and play simultaneously.
with that being said I still think he's an average bassist but there are some songs that are tough to sing and play simultaneously.
I can obviously read, and I wasn't speaking literally, but for a bassist to be good doesn't mean you have to play like Victor Wooten
To me, his bass playing has always been supportive of the Kiss show, the music etc. Regarding the bad rap, I've always thought it was personal rather than his musicianship; people just don't like the guy, for a variety of reasons probably related to his public persona. His Invalid Link Removed with Terry Gross on her show Invalid Link Removed probably didn't help.
Thanks for posting the link. I've wanted to post that before, but it isn't archived on NPR.
Funny thing is, (some) people who like him think he comes off really intelligent in that interview. Go figure.
I'm probably the single biggest KISS fan, but I have to say that interview was a mistake, in which he came off as an arrogant, cheesy, self delusional ****.
Funny, because I remember watching my KISS dvd from 2004, and when they played the RTN tour, they played a couple of shows in Australia in theatres with no fireworks or anything flashy. During that, Gene and Paul both said it felt good to play that way, and Gene said that it proved KISS isn't about the bombs, splits, missiles, or anything else you think it's about...."KISS is about songs" Yes, he ACTUALLY said that.
Its just ALWAYS been trendy to hate KISS and anything associated with it. I have NO problem at all with GS. I've learned alot from him over all these years.
Early KISS has his greatest lines! Firehouse, Parasite, Hotter Then Hell, Hard Luck Woman and Dr. Love have great lines!. the Destroyer album has some great bass lines as well! Granted hes not the best but he knows how to create some great lines!
I can't speak for other people, I really couldn't care less about how he acts. I'm basing my opinion solely on his bass playing, because it's essentially the only thing I know about him.
+1. If you want to play a million notes a bar you should have been a guitar player.
Where did you get this info? That's the first I've heard of it.
GENERALLY....besides the first 3 albums where the original members played on the tracks.
Songs Paul wrote, Paul played bass on, or the lead guitarist in the band at the time did. There are some exceptions later on (Jean Beauvior on Uh! All Night)
Songs Gene wrote, Gene generally played bass on.
Songs Ace wrote Ace generally played bass on.
Dick Wagoner played on "Sweet Pain" off of Destroyer. Differing stories, but either Ace was drunk or more likely the producer used it as a power play (like with Aerosmith, Floyd etc.)
Interesting note on Eric Singers auditon.........in addition to playing drums, he had to learn all the vocal parts to some Beatles songs....all the parts, harmonies, etc. in addtion to playing the drums. Thaty's a hell of an audiition.
I've seen KISS since 1978. The last I saw them was in 1997.
I've seen KISS since 1978. The last I saw them was in 1997.
I think to say McCartney is great and Gene sucks is just stupidity. Technically, neither is amazing, but both play clever, melodic bass lines. Gene does it in a Monster costume and high heels also. I've met so many bass and guitar players who CAN'T play Kiss riffs very well at all, and talk about how bad they are. The Bass solo in the Kiss show is for Gene to spit blood. Don't be a jackazz and act like he fails to be Jaco. How come Jaco didn't spit blood in his solo? Stupid, right? You got to put it all in context. Kiss is an entertainment machine. They also have TONS of great hard rock tunes. So many other rock bands are considered incredible and there tunes are so basic also, and in most cases, directly inspired by Kiss. If you hate Gene, great. I love hearing it. It IS a forum and there will be those that attack. I do it myself. When I think of the Beatles, for example, I think of vocal melodies and accompanying chording. Not reallly a riffing band. Kiss is far more riff oriented. They have huge rock riffs. The bass playing in both bands is very similar, unless you are deaf. But check out some great Kiss riffs and the bass that goes with them, ie "Watchin' You", "Goin' Blind", "Deuce", "Black Diamond", "Parasite", "Strutter", "She", "Two Timer", "Sweet Pain", etc, etc.
However, it would have been very cool to see Jaco blow fire and fly with blood all over his Jazz bass.....
However, it would have been very cool to see Jaco blow fire and fly with blood all over his Jazz bass.....
wow. I've made my (positive) comments on Gene's playing pretty clear in other threads, which is why I've had no desire to join in the redundant reindeer games here. That being said, what an ASS he was in that interview!!!
