Gene Simmons

[chris4001asat]

I'm pretty sure I have an old issue of Musician magazine with Roger Waters in it. I'm pretty sure he mentions that he couldn't name any notes and where they fall on the neck. I'll have to go digging tonight. I knew I saved them for some reason!

 

[rickbass]

Tell me what you'd suggest you would do better in the context of the songs?

It's called "creating bass lines" as opposed to getting by on theatrics to compensate for reliance on root notes......(Henry, I seriously doubt you are a rooter!).

Find me one reference where Simmons, (not his real name), ever discussed bass skills, bass theory, or the instrument in any way. The guy was all about getting laid and making money, to hell with the bass. At least he is very honest and up-front about what his goals were.

I care not to admire the guy, Simmons, who said,

" Music isn't played with your mind, it's played with your d**k."

Is that all it is to you, too???

 

[Funkster]

Well here I am doing my best Gene rooter imitation and I must say it's pretty dam fun stuff to play. whatever, opinions are opinions I guess, Not all of us were schooled on Jaco,,, I grew up on this stuff and will probably play it till the day I die. No offense taken Rick, To each there own

 

[rickbass]

....No offense taken Rick, To each there own

That's good, Henry. From all I have read, I admire you.

But look out! I think you may be playing because of your mind and your heart..........not your wallet and a part of your anatomy!

 

[Funkster]

But look out! I think you may be playing because of your mind and your heart..........not your wallet and a part of your anatomy!

lol You are so right bro, I do it cause I just love to play....

 

[metron]

I think Gene performed best in "Runaway" starring Tom Selleck.

 

[hippiesandwich]

http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/tongue.htm

 

[The Golden Boy]

It's called "creating bass lines" as opposed to getting by on theatrics to compensate for reliance on root notes......(Henry, I seriously doubt you are a rooter!).

Find me one reference where Simmons, (not his real name), ever discussed bass skills, bass theory, or the instrument in any way. The guy was all about getting laid and making money, to hell with the bass. At least he is very honest and up-front about what his goals were.

I care not to admire the guy, Simmons, who said,

" Music isn't played with your mind, it's played with your d**k."

Is that all it is to you, too???

I guess I still don't see your point. Let's take a Kiss song and "create" a bass line that moves the song along better than Gene's, but still retains the 'power' the original has.

Take something easy like "Calling Dr. Love." Simple song, simple bass line- "create" something better.

I'm not a huge Kiss fan, or a Gene fan or anything, but as often as people cite McCartney's Silly Love Songs as one of the all time great lines, Strutter is really close in terms of feel, note selection and what it accomplishes. Yet Gene is bad while Macca's good.

As far as him talking about theory, mad skillz or whatever... since when is talking a measure of being a "good" or "acceptable" bass player? Besides, who in their right mind would take advice from a long tongued, makeup wearing devil freak?

Music is a lot of things to me, above all, it's fun. Whether anyone cares to admire anyone because of their view on life is entirely up to that person. Whether or not I agree with Gene on anything, I do admire the cool songs and cool bass lines he "created."

 

[Matt Till]

Just take a Chuck Berry song and over-amplify the bass lines.

To me, the "toughest", (cough), aspects of a Kiss song are the rests within the measures, not the notes.

I have to give Kudos to whoever wrote the detroit rock city bassline.

 

[Steve Holroyd]

There's no denying that Kiss basslines, especially on the early records, are catchy, melodic, and went well beyond the root-five playing heard in most other white bands of the era. They're fun to play.

Whether Simmons played them is the issue. I have read on Kiss fansites that Ace played the bass on a lot of the early tunes.

The problem with discussing the merits of Gene Simmons is that the man himself makes it impossible to judge him critically or seriously...he'll tell you all about how he and Paul had to get ghosts for Ace and Peter, but then ask you to believe that he, himself, never needed a ghost. Then he'll babble on about his theories of bass playing, most of which have little or nothing to do with music (although I've always agreed with his "I'm not a slave to the kick drum" comment). Then he'll try to sell you a coffin.

Simmons has created his own image. He is happy with it. His fans cannot complain that he is not taken seriously as a musician when the man himself presents himself as a charactiture and, frankly, could care less whether anyone thinks he is a good musician. Just show him the money.

 

[Hategear]

The assclowns -- I mean, kids -- in my elementary and junior high school used to say Gene's tongue was long because he'd cut it, let it heal and cut it again. Each time it healed, it somehow grew longer. Of course, these were the same kids that told me they knew for a fact that there were subliminal messages on their heavy metal cassettes, cuz they had a "special" tape player that played the tapes backwards.



My drummer had a Gene Simmons tongue. The chicks may have dug it, but I thought it was ****in' gross, man! That just ain't natural...

 

[Spanky]

Kiss rocks, yet Kiss sucks, yet Kiss rocks. It's a zen koan.

In the very early 70's KISS had a motto. A Zen Koan of their own. "Love us. Hate us. But you cant IGNORE us!"
That philosophy has made them one of the richest bands from the powerhouse arena days, of all time. They were one of the first bands to realize the full potential of hype and merchandising. Gene Simmons has been the business genius behind the whole show. Hands down, if I had to give my last Grand to someone in hopes of turning it into profit, Id give it to Gene and Id sleep well knowing that he can get it done.

And the tongue? Its no "Cow Tongue". Do you even know what a Cow Tongue looks like? Trust me its real. Mines just as freakishly long. If you work at it, yours could be too, its a muscle, and muscles can be stretched gradually over time. If you have a little tongue, youre not using it enough!

"Ive been a KISS ARMY member since 1976!" - Peter Griffin, Family Guy.

 

[Hategear]

...If you work at it, yours could be too, its a muscle, and muscles can be stretched gradually over time. If you have a little tongue, youre not using it enough!

Unfortunately, I thought that would apply to other appendages as well, but I can tell you from personal experience, it doesn't!

Hoo-ha!

 

[Chronosx65x]

Tongue extension? Did they even have that kind of surgery then? Do they now?

if they do have em now

[mod edit] funny [/mod edit]

 

[PhatBasstard]

Why is everybody so shocked at Gene's:
"I am not a slave to the kick/The kick don't mean sh*t to me"
comments?

This has almost never been a requisite of "Hard Rock" music.

 

[Josh Ryan]

Why is everybody so shocked at Gene's:
"I am not a slave to the kick/The kick don't mean sh*t to me"
comments?

This has almost never been a requisite of "Hard Rock" music.

Maybe he likes the hat? --have to go dig out a Kiss tape and see.

 

[Munjibunga]

Rookies! Everyone knows Carol Kaye played all of Gene Simmons' bass lines.

This is very true.

 

[Munjibunga]

Well here I am doing my best Gene rooter imitation and I must say it's pretty dam fun stuff to play. whatever, opinions are opinions I guess, Not all of us were schooled on Jaco,,, I grew up on this stuff and will probably play it till the day I die. No offense taken Rick, To each there own

You've got something stuck in your eye there.

 

[SMASH]

That philosophy has made them one of the richest bands from the powerhouse arena days, of all time. They were one of the first bands to realize the full potential of hype and merchandising. Gene Simmons has been the business genius behind the whole show. Hands down, if I had to give my last Grand to someone in hopes of turning it into profit, Id give it to Gene and Id sleep well knowing that he can get it done.

Not quite. They were essentially bankrupt in the mid-90s before they put the makeup back on to do the neverending farewell tour.

As for Gene's business prowess - it's another misconception. Almost anything he's done - from his label, the bands he's produced, magazine - has failed. The ideas behind KISS were not his. In fact his ideas in part sank the band.

Read "KISS and $ell", writen by their business manager from the glory years through their delcine to learn about the reality of big rock'n'roll business from the business side. It's also a great book for KISS fans, or fans of rock biographies in general. It isn't a dry business book - it's got its share of road stories, etc.

 

[cetera]

It's amazing the things people say and quote ('chinese whispers' anyone?!?) on the Internet and swear it to be fact....

Well, here are some corrections for you all...

Gene does NOT have a cow's tongue and has not had any kind of lengthening surgery (including severing of the frenulum).

Carole Kaye did NOT play Gene's bass parts. Gene played most of them but on occasion he turned the job over to someone else, usually due to the desires of the songwriter....i.e Ace often liked to play bass on his songs and occasionally Paul felt the same (Love Gun). Sometimes friends & co-writers had a better feel for the song concerned e.g. Jean Beauvoir, Bob Ezrin.... but 90% were PLAYED BY GENE!

Gene did NOT have a ghost bass player live...


IMO, Gene played what was right for the song in each case and was/is a very solid bassist. He isn't a virtuoso but then that wouldn't have been right for KISS. Just because someone doesn't slap and tap at a million miles per hour or play fifty notes when one note could have been more effective does NOT make that person a bad bassist. Many of Gene's parts are based on classic Motown and McCartney style lines and melodically guide the song while retaining the kick and snare groove.

And surely noone can honestly say that there is anything wrong with Motown and McCartney basslines.....