Gene Simmons

[40Hz]

He was a thing for his time - a relatively short time - and the right type of player for what they were looking to accomplish. Which was commercial success. Simmons is on record saying it was never about the music and all about the money.

And I think his biggest contribution to the music world was showing the benefits to be gained by relentless promotion and carefully (and somewhat cynically IMO) crafted public image.

Every era has its designated “bad boy” and “sassy girl.” You know the names. Madonna, David Lee Roth, Jim Morrison, Janis, Pink, Axel Rose…the list goes on and on. But the public allows (tolerates?) only one of each at a time. Like the court jester of old who was the only individual allowed - and expected - to mock the king. And the people filling this role are soon replaced by newer, younger faces since antics that might seem amusing when they’re being done by a cocky young guy or smokin’ hot babe in their twenties gets a little old once they turn 30. And then becomes rapidly cringeworthy once they get past that.

Gene Simmons is what he is. You like it or you don’t. But I personally don’t think his musical legacy is going to be enduring.

But that’s me. YMMV.

 

[Benj-jammin]

I'm originally from Michigan, grew up about an hour north of Detroit on Lake Huron, and went to a ton of concerts at the legendary Cobo Arena in Detroit. Yes, I was one of the lucky ones who attended the first Kiss Alive concert on May 16, 1975 at the robust, punk age of 17. The anticipation of this concert, and the visceral rush it provided was almost unbearable. Remember, no internet, You Tube, cell phones, Ticketmaster, etc. As some of you old timers like me know, it was pretty much all done by FM radio and buying records at the store. I even ordered the tickets through the mail! It was either that, or you had to drive to the box office. As a young bassist, seeing Simmons up there looking evil with his outfit, blood pouring out of his mouth, 7" heels - I mean come on, no one had ever done that before! But you know what, it was never Simmons playing that really struck me with Kiss, it was the guitar playing of Stanley and Frehley that really stood out. Having said that, the first Kiss tune I ever learned was Strutter - nice and easy. Always loved learning Detroit Rock City. So yeah, it's rather fun and amusing to read some of the comments, all I can say, is that you had to be there when they first came out to understand the huge impact they had. It was a fun concert, loud as all f-in hell, great light show - we were all stoned, and that's the way it was.

 

[Lowbrow]

KISS was everything to me in the mid to late '70's when I was first discovering music. Gene Simmons was a huge influence and one of the reasons I picked up the bass in the first place. My opinion of him as a person and player has changed over the years, but i wouldn't be who I am as a musician without him and them.

+1. Then I met the guy. MEAN NASTY DICK. Still like Kiss.

 

[alembicguy]

I just think we as humans need to realize that we have options. We have free will. We are all entitled to our opinions. Some like Gene some do not. Some like Jaco some do not. If we all liked the same things about Bass Playing or life in general. It would all be rather dull. If a person doesn't care for another's interests then there are other avenues they can pursue

People have survived for years by keeping their likes and dislikes to themselves and lived happy ever after. Another’s opinion of something or someone does not matter. What matters is what the subject thinks of itself.

 

[BASSDROID]

I'm originally from Michigan, grew up about an hour north of Detroit on Lake Huron, and went to a ton of concerts at the legendary Cobo Arena in Detroit. Yes, I was one of the lucky ones who attended the first Kiss Alive concert on May 16, 1975 at the robust, punk age of 17. The anticipation of this concert, and the visceral rush it provided was almost unbearable. Remember, no internet, You Tube, cell phones, Ticketmaster, etc. As some of you old timers like me know, it was pretty much all done by FM radio and buying records at the store. I even ordered the tickets through the mail! It was either that, or you had to drive to the box office. As a young bassist, seeing Simmons up there looking evil with his outfit, blood pouring out of his mouth, 7" heels - I mean come on, no one had ever done that before! But you know what, it was never Simmons playing that really struck me with Kiss, it was the guitar playing of Stanley and Frehley that really stood out. Having said that, the first Kiss tune I ever learned was Strutter - nice and easy. Always loved learning Detroit Rock City. So yeah, it's rather fun and amusing to read some of the comments, all I can say, is that you had to be there when they first came out to understand the huge impact they had. It was a fun concert, loud as all f-in hell, great light show - we were all stoned, and that's the way it was.View attachment 4606874

Heh. Pretty much my experience too though I was about 10 years younger than you. Same location and everything. Port Huron by chance?

 

[fhm555]

The KISS live album is the only album in history that prompted the producer(s) to seek a legal opinion regards how much of an albums content had to be recorded live in order to be marketed as a live album.
Given there were two tours worth of live recordings to draw from and not a single track that does not contain studio dubs, i can’t help but think of KISS as performance art using musical instruments as props.
Before you break out the hay forks and bear fat torches, know that IMO KISS is just one of very very very many bands, who after seeing them live, I would put in the same category.

 

[rashrader]

I’ve never taken the time to pass judgement on Gene. These never ending TB threads on the guy won’t force me to so. I will say this, he’s definitely a person that plays bass.

 

[Killing Floor]

Jaco is better

Haha. Better at what? Everything s subjective. And I’m a fan of Pastorius and have seen him live. I’ve also seen KISS. Jaco was a better technical player and while I can’t prove it, I’m pretty sure he was smashed. He was crabby to the band, inattentive to the audience and frankly a mess. Gene is a more accessible player and I’d argue more influential in that more players began because of him. Not saying there is a best/worst. I understand one can do scales faster and play with more fluidity. But the other is still packing arenas after almost 50 years so he’s doing something right. It’s never binary with music because everything is subjective.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I haven't dragged out this story in a while, so I'll tell it again.
I know a guy who is a big-time corporate lawyer. He was flying first class (of course) from NYC to LA, and as it happened on this particular flight--must have been 1998?--his across-the-aisle seat mate was Gene Simmons. Gene had a big, messy pile of documents in front of him, and he was methodically signing his name, over and over. My lawyer friend expressed surprise. "Don't you have a home office to take care of all this stuff?" To which Gene replied, "Do you know what the difference is between Kiss and ten thousand garage bands? [Dramatic Pause] NOTHING!" And returned to his work, answering fan mail.

 

[pedroims]

I dont like Kiss and I dont consider Genne Simmons a great bass player. However, I think he is one of the best business man in the showbiz, he will play, say and do whatever is needed for the $$$. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

he will play, say and do whatever is needed for the $$$.

I think there is a lot wrong with that, but I'm practically a Commie, so you may safely disregard.

 

[landrybass]

Not really a KISS fan or a Gene fan but I will always have a special place in my heart for him. They were my very first concert. I painted my face just like him, my friends face paint was Ace. Took a picture with my 8th grade math book for extra credit and got on Atlanta marta looking like a total goober lol.

 

[Ric5]

With all of the makeup, blood spitting, and other theatrics Gene is pretty much a circus performer who also plays bass guitar and sings.

 

[klejst]

Gene Simmons was involved in music at some point? Who knew??? What was he, a high level patron or something?

I feel like your reply is meant to be sarcastic however not sure I get it?

 

[Pirate Captain]

"Is is sacrilege to say Gene Simmons isn't a great bass player?"

 

[bholder]

I dont like Kiss and I dont consider Genne Simmons a great bayss player. However, I think he is one of the best business man in the showbiz, he will play, say and do whatever is needed for the $$$. Nothing wrong with that.

I was with you up to that last sentence. Sorry, but there is something wrong with that.

 

[Derry Murbles]

....He's repulsive.

/thread

 

[el murdoque]

I personally think Gene Simmons is a Great Bassist. Is he the best ever? That's up to everyone's own interpretation.

I think that he's more of a front runner when it comes to great tongues, rather than playing the bass.
I see his credit more in being a great performer. He sings, plays bass and does that frontman of KISS thing - and has done so for longer than anyone can remember.

I doubt that he'd make a good job teaching masterclass lessons along with Steve Bailey, Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Tony Levin, Leeland Sklar and Mark King (to name a few, off the top of my head, that have been in the business for a long time).

I see him more among the ranks of a Lemmy Kilmister. Legend status achieved; But not through impressing everyone with incredible chops on the bass guitar - rather by consistently rock and rolling for decade upon decade, being the frontman of a band that everyone has heard of.


I mean from a purely technical viewpoint: Are there KISS songs that are hard to play? I've never really followed them, but done a few of their songs in my time. IIRC, the KISS material is firmly in the cupboard of 'Songs I just need to know how to play' and not in the cupboard of 'Songs I need to learn how to play'. No weird time signatures (looking at you, TOTO), no nasty bridge riffs that require hours of practice to get down cleanly and with speed - basically just straightforward, generic rock music.

 

[Pirate Captain]

No weird time signatures (looking at you, TOTO)

I'm trying to think of a Toto song (especially any of the popular ones) that is in a "weird" time signature. I mean, they are (arguably) comprised of the greatest technical players in rock history (plus Bobby Kimball), but they weren't exactly tossing out "Karn Evil 9"

 

[Kaa]

Gene Simmons played lines that fit the songs. Simple? Maybe. Appropriate? Yes.
Does that mean he couldn't play more complex music? I don't know. That question begets another: Why would he if he's making money hand over fist and living a life he enjoys?
As a rule, I don't bash other bassists, be they simple or complex.