Gene Simmons

[Electricmayhem]

I miss C&H.

So do I. That's why it's there.

 

[B-NoteCowboy]

Gene Simmons is not a good bassist. "ghost" musicians did the KISS bass lines.

Pretty sweeping and inaccurate quote. True he didn't play every recorded bassline on every studio track for a variety of reasons but I would say the vast majority were Gene.

Ace didn't play all the guitar parts and Peter didn't play all the drum parts either. What's the point?

Their best music is live anyway, and that's kinda hard to cover up if you aren't playing it.

About Gene... most of the basslines are pretty easy. I know because I am doing a KISS tribute project. The challenge is in putting out the kind of high energy charismatic stage presence WHILE WEARING ARMOR AND 7 INCH BOOT HEELS!! Good lord.... That is some demanding work. There are better bassists and vocalists, but that guy is one of the great entertainers of the last 30 years.

 

[B-NoteCowboy]

FWIW, almost ALL live albums have some post-production overdubbing on them, and in some cases entire instrument parts are replaced. This is usually done so well that you can't tell if you try.

That doesn't explain hearing good basslines AT A CONCERT however.

 

[B-NoteCowboy]

Some of you musical snobs are friggin hillarious.

If anyone thinks it is easy to get that costume on, put on the 7 inch platform heels, make constant front man contact with people in the audience, sing harmony on every song, sing lead on nearly half of them and play some very appropriate driving basslines which feature a variety of styles and speeds, and expect him to sound like some freaking jazz bassist sitting on a stool in the local coffee house, you are insane.

The guy has written music that has sold out stadiums for 30 years. He is a hell of a bassist, when viewed in context. Now... is he an egomanic who I probably wouldn't like very much personally? I'm positive that is true. But he is a better bassist and musician most people on this site, and I have a hard time understanding the need to trash a guy who we would ALL give our left nuts to have a fraction of his success in our craft.

 

[Wildside]

Gene Simmons is fun and plays all of his parts very well live. I can't understand how rock fans could possibly dislike KISS. They're like superheroes with guitars and there's fireworks going off and it's just great. I like tapping arpeggios as much as the next guy but sometimes it's fun to not approach bass like it's brain surgery and just rock out.