This isn't meant to be negative, but Simmons doesn't belong in the same league as Lee and Harris.
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Harris,Lee,Simmons
- Thread starter Ibanizian
- Start date
dude, i totally agree. leave gene simmons out of it!
Great Rush stuff: YYZ, Spirit of the Radio, Free Will, La Villa Strangiato (sp?). Records: get Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Hemispheres to start.
Great Maiden stuff: Murders in the Rue Morgue, Number of the Beast, Wrathchild, Invaders, Where Eagles Dare, Aces High, Losfer Words. He is the master of the galloping triplets. Check out these records: Killers, Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Powerslave.
this stuff greatly influenced my playing.
Great Rush stuff: YYZ, Spirit of the Radio, Free Will, La Villa Strangiato (sp?). Records: get Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Hemispheres to start.
Great Maiden stuff: Murders in the Rue Morgue, Number of the Beast, Wrathchild, Invaders, Where Eagles Dare, Aces High, Losfer Words. He is the master of the galloping triplets. Check out these records: Killers, Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Powerslave.
this stuff greatly influenced my playing.
while I am a huge iron maiden fan, I just want to be very clear on one thing: what steve harris does is NOT technically triplets...
in lines like powerslave or his other "triplet" lines, he's stringing 3 eigth notes together with an 8th note rest in there somewhere, and this is broken up over the measure break or something... I'm no music theory student, but I'm pretty sure that a "real" triplet is when your doing something in 4/4 with say 4 quarter notes and then in the next measure you play 3 notes equally spaced filling the measure that would have been divided up by the 4 quarters...
I dunno... I could be way way off here, but I feel certain that we would be more accurate in calling the Harris trademark a "galloping rythm technique" rather than a "triplet" technique...
gee whiz... I'm reading this post over and suddenly I realise that I've used an aweful lot of strong language and seem really opinionated... whoops... I'm really not... I'm just expressing something that flew into my head before thinking better... sorry if I stepped on anyones toes... feel free to disagree...
later...
jmk
in lines like powerslave or his other "triplet" lines, he's stringing 3 eigth notes together with an 8th note rest in there somewhere, and this is broken up over the measure break or something... I'm no music theory student, but I'm pretty sure that a "real" triplet is when your doing something in 4/4 with say 4 quarter notes and then in the next measure you play 3 notes equally spaced filling the measure that would have been divided up by the 4 quarters...
I dunno... I could be way way off here, but I feel certain that we would be more accurate in calling the Harris trademark a "galloping rythm technique" rather than a "triplet" technique...
gee whiz... I'm reading this post over and suddenly I realise that I've used an aweful lot of strong language and seem really opinionated... whoops... I'm really not... I'm just expressing something that flew into my head before thinking better... sorry if I stepped on anyones toes... feel free to disagree...
later...
jmk
Why not?
Playing the bass isn't just about how many notes you can cram into a short space of time, or how fast you can fly up and down the neck.
A lot of the time it isn't necessary to play overly busy, soloistic lines. A good bass player knows how to lay down a tasteful and solid line and hopefully knows when not to overplay. KISS' music is all about a general feeling and vibe - they have never been about playing a lot of notes, they just deliver good solid rock. There's nothing wrong with that. Gene has played some great lines over the years. He played just what the songs needed and many lines were actually very melodic and supportive.
I'm not saying he can play as fast or flashy as Lee or Harris, but so what? He doesn't need to.
Beside all that, that has nothing to do with the original question. The original post was asking about cool bass parts from each of these players. IMO, I think all three have had some great lines.
Why shouldn't Simmons be included with the other two?. He plays some great lines and has influenced lots of people to pick a bass in the first place. In fact, exactly these three, Harris, Lee and Simmons were my main influences when I started to learn the bass, so there's at least one other person that would include all three in the same sentence.
I'm not implying that Simmons is a bad bass player, I just think that he isn't as strong a bass player as Lee or Harris. I think Simmons approach to bass is different than Harris and Lee.
I too don't think it's about how many notes can be crammed in a measure of music, but about what the piece calls for.
For what Simmons does as a bass player in Kiss works.
I just think it's like putting a Camaro in with a Ferrari and a Porsche. All three cars would be nice to have, but if I had a choice.......
I too don't think it's about how many notes can be crammed in a measure of music, but about what the piece calls for.
For what Simmons does as a bass player in Kiss works.
I just think it's like putting a Camaro in with a Ferrari and a Porsche. All three cars would be nice to have, but if I had a choice.......
The first Maiden album I got is still my favorite- The X Factor. Not a lot of people like this stuff, but I love it. Blood on the World's Hands has a great bass intro, plus it is an awsome song.
Geddy- YYZ, anything really, all Rush stuff is good. Try something new- bust out a distortion pedal and learn the post chorus keyboard solo in Subdivisions. Currently one of my fav Rush songs, and probably one of the emotional highpoints of Rush in general. That solo just conjures up memories for me.
Geddy- YYZ, anything really, all Rush stuff is good. Try something new- bust out a distortion pedal and learn the post chorus keyboard solo in Subdivisions. Currently one of my fav Rush songs, and probably one of the emotional highpoints of Rush in general. That solo just conjures up memories for me.
I just wanted to add one thing to the iron maiden discussion: I love Steve Harris as a player, and I love every album that he DIDN'T do the engineering on. I think it was a big mistake for him to take over production of the albums. I havn't liked the sound, nor the writing since he got his hands into it... Basically, I cringe any time I hear anything after "No Prayer for the Dying" and most of that album makes me wince too... it just got so cheezy all of the sudden...
jmk
jmk
Gene Simmons DOES have a lot of GREAT bass lines....and he played them all until the 80's. He is very McCartney influenced. If you want to hear the best of Gene check out the first 3 records(KISS, Hotter then HELL, Dressed to Kill) and ALIVE! I love running bass lines. Gene gets no respect from people who either know nothing about KISS OR hate the image. For Harris I always liked KILLERS or WRATHCHILD. Lee, La Villa or Red Barchetta.
As much as I dig KISS bass parts, I think it's pretty doubtful that Gene played the bass part on 'Dirty Livin' (1979) unless he all of a sudden became an overnight slap monster. It was likely Will Lee or somebody else on that. I also think Gene didn't play on much or any of Ace's songs around the Dynasty/Unmasked period. Those were mostly done by Ace himself or Will Lee.
I try to forget the Dynasty/Unmasked period LOL! Your right...after the solo albums KISS became a band of four solo acts. Most of the other members did not appear on the others tunes. Anton Fig plays drums on most of those tracks so the Will Lee thing could be. Let me re-phrase....He played on the tracks from 73-78....the classic KISS period. He also played a LOT of guitar on KISS records.
I agree with martens-koop. Strictly speaking of Maiden, the early stuff is the best:
Number of the beast: children of the damned, hallowed be thy name
Powerslave: losfer words, powerslave
Piece of mind:where eagles dare,revelations,still life
Iron Maiden:Remember tomorrow,running free,phantom of the opera,strange world,charlotte the harlot
Killers:ides of march,wrathchild,murders in the rue morgue,gengis khan,killers
Steve Harris is the MAN!
Number of the beast: children of the damned, hallowed be thy name
Powerslave: losfer words, powerslave
Piece of mind:where eagles dare,revelations,still life
Iron Maiden:Remember tomorrow,running free,phantom of the opera,strange world,charlotte the harlot
Killers:ides of march,wrathchild,murders in the rue morgue,gengis khan,killers
Steve Harris is the MAN!
If you leave out all of the non make up years besides Revenge witch is probley the best non kiss make up album, There is some good lines in that one listen to domino, Also Alive 1, Alive 2 have some good lines as does the new box set, The man knows how to play Bass when he has to, Watch the MTV Unplugged video The man can play, Just because he is in it for chicks and money who cares.
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- Endorsing Artist: Kahler Bass Tremolos
Interesting topic! 
Steve Harris-my vote would be for Rime Of The Ancient Mariner.
Geddy Lee-man....too many to name. YYZ, Free Will, Limelight, Working Man, etc.
As a die-hard Kiss fan, I can assure you that Gene Simmons is very capable on bass. Not only does he play bass, but he also plays guitar AND piano. A good track to listen to is Love Theme From Kiss off of the first album-where Gene actually does some solo lines. His biggest influence is indeed Paul McCartney (he once said, and I quote: "the greatest rock band ever was the Beatles. Everyone can kiss their boot heals-including me"), and even though his studio participation near the end of the 70's can be debated, the stuff on the live albums cannot be. I was in the fourth row right in front of Mr. Simmons during the Kiss reunion show here in San Jose, CA back in '96-so I can tell you first hand that he knows how to play. Whatever one might think of the man on a personal level is up to the individual-but I believe he has made a lot of relevant contributions to the genre of bass-playing IMHO.
Steve Harris-my vote would be for Rime Of The Ancient Mariner.
Geddy Lee-man....too many to name. YYZ, Free Will, Limelight, Working Man, etc.
As a die-hard Kiss fan, I can assure you that Gene Simmons is very capable on bass. Not only does he play bass, but he also plays guitar AND piano. A good track to listen to is Love Theme From Kiss off of the first album-where Gene actually does some solo lines. His biggest influence is indeed Paul McCartney (he once said, and I quote: "the greatest rock band ever was the Beatles. Everyone can kiss their boot heals-including me"), and even though his studio participation near the end of the 70's can be debated, the stuff on the live albums cannot be. I was in the fourth row right in front of Mr. Simmons during the Kiss reunion show here in San Jose, CA back in '96-so I can tell you first hand that he knows how to play. Whatever one might think of the man on a personal level is up to the individual-but I believe he has made a lot of relevant contributions to the genre of bass-playing IMHO.
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Geezer-YES! Good call, Acesclone! WAY underated in my book! Awesome chops, tone, and he just plain LOOKS the part. As much as Sabbath represents the definitive starting point for heavy metal, Geezer defines the next step in the evolution of heavy bass playing at the time.
I am a guitarist of 25 years experience and didn't really pick up bass until my current gig. I really like bass players whose lines stick in your face as much as the guitar players. I am not a big fan of the AC/DC school of basslines(although anything else in their music would ruin it. I have a lot of respect for Cliff Williams for holding back). I am also not a fan of the "I'm just as flashy as EVH" school of basslines either. To me the bass players that play as important a part in the bands sound as any other member:
Gene Simmons
Geddy
Steve Harris
Geezer Butler
JP Jones
Paul Mac
Boz Burrell
Phil Lynott
Mel Schacher(GREATLY underrated)
Help me guys......
Gene Simmons
Geddy
Steve Harris
Geezer Butler
JP Jones
Paul Mac
Boz Burrell
Phil Lynott
Mel Schacher(GREATLY underrated)
Help me guys......
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- Endorsing Artist: Kahler Bass Tremolos
Great list! How about:
Gary Thain-Uriah Heap
Tom Peterson-Cheap Trick
Francis Bulcholz-Scorpions
Greg Lake-King Crimson/ELP
Michael Anthony-Van Halen
John Taylor-Duran Duran
Mars Cowling-Pat Travers Band
Rudy Sarzo-Quiet Riot/Ozzy/Whitesnake
....just to name a few more?
I've been playing bass for just over 20 years m'self, and my big influences are Billy Sheehan, John Gallagher of Raven, Jaco, all of the aforementioned guys-and a whole lot more.
BTW-I don't recall Paul, Boz, or Mel. Who have they played with?
How about:Gary Thain-Uriah Heap
Tom Peterson-Cheap Trick
Francis Bulcholz-Scorpions
Greg Lake-King Crimson/ELP
Michael Anthony-Van Halen
John Taylor-Duran Duran
Mars Cowling-Pat Travers Band
Rudy Sarzo-Quiet Riot/Ozzy/Whitesnake
....just to name a few more?
I've been playing bass for just over 20 years m'self, and my big influences are Billy Sheehan, John Gallagher of Raven, Jaco, all of the aforementioned guys-and a whole lot more.
BTW-I don't recall Paul, Boz, or Mel. Who have they played with?
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LOL! 
Yes-I agree with you on all counts. Sir Paul is indeed the man! And Mel from Grand Funk-absolutely! So, since Boz is the bassist from Bad Co., would that not also mean that he played in King Crimson for a time? I seem to recall hearing that somewhere.
Yes-I agree with you on all counts. Sir Paul is indeed the man! And Mel from Grand Funk-absolutely! So, since Boz is the bassist from Bad Co., would that not also mean that he played in King Crimson for a time? I seem to recall hearing that somewhere.
