^ We don't have jobs clouding up our thinking.
Hey ,Noseferatu,check it: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=550614&highlight=grilled+cheese
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I know most don't like Gene Simmons.
- Thread starter Noseferatu
- Start date
^ We don't have jobs clouding up our thinking.
Hey ,Noseferatu,check it: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=550614&highlight=grilled+cheese
Setting aside for a moment the fact that "everyone" is a lot of people... has it been proven that anyone here hates Gene Simmons' playing?
I always thought it was more of a reasonable "he really isn't anything special compared to a lot of bassists who are less well-known" sort of thing, often as a response to people who think he's played something special and post threads of it to prove that they think it was something special.
Maybe not special but they make more cash than most acts - they know how to sell the crap out of themselves. Not bad for a bunch of old Glam rockers. If success is measured in bucks then these guys got it nailed down. Most of us wish we had the chance to stand up there and do the same. (Don't lie. you know it's true )
I will admit that I picked up the bass just to learn how to play "God of Thunder" and "Rock and Roll All Night" because the redneck mountain girls I ran with liked that stuff. We were cool and they were interested. In the long run I ended up learning what it means to be a musician and loving it. If it took Simmons to kick start one of the things I truly love in life, so be it. Rock on Gene! You made a difference in my life..... just sayin'.
I will admit that I picked up the bass just to learn how to play "God of Thunder" and "Rock and Roll All Night" because the redneck mountain girls I ran with liked that stuff. We were cool and they were interested. In the long run I ended up learning what it means to be a musician and loving it. If it took Simmons to kick start one of the things I truly love in life, so be it. Rock on Gene! You made a difference in my life..... just sayin'.
When I was 13 years old back in 1977 I heard KISS ALIVE. It truly changed my life. Made me want to play guitar. I had never heard anything that raw and powerful before. KISS set the standard for which live albums were/are measured against.
Gene might not be the world's greatest bassist but he could play meoldically. The early albums up until say Rock 'n' Roll Over all had some nice bass fills. No they weren't complex but they served the song.
No way does a band last for 35+ years without having a repetoire of songs that people want to hear. Lots of bands, inspired by KISS, have tried/try to do the big show thing. Nobody does it better than them but they still have songs that people want to hear.
Not everybody's cup of tea but Deuce, Strutter, Rock Bottom, Cold Gin are some of my favorite rock songs of all time.
Gene might not be the world's greatest bassist but he could play meoldically. The early albums up until say Rock 'n' Roll Over all had some nice bass fills. No they weren't complex but they served the song.
No way does a band last for 35+ years without having a repetoire of songs that people want to hear. Lots of bands, inspired by KISS, have tried/try to do the big show thing. Nobody does it better than them but they still have songs that people want to hear.
Not everybody's cup of tea but Deuce, Strutter, Rock Bottom, Cold Gin are some of my favorite rock songs of all time.
Well said Geddyfleaharris! Pretty much reflects on my life experience as well... I did enjoy the Kiss stuff as a kid and Kiss Alive was an eye opening album for me... but like so many others, I have moved on.
Those early albums were inspirational to me, at that time. Granted, I had very little experience to draw from at that time in my life. I like to think of it as part of the foundation that has put me where I am today.
Fishheadjoe
Those early albums were inspirational to me, at that time. Granted, I had very little experience to draw from at that time in my life. I like to think of it as part of the foundation that has put me where I am today.
Fishheadjoe
I know I rather would have heard Gene or Paul sing the song in the original post. I've heard better vocal performances in kareoke bars. I know the real Ace isn't a great singer either, but that vocal performance just sucked.
With that said, I did like Gene's playing and tone in that tune. I've never been a real big Kiss fan, but I've always thought that had some good, hooky tunes.
With that said, I did like Gene's playing and tone in that tune. I've never been a real big Kiss fan, but I've always thought that had some good, hooky tunes.
However, there was no way I could've not shared this with you guys, considering how everyone always is saying how mediocre a bassist the guy is.
It's a clip of KISS playing Shock Me last Saturday.
He did some KILLER fills. I mean KILLER. I'm a huge Gene fan and I didn't even think he had it in him.
At 1:11, 1:56, and again at 3:24.
Not intended to make you guys like him, just sharing that cause I thought it was pretty damn good for a "mediocre bassist".
You obsession with this guy is bordering on the unhealthy. Every time I see a thread about Gene Simmiions it's been created by you.
Not to be taken as an insult it's just that....jesus man, it's all you post about.
Who are we to know that ol' Gene might be able to slap a bass like a pimp slappin' a hooker?? He plays what the songs require. Nothing less,nothing more. That's the sign of a real musician,IMHO.
Well put.
Kiss is nowhere close to being my favorite band, but that is my favorite song by them. I enjoyed the clip, thanks for sharing.
It seems like in every interview I've ever seen with Gene, he goes on about not caring about the purists... even going so far as to admit the whole thing is a brilliant charade to make money and get girls.
Those who believe that getting up on stage is first and foremost about entertaining the crowd are the same that actually respect Kiss. Musicians who feel the music should be the only important aspect... well of COURSE they don't like Kiss. I would actually fall into the latter category except...
...the first record I ever owned was a Kiss record (well, the first three records). I can't deny the impact they had on my life, but they are certainly the poster children of style over substance.
All that being said... their Aceplacement wasn't very authentic. He was way too good! Someone in the youtube comments said "He sounds record perfect". I was thinking, "Well no, he actually nailed the solos". And this is (probably) a symptom of the larger subject... their ringers are actual professional musicians.
Those who believe that getting up on stage is first and foremost about entertaining the crowd are the same that actually respect Kiss. Musicians who feel the music should be the only important aspect... well of COURSE they don't like Kiss. I would actually fall into the latter category except...
...the first record I ever owned was a Kiss record (well, the first three records). I can't deny the impact they had on my life, but they are certainly the poster children of style over substance.
All that being said... their Aceplacement wasn't very authentic. He was way too good! Someone in the youtube comments said "He sounds record perfect". I was thinking, "Well no, he actually nailed the solos". And this is (probably) a symptom of the larger subject... their ringers are actual professional musicians.
I saw a debate once where Gene was talking about the music industry and he said that the live performance has to be just as much about entertainment as it does musicianship. He's right. Then his opponent accused him of only caring about money and not music and he said "no i love both money and music".
There was another one where he was praising King Crimson and said 21st Century Schizoid Man was pure genius. So obviously he's got some musical inclination.
Gene Simmons is a great bass player.. in my opinion.. his fills do not surprise me.. his lines are misleading.. sometimes out of key, out of time, but they fit.. he CAN play bass.. it goes without saying.. his success speaks for itself.. whether for marketing or playing.. I am not a huge Kiss fan, but I have huge respect for Gene Simmons.
Would that make him the Madonna of bass?
No that's not really fair... Gene can sing. Can Madonna play bass?
I agree with the posts that say Gene plays well within the context of Kiss' songs. Many of the bass lines, particularly the older stuff, while not that demanding, are otherwise very clever and suit the songs well.
Kiss' appearance, whether you like them or hate them, is a money-making joke. It has made them swimming-in-cash rich beyond their dreams. However, though their image is a gimmick, many of their songs are very credible, with competent musicianship and good melodies.
The gimmick aspect must be why Gene's bass playing catches so much guff. Well, that and his confidence/cockiness in interviews. To me, if you take his bass lines just on face value, they rate up nicely with groups such as: Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Quiet Riot, etc., and those bassists don't seem to get ripped up nearly as often as Gene.
Isn't he the second wealthiest bassist in the pop genre after McCartney? That's not too shabby!
Kiss' appearance, whether you like them or hate them, is a money-making joke. It has made them swimming-in-cash rich beyond their dreams. However, though their image is a gimmick, many of their songs are very credible, with competent musicianship and good melodies.
The gimmick aspect must be why Gene's bass playing catches so much guff. Well, that and his confidence/cockiness in interviews. To me, if you take his bass lines just on face value, they rate up nicely with groups such as: Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Quiet Riot, etc., and those bassists don't seem to get ripped up nearly as often as Gene.
Isn't he the second wealthiest bassist in the pop genre after McCartney? That's not too shabby!
I agree with ll of this except I have never seen him play any lines out of key or out of time.
Gene also knows his theory quite well.
