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I know most don't like Gene Simmons.

#41
Here is a secret...KISS and Gene have been around along time. The people that like them, like them...the people who don't, don't.

I can tell you from decades of experience as a fan, that trying to convert people is a complete waste of time. It has always been that way, and always will be.

Why do you seem to need to have what you like validated by people on TB? Gene himself could not care less if anyone here appreciates his playing, so why does it matter so much to you? I promise you Gene is doing fine, and doesn't need anyone defending him. Just enjoy the music, enjoy the show, and let others like what they like. Gene has stated many times that he didn't want to be defined by bass or he may as well be a studio musician. So it's cool with him that he isn't what musicians first think of when they think of bass.
 
#43
plangentmusic said:
Ha! PERFECT.

To the OP -- those fills aren't killer bro. They're very pedestrian -- something someone should able to do after playing a year or so.
Click to expand...


I wasn't going to mention it, but since its out there...I was thinkin that I could do those fills.
In fact I do alot of fills like that.
And I admit that I suck.
But hey, he's famous, so that makes me feel better.Point is, you don't hafta be awesome..to be famous.

:hiding:

(I don't hate Gene Simmons by the way.. and he was great on celeb apprentice);)
 
#44
top to bottom, I enjoyed this thread. I remember as a kid, the bigger kids would mock me because I loved Kiss, telling me 'ahhh, thats bubble gum rock'. So be it. I loved it then, and I love it now. Saw them this year (my gf's first show) and thought they nailed it.

I remember Gene getting all those 'top bass player' awards in Cream mag, and some of the others. I laughed at that then, and do now. Great bass player....No. Great performer, great business man, my inspiration as a kid....hell yea. He does what those songs require.
 
#45
I don't get why people argue about this guy. I'm not trying to (even though I probably am) open up a can of worms, but.....This guy is a flat out terrible bass player. I've watched probably a dozen of his "solo's" and I haven't seen one that was hard to play, good sounding, or non-generic sounding. You'd think this guy would be pretty good at what he does after how long he's been doing it.
Sorry if I've offended anyone. I just don't like famous musicians who aren't the talented and skilled (Attack Attack, I'm calling you out).
 
#50
jelpo said:
I thought Gene Simmons was a fitness personality?
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You're thinking of Richard Simmons.

I'm not a big fan of Gene or his playing, but good for him for making millions with the "KISS empire." I just think, as a lot of others have said, that his playing is mediocre, but I also think that about the whole band.

Regarding classic rock bassists, give me Entwistle or JPJ any day. Both bassists who got rich and famous more on their (and their bandmates') MUSICAL talents, as opposed to straight up business savvy.
 
#51
splitcoilsenior said:
I don't get why people argue about this guy. I'm not trying to (even though I probably am) open up a can of worms, but.....This guy is a flat out terrible bass player. I've watched probably a dozen of his "solo's" and I haven't seen one that was hard to play, good sounding, or non-generic sounding. You'd think this guy would be pretty good at what he does after how long he's been doing it.
Sorry if I've offended anyone. I just don't like famous musicians who aren't the talented and skilled (Attack Attack, I'm calling you out).
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His solos are not intended to be actual solos. He doesnt call
Them solos. You shouldnt either. It's all just for the blood spitting routine.

And to call him a flat out terrible bass player? You're a real **** aren't you? Why don't we give the title of "terrible" bass player to someone like Nikki Sixx? Or Michael Anthony? Gene is light years ahead of both of them.

Have you ever even listened to any of the guy's music to be able to call him terrible?

To me, it's not about being able to play something a certain bassist writes. I have no problem playing anything that any bassist writes. It's easy to cop something.

However, writing is a whole other story.

If you can write a bassline like Goin Blind, 100,000 Years, Strutter, Nothin To Lose, Ladoes Room, Room Service, RARAN, etc, then come back and you can call him terrible.


I mean seriously??


And you call yourself a bassist?
:rollno:
 
#53
Noseferatu said:
His solos are not intended to be actual solos. He doesnt call
Them solos. You shouldnt either. It's all just for the blood spitting routine.

And to call him a flat out terrible bass player? You're a real **** aren't you? Why don't we give the title of "terrible" bass player to someone like Nikki Sixx? Or Michael Anthony? Gene is light years ahead of both of them.

Have you ever even listened to any of the guy's music to be able to call him terrible?

To me, it's not about being able to play something a certain bassist writes. I have no problem playing anything that any bassist writes. It's easy to cop something.

However, writing is a whole other story.

If you can write a bassline like Goin Blind, 100,000 Years, Strutter, Nothin To Lose, Ladoes Room, Room Service, RARAN, etc, then come back and you can call him terrible.


I mean seriously??


And you call yourself a bassist?
:rollno:
Click to expand...

I'm starting to think you create these threads to just troll people.

Do you not think your obsession with this guy is unhealthy?
 
#54
kuys said:
I'm starting to think you create these threads to just troll people.

Do you not think your obsession with this guy is unhealthy?
Click to expand...

If I were trolling, why would I reply to the thread after I created it? I'm having serious discussion here. In all honesty, I don't really care if anyone thinks I'm an idiot for liking Gene Simmons, so I'm not sure why I create these threads. I just...do.
 
#55
Noseferatu said:
By the way, I'm a huge John Paul Jones fan, and I appreciate his musical genius, but I actually would say that Gene's lines were much more musical than any of JPJ's. With th eexception of Ramble On.
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I'm not an expert on led zep, nor an expert on gene simmons, but I think that JPJ's work on them crooked vultures is quite hard to play
I hope I can still play elephants when I'm 64

and, whether you like it or not, this is looking like a troll thread, and this is because you are not accepting other people's views after posting some mediocre fills as KILLER to prove people wrong

FWIW, I think gene's a great businessman and should be valued on those skills, not his skills as a player

not that I even get what this KISSmania is about, no one I know, old or young, listens to KISS around here.
 
#56
Step said:
I'm not an expert on led zep, nor an expert on gene simmons, but I think that JPJ's work on them crooked vultures is quite hard to play
I hope I can still play elephants when I'm 64

and, whether you like it or not, this is looking like a troll thread, and this is because you are not accepting other people's views after posting some mediocre fills as KILLER to prove people wrong

FWIW, I think gene's a great businessman and should be valued on those skills, not his skills as a player

not that I even get what this KISSmania is about, no one I know, old or young, listens to KISS around here.
Click to expand...
His Vultures work is great.
Elephants is PHENOMINAL! Now I'm on a crusade to acquire a Mandobass someday.
:D
 
#59
I think for the time Gene Simmons was really popular (IE 70's-80's...not to say they aren't popular today, just more so then), he was amazing for his time. I don't necessarily like Kiss, but I don't hate them enough to say "screw Gene Simmons". I mean the guy is a marketing genius IMO and a Legend. He has made a LOT of money because he knows how to make people love him. His bass playing is good, not the best, but good still. I respect him.
 
#60
Noseferatu...I am a huge Gene Simmons fan, always have been, always will be. I agree, I thought the licks were killer too. I learned to play bass by wearing out my KISS records. I would rather listen to Gene play the radio than listen to Jaco, Victor, Flea, etc. I can appreciate their immense talent...but I couldn't care less about their music or technique or tone blah blah blah. But the point is, you are wasting your time and energy by trying to prove anything to people that don't "get it". Spilitcoils opinion is just that, an opinion... I could care less about his opinion...he doesn't "get it".
I get it.
You get it.
Thousands of other bass players that grew up in the 70's and 80's get it.
You just had to be there.

BTW: don't start raggin' on Mike Anthony, cause that thread has been worn out too...and for the record, Mike could play those fills (with his fingers) in his sleep. ;)
 

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