I know most don't like Gene Simmons.

[Tampabass]

I listened to plenty of Kiss when I was a young teen. They were fun and funny. They were my little brother's favorite band for a while. Yes, they were way more popular than other bands. Yes, they've made way more money. But none of that makes Gene a great bass player. He isn't. Not remotely.

BUT!!! He was/is the right bassist for that band. They've been hugely successful. He's probably a billionaire. Isn't that enough praise? Nobody's saying he's terrible, just, you know, not much more than competent. What's the compulsion to have others worship at the altar of Gene?

Apparently you aren't aware of the 100's if not 1000's of people who began playing guitar and bass because they liked Kiss. I didn't even hear of Jaco until he had already died. Entwistle was great, as was JPJ, but at the time the were associated with the drug counter-culture that I, personally didn't want to be associated with. Gene once said, Grateful Dead fans are stoned bums, Kiss fans have jobs and ambitions.

And a huge amount of Kiss music was left-over, reworked tunes from Wicked Lester which was not theatrical at all, but focused on music. They are good tunes that have stood the test of time, whether you personally like them or not.

To me Gene is punk. If you adhear to the belief that punk is DIY, stick to your beliefs and screw whether or not people approve of you or not, Gene is as punk as they get.

BTW, Gene played the bass on all albums up to Love Gun. That's a lot of Gold and Platinum records for his bass playing. Probably more than all the people you mentioned, combined.

 

[TL5]

..the music of Kiss was/is never..influential..

I suppose that would be dependent on what you deem as influential.
There was quite a few kids who picked up a guitar or bass back in the mid/late 70s because of Kiss.
I consider that being influential.

A while back there was a poll here on the topic and 1 out of 4 responders answered that Gene was indeed influential in that regard. I was one of'em.

Whether or not Gene is a great player is not at issue when it comes to influence.

here's the poll

 

[Tampabass]

if you mean influential on kids wanting to pick up instruments, then, yeah, I'd agree.

(add): But by influential I mean having a big musical impact.

 

[Blah114]

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.

I meant "intentionally out of time..." not kidding. and intentionally straying from the keys of songs.. sometimes he's doing "his own thing.." and his bass lines fit. I will never understand the animosity towards Gene as a bass player.. his success speaks for itself.. not everyone can create those lines.. or play them in front of thousands of people. Their marketing irritates me, but I am not in their band.. what would they care..

I know some guys who have met Gene.. from Ampeg.. he DOES know his theory.. and he's actually VERY humble and quiet in person... he would likely admit to not being a great bass player.. but he is..

our definitions of "great" vary.. to me, "great" means writing good songs that appeal to people.. on any instrument. I also love Geddy's comments about Kiss.. how Rush toured with them.. and learned a lot from them.. above all, Kiss valued their show.. they always tried, or try, to put on the best SHOW possible... and you cannot do that without good music.. the makeup, etc would not alone be enough to make Kiss successful.... and Kiss would not be as successful without Gene Simmons' bass playing.. so.. "greatness" and Gene belong in the same sentence, for me.

 

[edt844]

How long does it take to get used to walking around in platform shoes?

 

[Keldur16]

Let me first say i am only 20 years old. so i wasnt alive when almost any of the bassist many were active except flea and victor. Let me also say this I didnt know gene simmons played bass until about twenty minutes ago. I was well aware of who he was but, not that he played bass. I wasnt impressed by his playing in the clip, but it works with the song.

I do think its possible to be "killer" without playing a complicated bassline for those of you saying he's not allowed to play complicated basslines. He is just not at all worth mentioning as a bass player imho. Here are some clips of functional bass player (not victor, jaco etc) who actually are killer.
very solid pocket on this one


These my friends are KILLER functional bass players with costumes and makeup and some without crazy pyrotechnics.

 

[trkelley]

Although I find the personality and character of Gene Simmons on stage and off) to be smarmy and annoying and arrogant, I was one of the millions of kids who picked up bass in 1976 and learned to play along with KISS records. I was a member of the KISS army for crapsake! I couldn't have graduated to Rush records with out having learned the basics from KISS. And i still think some of the songs are classic " Think I'm Going Blind". I think Geddy's take on Gene was really cool.
He may not be the best wanker. But he was damn DAMN influential to a lot of us kids in the 1970's!

 

[Keldur16]

his success speaks for itself.

so does souljaboi, britney spears, and milli vanilli,

 

[Zooberwerx]

I can play better than Gene Simmons. How come I'm not rich and famous and get lots of girls? Huh? How come???

I hate him I hate him I hate him

I attribute it to that hunk of roadkill he wears on his head. Chicks dig it!

We can't be too critical of Gene. He's almost-married to a soft porn star and has a line of action play figures based on the band.

Riis

 

[trkelley]

My brother got me the Gene action figure for Christmas about 5 years ago. We had a lot of fun with it. First, I gave it
Gene's detachable plastic bass to a beanie baby( nuts the squirrel) to hold, We drilled plastic Gene's head from a tongue-wise direction, inserted a 8" piece of clear tubing leading out the back that would fit a WD-40 straw. hehehehehFIREhehehehe!
Just like in real life, his head caught fire.

 

[Zooberwerx]

My brother got me the Gene action figure for Christmas about 5 years ago. We had a lot of fun with it. First, I gave it
Gene's detachable plastic bass to a beanie baby( nuts the squirrel) to hold, We drilled plastic Gene's head from a tongue-wise direction, inserted a 8" piece of clear tubing leading out the back that would fit a WD-40 straw. hehehehehFIREhehehehe!
Just like in real life, his head caught fire.

Now, if you could pull something like that off with "Nuts the Squirrel", it would be YouTube-worthy. Actually, it would be pretty close to the real thing...all the way down to the polyester hair.

Riis

 

[Rocker949]

It is possible to not like KISS without being bitter or unhappy with people who do like them. It looks to me like KISS fans are really having a lot of fun enjoying the music of KISS. If I liked that kind of music, I'd be glad to join you.

 

[millsbass5]

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).[/QUOT

I'm saying this with the utmost respect. Mr. $immons I'm sure,does not sit down with the rest of the band and say,"Look guys,I DEMAND a solo spot during the show. That's it,settled. I'm takin' a solo.
No,his "solo" is just an accompaniment to his fire'n'blood deal ....
After that??? Paycheck,please!

 

[HolmeBass]

Gene is, well Gene. He's an institution. No, he's not the world's greatest bass player. I can't help but notice, however, that he seems to have many detractors, more so than say, Cliff Williams of AC/DC. I think Gene has displayed more varied, interesting, and melodic moments in his recording career than Cliff has, but everyone is always stepping up for Cliff- like "Cliff would sound terrible in The Flecktones, but then again, Victor would sound terrible in AC/DC" or many similar riffs like that. Why doesn't Gene at least get the Cliff level of acceptance?

 

[Greevus]

KISS rocks harder in their '60s than most new "rock" bands. Ignore them if you hate it. I don't think they give a ratz azz. I love the egos, the show, the songs. I can listen to the first 7 or so "records" today and they still rock hard. If you are a rock player and you don't like "Alive" or "Destroyer", then you don't rock too hard. My opinion isn't humble. It's a fact.

 

[jelpo]

You're thinking of Richard Simmons.

Ooohhh! Richard Simmons. I see.

 

[kenfxj]

Back when I was about 14 or so I was in the Kiss Army, I thought Gene was the shiz and Destroyer was my favorite record ever. I got older and my tastes changed but I'll always have a fondness for Gene Simmons and Kiss.

Now when I see Gene selling Dr. Pepper or Kiss Kaskets it just makes me smile. You go Gene.

 

[JimmyM]

Gene is, well Gene. He's an institution. No, he's not the world's greatest bass player. I can't help but notice, however, that he seems to have many detractors, more so than say, Cliff Williams of AC/DC. I think Gene has displayed more varied, interesting, and melodic moments in his recording career than Cliff has, but everyone is always stepping up for Cliff- like "Cliff would sound terrible in The Flecktones, but then again, Victor would sound terrible in AC/DC" or many similar riffs like that. Why doesn't Gene at least get the Cliff level of acceptance?

honestly, i don't know. gene may not be the world's greatest bassist but he ain't bad at all. however, i think maybe cliff gets a little more acceptance because he's so dead-on perfect with his timing and has the discipline of a tibetan monk.

 

[Chrisk-K]

I admire Gene for his business mind. Definitely, the best business man who professionally plays the bass.

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

Although I find the personality and character of Gene Simmons on stage and off) to be smarmy and annoying and arrogant, I was one of the millions of kids who picked up bass in 1976 and learned to play along with KISS records. I was a member of the KISS army for crapsake! I couldn't have graduated to Rush records with out having learned the basics from KISS. And i still think some of the songs are classic " Think I'm Going Blind". I think Geddy's take on Gene was really cool.
He may not be the best wanker. But he was damn DAMN influential to a lot of us kids in the 1970's!

+1 to your experience. You nailed it brother!