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KISS going micro???

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#61
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Oh I see why they scaled down, they needed room onstage for the Chorus...
 

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#62
KJung said:
Don't hear much about Uriah Heep. I was a big fan back in the early 70's, since I gigged as a keyboard player back then. That music hasn't held up well, IMO. As you are an Ampeg guy... a quick bit of Uriah Heep trivia. After Ken Hensley moved to the St. Louis area and become the Ampeg Artist Relations manager (he brought that brand back from the dead... amazing job), some of the Uriah Heep guys from back in the day would pass through town on occasion. I played a blues jam with Lee Kerslake, and he was just so awful. I was so bummed, since they were such a big deal for me when I was a kid.

That being said, I always thought Gery Thane (Thain... can't remember) was one of the most under-appreciated bassists of that era. While those old Heep tunes sound pretty silly and dated now (IMO), Gary's tone and lines and execution still sound great to me!
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Gary Thain was absolutely awesome on bass. Too bad he was so addicted to drugs that it killed him. Same with Dave Byron...that's why they canned him. But I wasn't bummed too bad about the bass player that night...John Wetton from King Crimson. I was not crazy about the fruity new singer, though ;)
 
#63
KISS was a big influence on a lot of us, like it or not. I spent a good portion of my early teen years in my friends basement listening to KISS and Alice Cooper records. Still remember studying, and can still play, every riff and lick in Detroit Rock City, including the guitar leads, both parts, at the same time....on a bass.:smug:


I like KISS....and still do.
 
#64
Uriah Heep Live is one of my personal "most important" albums. Gary Thain is all over that one - a veritable smorgasbord of great bass lines.

Have seen Kiss many times live, and there were no "real" amps onstage for the Dynasty tour. Anyhow, I hear that they are going the "vending machine" route next time around. Gene's side will be a wall of ATMs...
 
#65
Gene's tone on a lot of that stuff had a sort of thickness to it that isn't always easy to cop. I sometimes think some of it is just what's ingrained in my head from playing along with it on cassette tapes that were subbed from other tapes that were played so much they're basically worn out. Maybe a sort of limited bandwidth thing where all you're left with is the good parts.:) but there's a thing there that isn't always easy to get with some of todays more wide-open, clear sounding gear.

The lo-fi thing has a certain charm and even on some of the newer recordings you can still hear that thickness. Just goes to show sometimes the most pristine recording isn't always the best one.
 
#70
That's true. But I'll tell you what...the very best feeling Fender I ever played was an Alleva Coppolo 5-string J, and I usually don't like 5's at all. I can't bring myself to spend $3500 on a Precision, but I totally get why some do, even if the headstock looks like a foot ;)
 
#73
I can't take Kiss these days. They are a caricature of themselves. They haven't made a good album since 1979. That said, in 1973 they were the ****. You can say what you want about the make-up and gimmicks, but going back and listening to those songs ( She, 100,000 Years, Black Diamond, Strutter, Nothin' to lose, Got to choose, etc..) They were great songs then and they're great songs now. When I was 9 I decided to play bass because of Gene Simmons. He ain't Flea or Claypool, but having played many of his basslines over the years it is my opinion that the Gene bashing that goes on around here is unwarranted.

And "Family Jewels" is pretty funny.
 
#76
JimmyM said:
I will not have any Gene or KISS-trashing in my thread. If you don't like KISS, either keep it to yourself or move on. I am a fan of KISS. I'd rather see Ace and Peter back in the band, but I get that Peter doesn't get along with Paul and Gene, and Ace is a flake, so whatever. If that troubles you that I like KISS, go tell it to the Marines.
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I, too, am a KISS fan, and don't think it's right that haters have to come and spew their garbage in every thread mentioning the band. Is Gene the best bass player of all time? No. Is he great? Maybe. Is he a multi-millionaire due to his band activities? Yup. If you aren't making the kind of money as a bass player that Gene is, you really don't have the right to denigrate his playing. He's solid, tasteful, in the pocket, has great tone, dances and sings at the same time. He's also a genuinely honest, decent, and gracious man who loves his mother and is a good friend. How many of us can do that? Exactly, not too freaking many. I've seen KISS at least once a year since 1975, and will keep doing so until they retire. Why? They put on a hell of a show, and have amazing opening acts. I've been introduced to Buckcherry and Black Veil Brides by them, just to name a couple. Don't hate Gene, don't hate KISS. Why? They don't deserve it.
/rant

Floyd, you are so right. So many people trash Gene for being honest. Wait, what??? Is that not how we are supposed to be? He makes no bones about the fact that he loves himself, his mother, and his band, and will do whatever he has to in order to ensure that they are well taken care of. When looked at from that angle, all his antics and "whoring" make sense. That is what the public wants from him, so that is what he gives them so he will continue to make his millions and be able to care for the things he loves. What the f&*k is wrong with that?
 
#77
All true^.

Plus, at one time he was a great song writer. Man, I freakin' love those old songs.

I saw them live when Peter and Ace came back several years ago. That was cool. I saw them with the fake guys too. Didn't care for that too much.
 
#78
I loved Kiss growing up. Saw them in 77 on the love gun tour in Billings MT. Cheap trick was the opener and they were also awesome. The very first song I ever performed in public on bass was "Detroit Rock City". The first band I was ever in played 5 kiss songs. I think we only knew 25-30 songs total.
 
#79
JimmyM said:
So what the heck are those amps anyway? It kind of looks like Gene's using an SVT with a 410 turned inwards, but I really can't make it out. And I don't ever recall seeing those types of guitar amps before.

EDIT: Found 'em. Hughes and Kettner Tommy Thayer Signature Duotone amps.
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I bet you are the sole person attending that show who agonized over this point. They probably weren't even plugged in.
 
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