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Opinion on Gene Simmons

Opinion on Gene Simmons

  • He's Awesome

    Votes: 41 8.4%

  • He's Ok

    Votes: 182 37.1%

  • He's Absolutely Horrible

    Votes: 191 38.9%

  • No Opinion

    Votes: 77 15.7%
  • Total voters
    491
  • Poll closed .
#121
Tim Rogers, who's the frontman of Aussie band "You Am I" is a big KISS fan, and on an interview on tv a few months ago (Andrew Denton's "Enough Rope") he said he met Gene Simmons at a gig once (I think they were support or something) and he was awestruck because he idolised these guys as a kid. Tim asked Gene about how much he must have a great life being so successful at doing something he loves (obviously meaning playing music) and Gene replied with something like "Yeah, I've always wanted to make lots of money, travel and have women chase me constantly, and I've been doing it for years now, it's great".

Whether his bass ability is in question or not that would be quite a illusion shattering moment. I hope none of my musical heroes think the same lol.
 
#123
After all the Gene bashing, I think I like him even more. :spit:

He represents what attitude and hard work can do. Talent doesn't mean ****, if you don't have the focus, guts, and attitude to push it thru.

And nothing wrong with being happy playing for 100 people at a time. If that floats your boat, so be it. But some people have different ambitions.
 
#127
Jake of Bass said:
Tim Rogers, who's the frontman of Aussie band "You Am I" is a big KISS fan, and on an interview on tv a few months ago (Andrew Denton's "Enough Rope") he said he met Gene Simmons at a gig once (I think they were support or something) and he was awestruck because he idolised these guys as a kid. Tim asked Gene about how much he must have a great life being so successful at doing something he loves (obviously meaning playing music) and Gene replied with something like "Yeah, I've always wanted to make lots of money, travel and have women chase me constantly, and I've been doing it for years now, it's great".

Whether his bass ability is in question or not that would be quite a illusion shattering moment. I hope none of my musical heroes think the same lol.
Click to expand...
Oh stop. Most rock and roll musicians would say the same thing if they were honest and not trying to cow-tow to the "artistes" out there who think artistic integrity exists in the music industry. Know who's got musical integrity? The kid in his living room writing songs not trying to get signed, not making any money. Everyone else is in it for the money and good times.
 
#132
I've walked out of two KISS shows, and after that I was happier. That's positive, right?

I do like some KISS stuff and I can see the allure, but I thought their live show was awful. Pyro was going off half the time and the sound was bad enough without that. But if I was Gene, I'd be laughing all the way to the bank as well so, good for him.

~S
 
#133
JimmyM said:
Oh stop. Most rock and roll musicians would say the same thing if they were honest and not trying to cow-tow to the "artistes" out there who think artistic integrity exists in the music industry. Know who's got musical integrity? The kid in his living room writing songs not trying to get signed, not making any money. Everyone else is in it for the money and good times.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I disagree. Many artists are in it for the music, and it doesn't mean they're trying to appeal to the "artistes" for saying so, it's probably actually true you know. Many artists are also very business minded and can combine the two. All I'm repeating is what I saw in a candid interview with a highly respected Australian musician.

Your cynicism is all well and good, but usually cynics try to prove justification for their cynicism, instead of understanding there are varying shades within the spectrum. You don't think artistic integrity exists in the music industry? What about the bands who get signed to contracts that makes less money but means they keep artistic control over everything, like Tool or Nirvana, to think of a couple examples off the top of my head. Sure, they make money because they become big, but they didn't/don't sacrifice their art for it. The money is a by-product of their art. Miles Davis drove a yellow Ferrari, clearly from his earnings as part of the music industry. Would you say he didn't have artistic integrity?
 
#134
I voted "He's ok" as a bass player. He's not a virtuoso but I love his bass lines from their early years recordings (up to "Alive II").

There are cool bass lines after that, but I'm not shure if those were played by him. Ace did some stuff, Paul also. Even Jimmy Haslip recorded some bass lines in their "Disco" era. From "Creatures of the Night" on I didn't like anything coming from Kiss

As a person, I really don't like him. I think he's too arrogant. His show is ridiculous.
 
#138
BigOldHarry said:
....he makes adult male bassists who work at their craft roll their eyes.
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I envy his playing. Not for his technicality, but for his tastefulness in his lines of old KISS. I've been playing over 20 years, and consider myself pretty damn good. I envy his playing, and wish I could be as imaginative and tasteful when writing some of my stuff.

Soooooo.... Speak for yourself. ;)
 

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