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The Truth About Gene Simmons

Aaaahhh, Haters in the House.

"The Truth about Gene Simmons". It's a the internet equivalent to a buglight. Lot's of folks here on this forum will be unable to bring themselves to not fly into it.

There is no "truth" about Gene, other than he's just a fella. No different from many others in the music biz. He joined a band in the early 1970s that became very successful and he was able to parlay that into a celebrity career that lasted decades beyond. That career is ongoing. Good for him! We should all have our hard work rewarded so.

And he did work hard. All the successful ones do.

You don't like his music? Who cares? If you look at your radio, or TV, you'll notice that there is more than one station. Know why? Cuz it's not all there for you. Some people like things you don't like. Haters can make themselves feel more sophisticated by slagging some dude they've never met on an internet forum because they don't like the artist's product, but what are you accomplishing? Have you raised anyone's artistic appreciation that way lately? Didn't think so.

Gene didn't write any songs? They're still playing Rock n Roll all Night on the radio. Over the years I've heard plenty others. A popular music career doesn't last four decades because you've got cute boots.

Know what I like about Gene musically (this is a musical forum, no?)
-I LOVE his tone in the early days. That distorted Gibson Ripper was heavy duty in 1974.
-The Macca inspired melodic lines that sometimes served as a counter point to the guitars. Now, this changed sometime around 1979 (the whole band did - drugs, fatigue, creative burnout, star syndrome, overexposure) but early on Gene's patterns showed creativity and melodic awareness. Later metal players tended to stick to root notes and speed. Early Kiss is more melodic and Gene's basslines were a big reason.
-Dedication to performance. Rock and Roll is part circus. Don't like it? Don't buy a ticket, Plebius. But Gene hated going to a rock concert and watching some wanker turn in a dead show. He made sure his band didn't do that.

You don't have to be the best bass player in the world. I don't want to be and neither did he. But he wanted to be in a great Rock n Roll band and for awhile there, Kiss really was.

Buy a ticket to the show, my friends. Maybe not his, but someone else's. Maybe down the street. But go see a live band. It's cool. It's fun. It's rock n roll. :bassist:
 
But there is a reason bands like Led Zep, Rush, Beatles, etc are so well respected. They wrote alot of good music (as demonstrated by their music's popularity and longevity).


Interesting! full of bias and contradiction. To many,Kiss has written a lot of good music, that just an opinion by Kiss fans just as you believe they haven't. Kiss has as much or more popularity and longevity as the bands you just quoted and are still going!
 
As much as we criticize acts like KISS and players like Gene Simmons for being musically inferior or what have you, and as much as I myself may even dislike them in a similar capacity, what OP is saying is a truth that we should all realize, even if we prefer to mask it under our opinions and musical tastes.

To summarize what I got from reading this: we can hate on music we don't care for, but at the same time we must accept our own biases and not fall into blind, opinionated perspectives that make light of peoples' musical successes and ultimately detract from the music that brings us all together.
 
Sure it could inspire some to do it for real, but I have already seen instances where one gave it up because they realized it takes a lot of effort and commitment. Not so with the video game band.

Can't blame that on video games though... That was me when I was younger (Gave up when I realized it took a lot of effort and commitment) and that was when Atari was popular.
 
That much maybe true, but the point I'm making is why the younger generation who may be are musical future would bother learning guitar if they can play it on TV with a cardboard cutout.

Sure it could inspire some to do it for real, but I have already seen instances where one gave it up because they realized it takes a lot of effort and commitment. Not so with the video game band.

I think you are over analyzing the rock band stuff , people who love playing their instrument(s) are not going to ditch them for a video game. I get that you are referring to kids starting out with music , but that is the beauty in finding what really interests you . If some kid would rather play a cardboard guitar ( with the KISS logo of course)
than a real one ,, well ??? I'm sure the next phenom bass whiz in the waiting is practicing on a real guitar
 
I don't think you understand music

Well, I've made my living at it. I studied at the Manhattan School of Music. I play 9 instruments. Compose, arrange and orchestrate. Have made instructional videos. But maybe you're right.

Hey, you sound like you're young. Here's some perspective. From an old guy.

Back in the 80's I was pulling in over 6 figures just from gigging and session work. How much did YOU make this year playing music this year? I mean, since you know it so well.

Today, the work isn't there. Unless you're the main songwriter in a hit band, chances are you won't be able to pay your rent from playing music. Maybe things will be different for you. Maybe you're so great the world cannot deny your genius. Let us know.

Till then...ssssh.
 
Believe it or not, Rock-Band the game is what sparked me to be a musician. I loved the Metallica songs in it, and bought And Justice For All... From there I now own all their albums, LOVE all their music, and have since picked up bass, discovered Metal, Rock, Ska... really opened my eyes to real music. All thanks to plastic toys... kind of weird huh. I always liked Kiss, not their music anyways, but their cool instruments, Gene's tounge, firespit, facepaint; I didn't really care about the music. Heck, I only know of a dozen songs by them :P
 
Really? Only 5 good songs?

Rock N Roll All Night
Detroit Rock City
King of the Night Time World
Goin’ Blind
Parasite
Strutter
Cold Gin
100,000 Years
Black Diamond
Rock Bottom
C’mon And Love Me
She
God Of Thunder
Shout It Out Loud
Beth
Do Ya Love Me
Calling Dr. Love
Hard Luck Woman
Christeen Sixteen
Shock Me
Love Gun
I Was Made For Loving You
Sure Know Something
Shandi
Naked City
A World Without Heroes
I Still Love You
Creatures Of The Night
I Love It Loud
All Hell’s Breakin Loose
A Million To One
Lick It Up
Thrills In The Night
Heaven’s On Fire
Tears Are Falling
Who Wants To Be Lonely
Crazy Nights
Reason To Live
Hide Your Heart
Forever
Unholy
Take It Off
Every Time I Look At You


Those are just a few of MY favorites....according to ME, they wrote over 40 good songs, if you don't mind.
Hmmmm...guess all those Gold and Platinum albums were full of nursery rhymes.
 
Me? Nah. Don't work at GC. I never made it into the BIG BIG league but I did alright.

And I'll not only put my skills up against yours but I'll bet before we're both through I would have made more money in this business than you ever will.

Hahhaa! You're funny! I don't care about your "skills" and really, if you have to resort to bragging on an online site.....
And $? I'm sure you've made more as an actor than I. Again, I could care less. Maybe you should look into your motivations into what got you into playing in the first place. These posts make you sound very young.
 
Interesting! full of bias

Yes, most definitely. To not have any bias would be non-human.

To many,Kiss has written a lot of good music, that just an opinion by Kiss fans

As it should be. It's all opinion, just like my post. All opinions are welcome on Talkbass (did you see my "IMO of course" statement at the end?)

Kiss has as much or more popularity and longevity as the bands you just quoted and are still going!

I applauded KISS' success in my post. I wish them continued success! I never said their music was bad. I said it is simplistic. Their chord structures and modal choices are elementary as compared to the compositions by the bands I listed. Simplistic does not equal bad. It just equals simplistic. It works for their style and "product". FYI, I played a bunch of KISS music back in the 70's when I was a budding bassist. It was fun. Like I said, their music is easy to learn and play.....perfect for musicians just starting out. Like Mick J said, "It's only rock and roll but I like it".
 
Well, I've made my living at it. I studied at the Manhattan School of Music. I play 9 instruments. Compose, arrange and orchestrate. Have made instructional videos. But maybe you're right.

Hey, you sound like you're young. Here's some perspective. From an old guy.

Back in the 80's I was pulling in over 6 figures just from gigging and session work. How much did YOU make this year playing music this year? I mean, since you know it so well.

Today, the work isn't there. Unless you're the main songwriter in a hit band, chances are you won't be able to pay your rent from playing music. Maybe things will be different for you. Maybe you're so great the world cannot deny your genius. Let us know.

Till then...ssssh.

Not to fuel the fire, nor do I really care, but with a substantial income, such as yours, I figured you would be a supporting member?
 
I'm not a huge fan of their music but boy, they put on a hell of a show. I'd love to see a KISS concert. Not for the music but for the theatrics. Then again there's always Pink Floyd (except floyd makes EXCELLENT music).
 
Hahhaa! You're funny! I don't care about your "skills" and really, if you have to resort to bragging on an online site.....
And $? I'm sure you've made more as an actor than I. Again, I could care less. Maybe you should look into your motivations into what got you into playing in the first place. These posts make you sound very young.


No, not as an actor, as a musician. Try to keep up wit the class.

No bragging, just explaining -- which obviously was a waste of time.

And yes, I'm quite sure you don't care about skill.