The Truth About Gene Simmons

[Roy Vogt]

The music was just he "vehicle" for the spectacle, the show, and the million-dollar marketing opportunities. If no one had ever seen a picture of KISS, or been to a show, the music via airplay alone would have rendered them sub-mid pack status only.

This brings back a funny memory. I bought the first Kiss LP as a High School student and played it for a friend of mine who was a great guitarist in the style of Johnny Winter and Rick Derringer (not bad for a High School kid in the early 70s). He remarked that they sounded like The Hudson Brothers
(I know anyone under 50 will have to look that up-it's cool! I'm coming to embrace my Bass Geezerhood)

 

[4001]

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.

 

[plangentmusic]

Read it in context bro.

 

[Col Pruse]

Why doesn't Nikki Sixx ever get brought up around all the Gene bashing? He's basically a poor man's Gene Simmons...

 

[THand]

Gene & Kiss aren't necessary for the OP to make his point or share his opinion.

He put Gene in the title because Gene threads will get more readers than "the day I almost got to hang with Hasselhoff, and what I think of the music biz" as a title.

Just ignore it, he'll start a new thread in a bit...prolly about Squiers being cool or something.

 

[fourstringburn]

I actually have great respect for writing a catchy pop song. That's very different form just "writing a riff with words."

Hey, try this. Crank out a pedaled C . Hit some random white notes on the piano. (Within singing range). Put those notes to lyrics.

CAn;t think of any? Here's some --

Gotta have your love. Gotta have your love tonight.

(Make sure the amount of notes match the sylables).

Boom. That's a song. (Or at least a chorus) Maybe not a very good one. But it's a song.

That's very different from a Day Tripper, Smells Like Teen Spirit or Poker Face. THOSE are hits. That have the "it" factor.

KISS was big before ever having a hit. I believe R&R all night was their only top 10 song and I get why. It's an anthem. Another good gimmick.

I guess you never heard the song "Beth" while it may not be rock-n- roll, it was their biggest hit and it was nominated for a Grammy. A big achievement for a hard rock band at the time.

 

[THand]

This brings back a funny memory. I bought the first Kiss LP as a High School student and played it for a friend of mine who was a great guitarist in the style of Johnny Winter and Rick Derringer (not bad for a High School kid in the early 70s). He remarked that they sounded like The Hudson Brothers
(I know anyone under 50 will have to look that up-it's cool! I'm coming to embrace my Bass Geezerhood)

LOL! Now I have to clean the spilled coffee off of my desk!
Call Rosie!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDeDNidI74Q

 

[Art Araya]

I've never been a KISS or Gene Simmons fan, however after watching this video I have a whole different respect for the man as a patriot.

That was pretty awesome!

 

[odin70]

Why call the thread "The truth about Gene Simmons"? When you actually dont say anything about him..other than that you think its easy to write pop songs.

 

[plangentmusic]

Gene & Kiss aren't necessary for the OP to make his point or share his opinion.

He put Gene in the title because Gene threads will get more readers than "the day I almost got to hang with Hasselhoff, and what I think of the music biz" as a title.

Just ignore it, he'll start a new thread in a bit...prolly about Squiers being cool or something.

Yeah, don't ya hate it when guys start threads that get thousands of hits and lots of perspectives and an energetic debate going? Who wants THAT on a message board? Everyone knows you're just supposed to show up on occasion and make meaningless complaints. Well done yet again Thand.

 

[Corevalay]

I can see your point...

Locally in NJ/NY i see tons of talented musicians and bands. Many that if put in front of the right people, or with the right exposure could be huge. Unfortunately it just doesn't happen for everyone. It's as much about your talent/skills as it is being lucky and who you know. Just being able to have the OPPORTUNITY to see if you could be something is the biggest hurdle there is.

Then, at the same time, they are bands that I see and hear who can play but just don't have it. But because of how they look or who they know, they get those opportunities. Sometimes over and over. But because they just don't have "it" they never pass a certain point.

 

[plangentmusic]

I guess you never heard the song "Beth" while it may not be rock-n- roll, it was their biggest hit and it was nominated for a Grammy. A big achievement for a hard rock band at the time.

Yeah, I heard it. Written by Peter Criss by plunking every 3 notes on the white keys. C/ G/ F/ Dm/Em/Am. It's fine -- great anthem for guys in bands and their girlfriends. He can't sing for sh*t though. But feel free to tell me how many copies it sold.

 

[THand]

Yeah, don't ya hate it when guys start threads that get thousands of hits and lots of perspectives and an energetic debate going? Who wants THAT on a message board? Everyone knows you're just supposed to show up on occasion and make meaningless complaints. Well done yet again Thand.

 

[plangentmusic]

I can see your point...

Locally in NJ/NY i see tons of talented musicians and bands. Many that if put in front of the right people, or with the right exposure could be huge. Unfortunately it just doesn't happen for everyone. It's as much about your talent/skills as it is being lucky and who you know. Just being able to have the OPPORTUNITY to see if you could be something is the biggest hurdle there is.

Then, at the same time, they are bands that I see and hear who can play but just don't have it. But because of how they look or who they know, they get those opportunities. Sometimes over and over. But because they just don't have "it" they never pass a certain point.

TRUE. You see it all the time. There are plenty of bands that get all the breaks and STILL don't make it because they just don't connect. And frankly, they're just not that great. So yeah, it takes more than just a break. You need SOMETHING. And KISS certainly has "something."

 

[dj150888]

While I don't think THand's personal attack on you was necessary (it was obviously just made because he's upset at the use of Gene Simmons because he's a fan), the underlying point of his post was accurate. Gene Simmons didn't need to be mentioned at all in the original post.

I actually think your use of Gene Simmons as an example was rather foolish, considering the threads on him lately. It might get extra views and more posts, but what could have been an interesting debate will devolve into another discussion about Gene. If you had've presented the thread in a more general way, there could've been potential for a lot of perspectives and energetic debate, as soon as you typed "Gene Simmons", however, the possibility of that died, leaving nothing but another thread about him. The discussion that your post could've struck up will be completely overshadowed by the Pro-Gene/Anti-Gene debate.

 

[plangentmusic]

While I don't think THand's personal attack on you was necessary (it was obviously just made because he's upset at the use of Gene Simmons because he's a fan), the underlying point of his post was accurate. Gene Simmons didn't need to be mentioned at all in the original post.

I actually think your use of Gene Simmons as an example was rather foolish, considering the threads on him lately. It might get extra views and more posts, but what could have been an interesting debate will devolve into another discussion about Gene. If you had've presented the thread in a more general way, there could've been potential for a lot of perspectives and energetic debate, as soon as you typed "Gene Simmons", however, the possibility of that died, leaving nothing but another thread about him. The discussion that your post could've struck up will be completely overshadowed by the Pro-Gene/Anti-Gene debate.

You're absolutely right.

I did, however, preface in the first paragraph that I was using Gene as more of a metaphor and it was not meant to be a debate about him specifically. But apparently expecting everyone to comprehend that was a bit too ambitious.

 

[dj150888]

The words, "Gene Simmons" seem to be like a rag to a bull on this forum!

 

[THand]

While I don't think THand's personal attack on you was necessary (it was obviously just made because he's upset at the use of Gene Simmons because he's a fan), the underlying point of his post was accurate. Gene Simmons didn't need to be mentioned at all in the original post.

I actually think your use of Gene Simmons as an example was rather foolish, considering the threads on him lately. It might get extra views and more posts, but what could have been an interesting debate will devolve into another discussion about Gene. If you had've presented the thread in a more general way, there could've been potential for a lot of perspectives and energetic debate, as soon as you typed "Gene Simmons", however, the possibility of that died, leaving nothing but another thread about him. The discussion that your post could've struck up will be completely overshadowed by the Pro-Gene/Anti-Gene debate.

hehe...that wasn't a personal attack, just an observation from reading his OP, and knowing he fancies himself a writer (which he may well be) & frequently starts some rather misleading threads (like asking for opinions, when his responses indicate he clearly doesn't want opinions, but back-patting). We have gone back-and-forth before, but I don't harbor any hard feelings towards him at all. I actually agree with alot of what he post.

I'm glad you got my point though. His post and opinion has alot of potential for meaningful discussion and debate, but he killed its chance with his title just to pick up quick hits.

As for me being upset, no, I am not. I have been a fan of KISS since the 70's, but I don't agree with everything Gene does and am pretty used to others not getting "it". So....while I do try to point out his abilities as a player when that gets slammed, I don't defend every little thing he does....and ironically (and to his credit) Plangentmusic didn't insult him as a player, and actually complimented him several times.

So, it's all good.

 

[plangentmusic]

hehe...that wasn't a personal attack, just an observation from reading his OP, and knowing he fancies himself a writer (which he may well be) & frequently starts some rather misleading threads (like asking for opinions, when his responses indicate he clearly doesn't want opinions, but back-patting). We have gone back-and-forth before, but I don't harbor any hard feelings towards him at all. I actually agree with alot of what he post.

I'm glad you got my point though. His post and opinion has alot of potential for meaningful discussion and debate, but he killed its chance with his title just to pick up quick hits.

As for me being upset, no, I am not. I have been a fan of KISS since the 70's, but I don't agree with everything Gene does and am pretty used to others not getting "it". So....while I do try to point out his abilities as a player when that gets slammed, I don't defend every little thing he does....and ironically (and to his credit) Plangentmusic didn't insult him as a player, and actually complimented him several times.

So, it's all good.

So you actually understood the intention of the thread, felt there were good points to be discussed, yet instead of contributing, decided to disparage it and take a jab at me.

 

[THand]

So you actually understood the intention of the thread, felt there were good points to be discussed, yet instead of contributing, decided to disparage it and take a jab at me.

Ahhh the jab was half in jest and meant in fun...don't take it personally!

As mentioned, your choice of thread title and using Kiss as your metaphor detracts greatly from the points you were trying to get across. Considering the outbreak of negativity we recently had here, I thought it was a very poor choice.

IMO, alot of your points on pop song writing are very accurate. It has gotten to the point where everything is manufactured and follows a formula. Often it seems that the secret ingredient is money, or knowing someone with money to back you and push you to the top. Why else would (band X) sellout shows worldwide, while a genius is having to flip burgers on the side just to make it?
Yet, there are those that despite the money, and initial success that having money behind you can bring, have zero staying power. Others become legends, living gods, but when you break it down....nothing they do is that special! So why the injustices?
Probably for the same reason other injustices exist: life isn't fair. In the same minute one baby is born into wealth, another into poverty. A baby is held up as a sign of hope for the future for being born on 911, and years later the same baby is shot dead at by a madman and becomes a symbol of our hopelessness.
All we can do, is do our best. Maybe we will be propelled into success and wealth and history. Maybe we'll just stay around the house and play on the side because it's what we love to do and enjoy being with the family. Just do your best. Because Jaco won't happen again, the Beatles won't, and neither will Kiss or Hank Williams...but something will!