Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

I see your argument and raise you a spat.

Mooooooom... He spat at meeeeee.

 

[RedVee]

It's currently 85F(feels like 91) w/ 60% humidity. Just fine.

on my edge of Sydney, currently 20 and damp. Supposed to get to 27 with 70% humidity. 27 = 80F

No matter what they became later, I agree that KISS made a huge impact on that era. Even if the later 80s bands sounded nothing like them, a whole lot of them picked up a guitar or bass because of Ace or Gene; much like so many of the 70s bands did because of the Beatles on Ed Sullivan.

yeah spent a lot of time listening to Kiss albums as a youth. The phrase ‘Kiss only plays Gibson guitars’ burnt “Gibson Good” into my psyche I think.
In fact one of the reason I picked the teenage bass I did was that it was pretty much the same shape as Gene’s Gibson.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

on my edge of Sydney, currently 20 and damp. Supposed to get to 27 with 70% humidity. 27 = 80F



yeah spent a lot of time listening to Kiss albums as a youth. The phrase ‘Kiss only plays Gibson guitars’ burnt “Gibson Good” into my psyche I think.
In fact one of the reason I picked the teenage bass I did was that it was pretty much the same shape as Gene’s Gibson.

remember him with one of these..

 

[69'Vette]

The phrase ‘Kiss only plays Gibson guitars’ burnt “Gibson Good” into my psyche I think.

100% this.

When I bought my first good bass, the white Thunderbird I wanted was sold (and it didn't occur to me that my mom could maybe drive me around to look at stores I couldn't get to on my bike), so I ended up buying a brand new, candy apple red Precision Special (just introduced). That matching headstock kicked my butt and I loved how it sounded. I was VERY happy with that bass... until I bought the Guitar Player issue a few months later (with KISS on the cover) and Gene trashed P basses in his interview. Of course I didn't know he actually used them in the studio... Anyway, it killed the love I had for that bass and I ended up selling it at a loss because I couldn't play it anymore. That's how much influence they had on me as a 15 year old. I still cringe (and want to slap Gene) when I think of that!

 

[Bassclef46]

Thought you folks might enjoy this

 

[Blazer]

But may not have been stars in the hair metal era had it not been for Kiss. Actually, I would argue that hair metal owes its existence to Kiss.

I'd say the New York Doll would argue with you on that.

And speaking of the Dolls, Arthur Kane played T-birds.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

remember him with one of these..
View attachment 4172936

I borrowed one for 2 years from my guitar player's Dad. Way back in '69 and '70. Tried to buy it, but he wouldn't give it up. Wish I had picked that baby up.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I borrowed one for 2 years from my guitar player's Dad. Way back in '69 and '70. Tried to buy it, but he wouldn't give it up. Wish I had picked that baby up.

still interested? the one to the right has the banjo tuners...PM me...

 

[BklynKen]

@godofthunder59

 

[GonePlaid]

I like the hat!

Thanks. My daughter got me that. It's difficult to see in the pic, but there are little blobs of paint representing seagull poop on there. I've had people ask me if it's real. "Yeah, I wear a hat with bird on it."

 

[RedVee]

remember him with one of these..
View attachment 4172936

Yeah maybe. Or maybe the Grabber. Same sort of shape but with the usual Gibson 2 a side head stock, not the Vee arrow head. Did Gene play a Ripper? And was it in an album cover lol

 

[PillO]

Thanks. My daughter got me that. It's difficult to see in the pic, but there are little blobs of paint representing seagull poop on there. I've had people ask me if it's real. "Yeah, I wear a hat with bird on it."

I've seen those hats before, but never seen anyone have the guts to actually wear one.

 

[PillO]

Yeah maybe. Or maybe the Grabber. Same sort of shape but with the usual Gibson 2 a side head stock, not the Vee arrow head. Did Gene play a Ripper? And was it in an album cover lol

Thinking of this album cover?

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

still interested? the one to the right has the banjo tuners...PM me...

That was back in 1970 when I was interested. And also 1970 value. I doubt I'd have an interest in the value today of something that is a collector's item. But thanks anyway.

 

[BklynKen]

Thinking of this album cover?
View attachment 4173041

Is that a Canadian album cover? Ours doesn't have that weird font.

 

[PillO]

Is that a Canadian album cover? Ours doesn't have that weird font.

No, I think that was just a weird image I grabbed. More like this:

 

[RedVee]

Thinking of this album cover?
View attachment 4173041

Yes... I’m pretty certain

 

[Mike.C.]

View attachment 4172983
I'd say the New York Doll would argue with you on that.

And speaking of the Dolls, Arthur Kane played T-birds.
View attachment 4172984

that documentary about him was so sad and good. I didn’t know he had passed and the ending hit so hard.

 

[Nocturnal]

I love to make fun of Gene for his obnoxiously outspoken avarice. I also love the interviews he has done with Ace and seeing his blood pressure rise every time Ace laughs.

But, learning some Kiss bass lines you quickly find out that Gene, for all his faults (and some of those faults are hilarious), is a hell of a good bass player. And then you consider that he does that in a costume that can't be comfortable or easy to move in then add the circus tricks on top of it and you realize that he is a hell of a performer.

I'll still make fun of Gene. But I respect him as a player.

And then Kiss as a band is something. They didn't invent glam but they made it into a spectacle. They didn't invent the stage show but but they taught everyone how big a rock show could be. Without Kiss, there would be no Madonna, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars or Taylor Swift. Nor would there be the Scorpions or Judas Priest.

No matter what they became later, I agree that KISS made a huge impact on that era. Even if the later 80s bands (and 90s as well) sounded nothing like them, a whole lot of them picked up a guitar or bass because of Ace or Gene; much like so many of the 70s bands did because of the Beatles on Ed Sullivan.

I agree with both of you on all counts.

that documentary about him was so sad and good. I didn’t know he had passed and the ending hit so hard.

It was a good documentary. Unfortunate ending.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

@Miles_ONeal
how you guys holding up? saw some gnarly pics on tv just now. good thoughts your way..

We're doing great, thanks. I hear there will be food shortages for a while, so we may order online from specialty places for a couple of things, but overall we're good. Power has been on for over 24 hours, the house is warmed than it has been in several days, and I got the sidewalks and part of the driveway cleared as well as working a (nearly) full day from home. Other people have been without power for 3+ days. I know multiple people who left their homes when the inside temp dropped below freezing.

We also have great neighbors; we've all been watching out for each other.

Thanks for checking!