here, he blamed the politically correct climate across the nation from stopping Americans saying what they really feel. Talking about rap and hip-hop was enough to get plenty of people talking about Gene Simmons and his ever-changing music views. Metal, wood. For Gene, its simple: he thinks that future rockstars should give up on their dreams as the barriers in the way to the top have become insurmountable. Thankfully, many talented bands have continued to prove Gene wrong in recent years. First seen in Detroit on 78.01.20, these knobs will thankfully stay on for quite some time. The body appears to be a slab style with a hint of a bevel on the "inside" of the horns (and possibly where Gene rests his arm; see below). [] I had two of them on the road with me, but I liked the sound of the off-red one." Once we move into 1978 and the Alive II tour the second Spector (henceforth known as Spector #2) makes its first appearance. This phenomenon can also be spotted at the start of the Return of KISS tour. More highs can then be cut using the master tone knob, allowing for softer, jazzier tones when dialled in clean a nice option tohave, even if Simmons himself tends not to go there. It's been suggested that the incredible disappearing binding was masking tape that Gene himself applied during the hours of tedium on the tour bus. PART I : Why there is virtually no bass on KISS' 80s music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgipSAdZiKw&t=3s If you like what you see please support_____. the #2 Spector got the nod. As a session guitarist, he's played alongside members of Judas Priest and Uriah Heep in London ensemble Metalworks, as well as handling lead guitars for legends like Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols, The Faces) and Stu Hamm (Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, G3). 1's, Paul only changing from his own LoBue custom V when it was stolen. What is a guitar but a collection of wood, magnets and metals? . My theory is that all of these (with the exception of the already heavily modified EB-0) were endorsement instruments that were either pure backups or ones that Gene tried to make into his kind of bass. Sadly, neither relationship lasted for Gene. If Gene tried to use the Carr Axe live it probably turned out to be too heavy for use. Its one thing to date two of the biggest names in music, and its something entirely different to break up their friendship as a result. Unlike the EMG PJ set typically found in Simmons Punisher and Axe, however, these high-output humbuckers arent active, so theres no need to worry about battery power. Gone is the original witch-hat knob, in its stead we find a black speed knob. In the early-early years of KISS, he favored a Charlie LoBue bass ( photos ); this was a custom bass guitar made by Charlie. This guitar was purchased brand NEW in the year 2000! Fans of the band get to enjoy an entire performance thats been carefully choreographed to be an experience like none other in the world. The best indicator when it comes to Gene is the belt part of his cod piece which was leather for the Dynasty tour but got very distinct silvery scales for Unmasked.). He is the God Of Thunder, after all. It is generally assumed that the re-finish and the headstock inlay occured at the same time even though the picture evidence can't entirely support that conclusion. Spector #2 See Gibson for more details. The theory is that this is a simple piece of tape covering up a hole that used to fit a mini switch and the photo from San Diego 77.08.19 even seem to show that hole. The original single-coil pickup seems to be gone and in its stead is what looks almost like the Filtertron pickups that Gretsch made. Wherever the LoBue eventually ended up it is one of the great lost treasures of KISStory, one that deserves enshrinment. Thats right; Parade reports that Gene used to teach sixth grade. Although he managed to get it back up and running, the group quickly took Gene down again to try and take away his voice on the matter. In the end the long-scale neck and the rather elaborate Q-system electronics probably proved unnecessary for Gene's no-frills style. Ron Wood is very under-appreciated. A complete rundown of the various basses used by Gene Simmons of KISS 1973-1992. It even has the original pickup right up to the end of 1980. Just walking through the hotel lobby and hallways chatting with Gene was an unbelievable experience. None of the known LoBue basses had a bridge like this so it was probably not LoBue's work. His. Below are a few early shots of Gene using the LoBue in 1972-73 starting with the loft rehearsals as a three piece, a shot from one of the shows at the Daisy, and the soundcheck for the Filmore shows. According to the Spector web site "Gene Simmons of mega-group KISS commissioned several Brooklyn Era SB-1 basses from Stuart in the late 1970's. Some of the modifications included a special gloss black paint job with white binding along the sides of the body. There are masterclasses taught by Simmons himself that are only available to Axe buyers. . Although he initially apologized for the incident, Gene also accused it of being highly exaggerated and misleading. It seems that we will never know the truth about what happened behind closed doors at the news network. Here we get to see it with a studded cover of some sort, probably leather. Why? Add in a healthy dose of compression or overdrive, as well as some heavily repeating delays, andits hard not to picture a possessed Simmons spitting out blood infront of you, screaming Oh yeah! before attacking that open low note in God Of Thunder. Last years news that he was launching his own G2 brand pronounced G squared through the American giants nevertheless came as a surprise, the new collaboration pledging to release a whole range of guitars and basses built with the Demons personal seal of approval. So I kept moving the pickups around and adding a boost on the back, just to make sure that the bass had the sound I wanted., Simmons notes a distinction between bass designs that work well in the studio compared to on stage, Sometimes in the studio, because of the different acoustics and dynamics, I would use basses that I have never used on stage, because live, they dont sound good. Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz; Hebrew: , [aim vits]; born August 25, 1949) is an Israeli-American musician.Also known by his stage persona the Demon, he is the bassist and co-lead singer of Kiss, the hard rock band he co-founded with Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in the early 1970s. Now, 46 years later, he and Gibson are teaming up for G2, a new line of basses and guitars announced this past week during the NAMM conference. Sadly, that all changed in 2017 when the rockstar made a bit too much of a lasting impression at the new network after a meeting gone wrong. New rock and roll stars lurked around every corner, and it seemed that plenty of people couldnt wait to head to the latest party on the block. Realtor.com. The jury is out on that one. At least, thats what most lists would have you believe. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E went for $2.4 million at Julien's Auctions in 2015. As one of the founding members of KISS, Gene Simmons is certainly one of the most recognizable faces in rock music. In fact, in 1974 it was only offered in ebony and wine red (a high-gloss, see-through finish that looks nothing like this bass). Considering the photographic evidence the natural finish Grabber doesn't seem to have gotten much action. Considering the rather complicated control layout, 3 knobs and 4 switches, it was probably not a Gene favorite. However, Gene Simmons had his own views on it all and they werent very popular. In 2017, Gene Simmons hit the headlines for something pretty controversial among the rock world. "I just had a guy named Stuart Spector build me one with a longer neck. Apparently, he didnt like Terrys supposed holier-than-thou attitude. Now, Inc. estimates that Gene Simmons is worth a whopping $300 million. Amazingly, that could have been the case for Gene Simmons as The Washington Post claims that he was in a relationship with Cher in the 1980s. In order to cover the screw holes from the original (and replacement) stringmount below the then-current bridge cover, Gene's tech simply added a piece of what appear to be electrical tape. There was once a time that Gene Simmons appeared to be on Fox News at every waking moment. Two or three years ago, Gibson and I connected and decided to do a joint venture - the G2: Gene and Gibson, or Gibson and Gene. So, after a few short months in "the rotation" it is modified by removing the tone pot and moving the output jack up in its place. He's interviewed everyone from Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy to Slash and Jimmy Page, and once even traded solos with a member of Slayer on a track released internationally. Most of his notable work comes from his time in Genes reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels.. This version of the bass was Gene's #1 bass more or less from 1973 until the summer of 1975 when he started altering it. In the case of Kramer, Jackson and Cort, as soon as quality started to dip, a new builder would be found. Before that, the beautiful acoustic instrument had . Although he's spent the last 50 years Apparently, some people think the rockstar actually had a cow tongue surgically attached to his mouth, and thats how hes achieved such an impressive length all these years. A long-tongued, fire-breathing, towering bass player who performs in a demon warpaint, massive platform boots, and stylized armor, Simmons is a sight to behold. For this tour Gene also mysteriously starts sporting a cable from the output jack. While the price tag for the Axe basses might be high, they are often sold as a package deal with other perks. As mentioned in the Axe section this could be considered a comment of sorts on the differing sonic qualities of the two basses. Some have defended their actions by saying they want to focus on the performance and not the live rendition of the songs, while others have denied lip-syncing at all. The rockstar tried to say Prince had turned to several cliches that often come with a time at the top and supposedly thought he was the best musician in the world. Gene tapped Valdez Guitars to build the first one, then Steve Carr built a few, as did Kramer, Jackson, and Cort. The application claimed that Gene first used the gesture in 1974 while posing for a photo with the legend that is Dave Grohl. The first change (mk II) is to simple clear lucite knobs with 1-10 numbers on them. Let's talk about your Axe basses. Its one of the most distinctive signature models of all time, but how did the KISS Demon come up with his trusty four-string? Perhaps the black blade wasn't quite "axe-like" enough because it was summarily refinished a matte silver by 79.06.20 when the promo videos were shot in Savannah. There are, to my knowledge, precious few pictures of Spector #2 in the Love Gun/Alive II costumes. Whether or not this is the first Axe that Gene got or not is something of a mystery. "So first, it's a through . The shot from Springfield 79.09.05 shows the new inlay. It seems that not using Gene Simmons name meant she was on her own, and Sophie quickly had to find another way to make her dreams come true. In fact, it couldnt be further from the truth. The second change of the Return of KISS tour are actually two changes. Sadly, Gene wasnt impressed with the shows choice as he referred to Madonna as a karaoke singer during an interview with TMZ. [***]. Here we see the original two-knob version on the far left and a few pics of the modified one-knob version. Whether or not the change to the new bridge occured earlier than Cobo Hall 76.01.25 is anybody's guess. Sadly, that all changed in 2017 when the rockstar made a bit too much of a lasting impression at the new network after a meeting gone wrong. - Bass Certificate of authenticity signed by Gene Simmons. For the 1981 TV appearances in Mexico and the sattelite feed to the San Remo festival Gene relied on the Kramer Axe. Apparently, Gene has always been obsessed with comic books and knows some of the biggest names who have worked on the art over the years, but it was getting his hands on certain Golden Age books and turning them around for $10,000 each that really saw the money start rolling in from a young age. I think it's fair to say that Gene's techs have made quite imaginative use of simple black tape throughout the years. It turned out that Gene wasnt happy for a hip-hop group to get a spot in the hall his bands called home since 2014. This particular version of the bass doesn't last long as both the bridge and the pickup are soon changed for mk IV. 1979 saw the introduction of the Axe bass into Gene's repertoire and the beginning of a life-long association. Fender teams up with Mastodon's Troy Sanders for well-spec'd Silverburst signature P-Bass, Zoom unveils new B2 Four bass multi-effects pedal, with Multi-Layer IR, 300 patches and a 60-second looper, 50 years ago: The Runaways guitarist Lita Ford was invited to replace John Paul Jones in Led Zeppelin, Jeff Berlin explains why playing bass is like playing kazoo, To be honest, I'm not really a bass player. Thankfully, everyone walked away from the incident without any injuries. Gene even went as far as to accuse the legend of lip-syncing her performances in the past. Note the original single coil pickup and the snug fit of the pickguard around the pickup in the picture on the right. Now, Kiss is linked to an incredible number of product categories 3,000 to be precise. The G2 Thunderbird Bass is voiced with a pair of powerful T-Bird pickups, each with individual Volume controls and paired with a . Plenty of articles can tell you what the Axe is, the wood and the metal the specs, but to get the real insight on what this legendary instrument meansyou have to go to the source, the man whos been playing it all these years, Mr Gene Simmons himself. The first known sighting of this bass is on 75.08.09 and it doesn't seem to survive 1975. Gene simply replied, Nobody. Spector #1 Spector #2 Valdez Axe Carr Axe. We're sorry-this item is unavailable. The Q-system was designed by Bill Lawrence and was quite versatile. As with everything he does, Simmons has big plans . However, there might be a reason that Nick isnt always by his dads side: he wants to try and break out of Genes shadow. I do stuff because I get excited about it and then I hope that other people will get excited about it as well. Its one thing to be in a band. The problems with the bridge above promted another change. Gene Simmons: "Everything Vinnie Vincent did sounded like Yngwie Malmsteen on crack". This mk III retains the original violin-type bridge. In 1978 Gene recalled that: "[I used that bass] For about four years, until one night I threw it to my roadie. This obviously reflected the economic state of the band at the time, Paul and Ace also had very clear no. Both stars were known for their use of illegal substances, and both lost their lives while they were still in their prime. The SB-1 had a mini switch, something that none of Gene's Spectors have and it would be easy to assume that his instruments were simply built without one. Apparently, Gene thinks the best thing that people with less money can do is Try being nice to rich people. Thats certainly one way. Radio stations Power 97 and Timple M both announced they were pulling all Kiss songs from their lineup as neither agreed with Genes controversial comments. The caption next to this Axe bass noted that it was a limited-edition built by Kramer. Princes cause of passing was ultimately ruled as an accidental overdose. Some time between Toledo 75.11.12 and Chicago 75.11.22 Gene changes the volume knob. Modifications soon follow of course. This wasnt the first time that Gene had found himself on the wrong side of people, and several think it wont be the last. As well as the pearloid reverse split diamond inlays, its also nice to see the Gibson logo on the front of the headstock, with the G2 logo on the back side near the nut a reassuring consideration given this instruments price. The LoBue was the undisputed no. After all, his stage show is often filled with performances of him showing off his impressive tongue skills and has been argued as one of the most iconic poses of all times. Okay, its not always simple to figure out how much someone is worth, especially when their name is tied to a well-known company or, in this case, a band. The passing of time has proved fruitful for Kiss' 1982 . The 1970s rock scene was one that had to be enjoyed to be believed. Talking with legendary rock 'n' roll musician, Gene Simmons, one thing becomes clear pretty quickhe likes a good thrill. Of course, being so open about his relationships hasnt always sat well with everyone else. Its difficult for me to walk past a mirror without stopping to say, yo, whats up?. And for the Valdez Axe that's all she wrote. Just because Gene was a part of the scene doesnt mean that he took part in everything that came his way. This is not a traditional signature model arrangement. During the time they were selling in Spencer's, various companies manufactured the . All rights reserved. . For this occasion Gene borrowed a Thunderbird and proceeded to "thumb" his way through the songs.). The first two are just simple changing of the knobs. He decided years ago that she'd already been through enough having survived the horrors of the Holocaust, and he didn't want to break her heart by becoming a drug addict. The move to Gibsons during 1975 was purely financial. She wanted to make sure her music was on the hottest playlists at the time and wouldnt rest until she got the results. It has a 30" scale which matches that of the LoBue. Length: 42 in, Width: 14.5 in, Depth: 1.5 in. The reddish metal flake Grabber first shows up in Fayetteville, NC on 74.11.30 but it doesn't see steady action until 1975. So what is the Axe Bass, then? Answer (1 of 7): When I was younger it was KISS that got me to listen to Heavy Metal and I thought then that Gene Simmons was the best period! That was until 2011 when Gene suddenly got down on one knee and decided to make things official. At the time Spector only had two model bass guitars, the SB-1 and the SB-2. The GENE SIMMONS Meet & Greet Bass Signing Includes: - Choice of Gene Simmons Bass, signed & personalized by Gene Simmons. Ever the savvy businessman, Simmons ended up trademarking the term "Axe" as it refers to a musical instrument, as well as the shape of the bass. My theory is that this is the third Spector mentioned on the Spector web site (I will more or less ignore the all-black curiosity above for now). While his larger-than-life, demonic imagery . Under the hood, in the 70s and 80s the Axe featured a boost, but the current models feature only EMG pickups and a preamp. Stuart shaved down the normally bulbous horns of the SB-1 into points.". However, it wasnt long before people learned that he was talking about the hand gesture he was pulling at the time. As Simmons explains, I started out playing Ampeg SVTs and for a while we were going to do a line of SVT amps and they were originally going to be called The Punisher, and I was able to beat Marvel to the trademark for the name Punisher, even though they had a character named The Punisher. For some reason the remaining original knobs also get changed at this time, making all three controls black speed knobs. Together the two pickups complement each other very well indeed, with serious weight and bite that can be easily tamed through the respective volume controls. Whatever the case, it wasnt long before Gene Simmons had something to say about it all. . Perhaps most importantly of all, its a bass thats tailor-made for conjuring this larger-than-life characters earth-conquering tones. BA1 1UA. The Spector takes over as the #1 and during the early part of the Love Gun tour it is brought out only occasionally soon to disappear completely. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Thats not individual products. Gene Simmons, bassist and co-vocalist of rock band Kiss, looks back on the band's career, and how he has been in charge of the group's highly lucrative business affairs. Find out more about how we test. LoBue custom Fender P-bass. The problem? [**] 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive! He is the God Of Thunder, after all. LoBue custom LP Triumph Gibson EB-0. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Nady 950 wireless. As far as video evidence goes it first appears in the opening credits of KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (see below). There is also a new, wider binding. Pink AXE Guitar. Hot on the heels of the announcement of Gibson's acquisition of Mesa/Boogie, the company has unveiled another new partnership, this time with Kiss bassist Gene Simmons. Still, it was captured on film, meaning Gene wont forget the moment anytime soon. And the first time I used this was on New Year's Eve, Dubai, 2020. An erstwhile acquaintance of LoBue's who handled the bass in its mkVI incarnation in New Jersey 76.07.10 has suggested that almost all the modifications were done by Charlie or the Guitar Lab rather than Gene's tech. . The Jackson Axe is mercifully kept in this near-original condition for at least the two following tours; there are no noticeable alterations. They cover the classic Kiss tones, from the walking lines of Strutter through to heavier hits likeCreatures Of The Night and beyond. . England and Wales company registration number 2008885. KISS frontman Gene Simmons delivers briefing at Pentagon podium that has not seen a spokesperson in almost a year By Tom Kludt , CNN Business Updated 10:54 AM EDT, Fri May 17, 2019 The legendary rocker Gene Simmons has gone through various hairstyles over the previous decade. However, that isnt the case. Chances are Gene just took the opportunity afforded him by the Gibson sponsorship the band enjoyed at the time (see the back of any KISS album from the time) but found that the basses weren't to his taste. Simmons estimates hes sold about 10,000 instruments over the past 10 years. PURCHASE & PAYMENT PLANS. The rockstar replied Ice Cube should get in touch when Jimi Hendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame.. Looking closely at the pictures the refinished part of the blade is slightly different than the original finish on the edge. Published. Over the group's 42 . You know, I dont think in those terms, he explains. There is no evidence of the Thunderbird actually being used on stage during the Love Gun tour but for the Alive II tour it shows up in a limited number of pictures. "The first project with KISS for me, was when Gene said he wanted a guitar shaped like an executioner's axe. You've written some truly timeless basslines over the years so what exactly is the Gene Simmons guide to finding the perfect part? Whatever the new binding was actually made with it was one of the least durable materials in the known universe. There are a few pics that don't quite fit in. Together, the happy couple share two kids; Nichols Adam Tweed-Simmons and Sophie Alexandra Tweed-Simmons. Overall there were some factual errors regarding the instruments during the Convention and the tour book was laughably incorrect. and I am certainly no expert on any of those instruments. The Vega wireless system is mentioned in KISS Alive Forever on p. 83. His many accomplishments include his work as an outstanding actor and television actor, guitarist, singer, singer-songwriter, film producer, composer, voice actor, blogger, songwriter, and record producer, to name a few. In fact, many years ago, the rockstar told Off The Record with Michael Landsberg that hed been intimate with 4,500 women. It turns out that Gene Simmons worked in a whole host of careers before he made his way to the world of rock and roll. During one interview, the rockstar was asked if he admired anyone else more than himself. No matter what Gene may say in various interviews, the various instruments he's tried and modified over the years all point to him wanting a simple, no-frills instrument. They both had the same body shape and the number only designated the number of pickups. Gene has gone through quite a few different basses over the years. The body and hardware can be shaped in any number of ways. Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. In fact, his passion for comic books even helped to inspire The Demon that we see at Kiss shows as Biography reports Gene shaped his character on Marvels Black Bolt. The one in the middle does feature the pointy headstock that was a feature of all of the guitars Carr built for KISS (see Ace's mini-Explorer and Paul's Star guitar for instance). Notice also the triangular "point" of the finish. It was one of three designed in this configuration for Gene." 1 810 cab. Gene Simmons Punisher 2 Bass. If one is to believe the quote from Gene above it may just be locked away in storage since it didn't surface for the auction. Considering that the mkI version had a single coil pickup (possibly a stacked humbucker) the third knob is somewhat of a mystery. One person in particular had plenty to say as Ice Cube took to social media, which started a pretty heated feud between the two. Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird: Price Comparison, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. Various production versions of the instrument often feature pickup configurations and tone controls that offer a wider tonal palate, but Gene doesnt want anything getting in the way, and so his personal versions feature just a volume control. The very obvious absence of an Axe during 1990-95, with the possible exception below, might suggest that Gene was in fact trying out various prototypes in preparation of going into the Axe business for himself. Overview. But, during the Convention Tour of 1995 this bass was part of the museum and was labeled as a prototype Gene Simmons Axe (see pic and video below). 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Those terms, he blamed the politically correct climate across the nation from stopping Americans saying what they really.... 75.11.22 Gene changes the Volume knob sorry-this item is unavailable stars were known their. For conjuring this larger-than-life characters earth-conquering tones configuration for Gene. considered a comment of on. Music was on the far left and a few different basses over group!. `` triangular `` point '' of the band at the time finish Grabber n't.