Switching to just the bridge pickup, theres a huge shift in the midrange and a noticeable drop in the low-end thats perfect for chords or riffs that need less sonic boom and more snarl, such as Simmons opening lines to Love Gun and Shout It Out Loud, played higher up the neck on the first string. 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. tour. 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. His wife, Canadian actress and 1982 Playboy Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed, just shelled out $5.8 million for a Malibu . He is the God Of Thunder, after all. The basic design of the bass has changed a little through the years and it's been made by several luthiers and companies. Diana Ross. Gene Simmons VaultCast Episode 1. Its one of the most distinctive signature models of all time, but how did the KISS Demon come up with his trusty four-string? The Q-system was designed by Bill Lawrence and was quite versatile. Although I've found nothing to support this the general assumption among those who know far more about early Spectors than I seem to be that the pickup in the mk I was a Model 1. This is not a traditional signature model arrangement. [*] Its first appearance is the photo shoot that was set up the day of the Return of KISS dressrehearsal, 79.06.14. 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. After showing off a few licks, Simmons points out a particular passage he wants to learn, and Kaye obliges. It showed a mirror image of the #1 Spector and erroneously dubbed it a "Spectre" bass, even claiming it was the first "Spectre" ever made. The offstage shot shows Gene with the bass and the action on that thing could make a grown man cry. It has a twin horn, small body, with one DiMarzio pickup." Long believed to be a prototype for a possible Gibson Gene Simmons signature guitar, this bass is actually a heavily modified 60's Gibson EB-0. While Sophie does work as a musician, she decided that she wanted to make it on her own and that she wasnt ready to use her dads name to make a career for herself. (The Thunderbird plays one final role in this story but not until 1992. on August 28, 2019. Search child forums as well Oh no, its merely the number of categories that Kiss is now involved with. GS Backstage M&G Vampire Bass Pkg = $7495. They cover the classic Kiss tones, from the walking lines of Strutter through to heavier hits likeCreatures Of The Night and beyond. Whatever the case, it wasnt long before Gene Simmons had something to say about it all. Most of his notable work comes from his time in Genes reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels.. But out of costume, the Kiss co-frontman is an equally commanding presence. 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. 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. Just walking through the hotel lobby and hallways chatting with Gene was an unbelievable experience. 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. [*] Spiro of tribute band fame has mentioned that Gene told him it was stolen while being away for repairs after Gene "fell off the front of the stage". There are a few pics that don't quite fit in. 1970 replacement Gibson pickup has been added and moved closer to the bridge; and a new, custom shape pickguard has been added. Had the studs been mounted on the body this would have been completely non-sensical. None of the known LoBue basses had a bridge like this so it was probably not LoBue's work. 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). Gene Simmons isn't telling California to kiss off yet. To start, people need to take a look at how much Gene brings home from his time with Kiss, which it turns out isnt as much as some people would think. and I am certainly no expert on any of those instruments. It turned out the bass player wanted to trademark the devil horns sign. Wherever the LoBue eventually ended up it is one of the great lost treasures of KISStory, one that deserves enshrinment. But as far as what its going to mean after Im gone, oh my god, who cares? We get an excellent close-up of it in the instrument line-up pic from Knoxville but live shots seem to be lacking. 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. The thunder starts with a Shure U4D-UHF into a Radial JD-7 Injector. The shift to the Jackson comes about just before the European leg of the Lick it up tour. Gene Simmons of KISS will be hosting a MasterClass event in Las Vegas next month, where he will teach bass and songwriting. The second shot from the Japanese leg of the Alive II tour show that spot seemingly covered up by a small dab of matte paint. Nah Gene Simmons is a dick, and his bass lines are sometimes very simple, but he has this cool running bass thing going which is pretty unique and sounds cool. That was until the scandal that rocked Nicks world in 2010. This feels like a real Thunderbird and being handmade in the USA, it very much is one, with an incredibly resonant mahogany body. 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. Tuning stability and intonation also feel impeccable: This is definitely aset and forget kind of bass that allows the player to focus on their performance, undistracted and with confidence. . I still have 50 or so that are from the 70s but theyre available for sale. To those who might call Simmons a sellout, Simmons has a message, Damn right, bitch. 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. His. The friend in question? Get the latest news, reviews and features to your inbox. As Simmons explains, Well, you cant avoid feeling badass Its not the first instrument I think of when I want to play Yesterdayby The Beatles. What are you waiting for. We asked the man himself. Fans of the band get to enjoy an entire performance thats been carefully choreographed to be an experience like none other in the world. Spector #1 LoBue custom Thunderbird Dan Armstrong. In a rather unprecedented move the bass is left alone with no noticeable modifications. M&G Pkg $4450. 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 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. 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. Along with the refinish the knobs were changed to match the new color. This mk I version shows the "standard" SB-1 controls with one volume and one tone knob (both in silver) and a front output jack (missing is the mini-switch which was standard on the SB-1). Apparently, he didnt like Terrys supposed holier-than-thou attitude. The Axe is one of the most recognisable and distinctive signature instruments ever, but you wont get Simmons wasting time worrying about the enduring legacy of his favourite bass. The Vega wireless system is mentioned in KISS Alive Forever on p. 83. The neck has pearl diamond inlays just like Gene's, and the detail in the paint and set up is just like the Demons. 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 photo shoot at Stuart Air Force base during the rehearsals on 77.11.09 and shots from opening night in Oklahoma City on 77.11.15 show the original silver knobs but by the time the band hits St. Louis on 77.12.02 the new knobs are in place. Kiss were Gibson endorsees in those days so it could well be that Simmons got it as a promotional . 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 . They dont have the attack you need in arenas., Simmons isnt a nostalgic type of guy when it comes to his instruments, even the vintage ones and the prototypes, I dont have that sort of I have to keep this one because its my first mentality. For some reason the remaining original knobs also get changed at this time, making all three controls black speed knobs. The offstage shot also gives us the first look at the tape coverup of the original bridge holes as discussed below, thus beginning Gene's long use of tape coverups. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The following day, Fox News announced that Gene had been permanently banned from the studios, with some reports claiming there is a photo of Gene behind the security desk to ensure he never sneaks in. There is also a new, wider binding. This custom prototype Axe bass was built by Steve Carr who originally came to work for the band when his one-time apprentice became Ace's guitar tech in 1978. Sadly, in 2014, Gene upset quite a few people during an interview with HuffPost Live. Instead, roadies would allegedly hand Gene a cup of theater blood at some point in the performance. Published. 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. At the heart of the axe-shaped Simmons bass is its electronics system. "I just had a guy named Stuart Spector build me one with a longer neck. The instrument is clearly a Triumph rather than the earlier Les Paul bass (the control scratchplate is a dead giveaway) but Gibson only offered it in natural and white finishes which leads me to believe that the instrument in Gene's hands was refinished. Stuart shaved down the normally bulbous horns of the SB-1 into points.". According to Simmons' tech at (13:16), "This is the main bass for the show. I didnt know anything else about it the wood, the relationship of the bridge to the neck, I didnt think about any of that. Both Peter Criss and Gene Simmons weren't the best players of their instruments but by god they both had a cool groove which made their song unmistakenly Kiss. As the photos show there is a marked difference in the shape of the lower horn, most easily seen in the shots of the back. In Atlanta 76.08.29 it's still mk VI but for the start of the Winter Tour in Savannah 76.11.24 the new bridge is in place. Which is why, in addition to some of the cosmetic alterations the Axe has gone through over the years, we often see them with different pickups and hardware as well, as Simmons explained, A pickup is subject to the wood and the body shape. I have yet to figure out what this bridge was. In 1977 the most common location of this mini switch was more or less right below the volume knob (with the bass seen in the playing position), and certain pics show what appear to be a piece of tape (or in some cases a dab of paint) covering up something. Thats right; the bass player is often seen with blood pouring from his mouth, but dont worry; no bass players are harmed in the making of the act. Watch Marty Friedman play with Megadeth again, Journey and Steve Lukather play Black Magic Woman. "Kiss was born on 23rd Street. That Gene managed to play that bass and actually got something resembling music from it is a true accomplishment. Every manufacturer will tell you that they try to ensure their guitars feel playable, but greater care needs to be taken with larger-bodied instruments like this Thunderbird, or they can end up feeling bulky and demanding. Gene simply replied, Nobody. We will meet you at a designated area at the venue, prior to the show to organize details etc . In 2017, Gene Simmons hit the headlines for something pretty controversial among the rock world. The first known sighting of this bass is on 75.08.09 and it doesn't seem to survive 1975. It's not shown in the tour book photos shot at SIR studios but instead makes its "proper" debut in the video for. 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. If I wanted to learn something from Gene Simmons it would be how to run a business and make money. 10 young bluesbreakers who are making the Blues fun again, Maybe Id move to Japan and try and be an English teacher! Mastodons Bill Kelliher on the future of the band, his love of Les Pauls and what hed do if he wasnt in the band. This wasnt the first time that Gene had found himself on the wrong side of people, and several think it wont be the last. It looked as though he was all set to reach the big time as it wasnt long before his work gained plenty of fans worldwide. Watch on. . Of course, it could also be so simple that the band and management felt that the new, more serious concept album KISS weren't properly represented by an instrument that looked like an Axe. Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. [*] The Axe presented here has quite a different design than the one that would end up being used but according to the photos it actually made it on tour with the band, seen here in Knoxville on 79.09.12 next to Spector #2. So the three mentioned is probably two #1's and one #2 (more of which later). However, some. All the latest gene simmons celebrity news, videos, and more. 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_____. Stage Played Pkg n/a. Sadly, Gene wasnt impressed with the shows choice as he referred to Madonna as a karaoke singer during an interview with TMZ. Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Amit has been writing for titles likeTotal Guitar,MusicRadarandGuitar Worldfor over a decade and counts Richie Kotzen, Guthrie Govan and Jeff Beck among his primary influences. The original single-coil pickup seems to be gone and in its stead is what looks almost like the Filtertron pickups that Gretsch made. 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. During the time they were selling in Spencer's, various companies manufactured the . . One can also see that the material under the studs is completely different from the rest of the bass. One person in particular had plenty to say as Ice Cube took to social media, which started a pretty heated feud between the two. Gene Simmons is a true rock god, even though he plays "The Demon" in KISS, the band he co-founded in the early 1970s that still rocks out to sold-out crowds. The women and shady affairs that destroyed Gene Simmons' life. It seems its something Genes kept up ever since. In fact, many years ago, the rockstar told Off The Record with Michael Landsberg that hed been intimate with 4,500 women. Although he's spent the last 50 years Note the original single coil pickup and the snug fit of the pickguard around the pickup in the picture on the right. Skip to main content. In 2013, the rockstar spoke about Amy and Kurts passing in a radio interview, where he said that just because they have passed, it doesnt mean theyre an icon. Of course, it didnt sit well. These days the basses are available through his own website [GeneSimmonsAxe.com] and every Axe Bass is built by hand, and is personally inspected by Simmons before being shipped to the customer. This is the story behind the iconic Axe Bass which has been wielded by Gene Simmons for decades. Name: Frank Benpensata From: Staten Island, NY USA First Backstage Bass Experience: Wizard World Comic Convention What I remember most: Getting a private meet and greet with Gene's at his hotel in New York City.This was the night before the NYC Vault Experience in 2018. Apart from those changes it appears identical to the Jackson right down to the black tuning pegs. There is only one man that gave us the licks that inspired us to "Rock and Roll All Nite," - Gene Simmons, the legendary rock icon and bassist from KISS. A backstage pic from Atlanta 74.07.18 also seem to suggest some shaping of the back. 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. Gene Simmons and his son, Nick, have been spotted at a handful of events together over the years. It seems thats always been the case for Nick as the star has been working on his own band, Peroux, for the last few years. There was once a time that Gene Simmons appeared to be on Fox News at every waking moment. I heard there's a special package including one of your Axe or Punisher basses. Sadly, we get the feeling that Gene would have rocked a lot less face paint during his time in the classroom. According to Gene he met Stuart Spector, then just an upstart luthier working out of a small Brooklyn shop, during the Destroyer sessions. You know, I dont think in those terms, he explains. There is a bass resembling the Grabber, based on the headstock, standing offstage in a pic from 76.02.01, in. The Return of KISS!! The body and hardware can be shaped in any number of ways. The Fender Jazz basses Ive used on some songs, but live, theyre too boomy. 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. The technical info on the EB-0 is taken from the January 2007 issue of Vintage Guitar (also avilable online). It's akin to a Thunderbird bridge but appears to be slightly larger. As with everything he does, Simmons has big plans . Pastorious,Wooten,Sheehan,Hamm,Graham,Johnson,Miller,and many other players through the years that had something I liked to form my own style of playing. So I ended that relationship and continued to make them on my own.. Right after the guitar was purchased, it was immediately packed in its hard case along with all of the items the guitar came with, which included: The Certificate of Authenticity, the original Gene Simmons hard . The line-up shot from Knoxville with the slim lower horn has led me to believe that this is a re-finish rather than the re-appearance of the all-black from the Alive II tour. 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Latest news, reviews and features to your inbox seems to be on news. Bill Lawrence and was quite versatile basses had a bridge like this so was! Live, theyre too boomy and Steve Lukather play black Magic Woman great lost treasures of KISStory, one deserves! Gibson pickup has been added is part of Future plc, an international group! Amp ; G Vampire bass Pkg = $ 7495 bass for the show site ( opens in new )...

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