. Gene Simmons: "Everything Vinnie Vincent did sounded like Yngwie Malmsteen on crack". Both stars were known for their use of illegal substances, and both lost their lives while they were still in their prime. Roland 555 space/echo (for solo) controlled by manipulating the intensity and . There was once a time that Gene Simmons appeared to be on Fox News at every waking moment. The Fender Jazz basses Ive used on some songs, but live, theyre too boomy. This phenomenon can also be spotted at the start of the Return of KISS tour. [*] Much later Gene would remember it a little differently: "So he made me a one of a kind natural wood custom made bass, no name, no nothing." During one interview, the rockstar was asked if he admired anyone else more than himself. 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. 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. 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. Whether or not the change to the new bridge occured earlier than Cobo Hall 76.01.25 is anybody's guess. Again it's the bridge that gets a change with a very odd combination. There seemed to be a strange moment in time when celebrities couldnt wait but to show their tongue on the red carpet. I do stuff because I get excited about it and then I hope that other people will get excited about it as well. The earliest known date for this is from Uniondale 79.09.01. What are you waiting for. If theres one question thats been on many peoples lips over the years, its if Gene Simmons is an egomaniac away from the stage. "I just had a guy named Stuart Spector build me one with a longer neck. It looks as though Gene Simmons has plenty of opinions that he wants to share with the world, but not all of them have landed. 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. He is the God Of Thunder, after all. The first part of the Dynasty tour shows the Spector #1 mk III hanging in there. When KISS did their first "European" tour in 4 years they stopped by a TV studio in Hilversum, Holland on May 29 to record singback versions of Unholy and God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You II for the show Countdown. The passing of time has proved fruitful for Kiss' 1982 . It turned out that some people thought the reason Incarnate was doing so well was all because Nick allegedly stole ideas from other major mangas. Had the studs been mounted on the body this would have been completely non-sensical. All that twerking and tongue flashing was enough to change peoples minds about the star. 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. Apparently, Gene thinks the best thing that people with less money can do is Try being nice to rich people. Thats certainly one way. His grandparents and one uncle were murdered by Hitler's henchmen. (The Thunderbird plays one final role in this story but not until 1992. 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. Stage Played Experience = $14,995. Gene has nothing but nice things to say about the stories that have been brought to life and the art thats used throughout each graphic novel. The one below from Cleveland 79.07.19 is the only one I've found that is actually from 1979. Under the hood, in the 70s and 80s the Axe featured a boost, but the current models feature only EMG pickups and a preamp. His wife, Canadian actress and 1982 Playboy Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed, just shelled out $5.8 million for a Malibu . Sadly, in 2014, Gene upset quite a few people during an interview with HuffPost Live. Its difficult for me to walk past a mirror without stopping to say, yo, whats up?. Considering the photographic evidence the natural finish Grabber doesn't seem to have gotten much action. The move to Gibsons during 1975 was purely financial. There is also a new, wider binding. 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. Unfortunately it is exceedingly difficult to try and identify which Spector is which in most photos, even if they are well-lit. Nick also has some acting credits to his name. The first known sighting of this bass is on 75.08.09 and it doesn't seem to survive 1975. That was until 2011 when Gene suddenly got down on one knee and decided to make things official. Since neither of the Gibson basses worked out, even though Gene certainly tried to honor the endorsement for the better part of 1975, I think it's safe to assume that long-scale basses (only the EB-0 and the Triumph were short scale) weren't to Gene's liking at the time. At the heart of the axe-shaped Simmons bass is its electronics system. But, far be it from Gene to play an off-the-rack bass in standard configuration for long. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E went for $2.4 million at Julien's Auctions in 2015. In the video clip from In Concert below (shot on 74.02.21) we see the original incarnation of the LoBue in all its glory. However, it wasnt long before people learned that he was talking about the hand gesture he was pulling at the time. Cause & Effects: Are vintage effects pedals always the best examples of their type. 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. 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. In fact, the rockstar went as far as it saw Mileys tongue was okay, but quickly put his foot in it with a few derogatory comments. That one night he dropped it and the neck broke in half." 1980. It looked as though he needed it as Genes outfit weighs quite a lot thanks to all those theatrical additions. The new collection will launch with the release of the G Thunderbird bass later this year. Personal messages from members of The Gene Simmons Bass Collectors Club. Find out more about the Axe Bass at www.genesimmonsaxe.com. Realtor.com. (My original theory was that the blade was originally silver and refinished black but the dating of the photo shoots are well-established.) The clear knobs make the transition into the new year appearing in Chicago on 78.01.15. 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. Its another to be such a great performer that you carry on with your show even when you take a tumble. Here we see the original two-knob version on the far left and a few pics of the modified one-knob version. Wherever the LoBue eventually ended up it is one of the great lost treasures of KISStory, one that deserves enshrinment. Earliest known appearance of this version is 75.05.06 in Milwaukee, WI. Apparently, the staff were all in a meeting when Gene burst into the room - unannounced. And for the Valdez Axe that's all she wrote. Then came the aftermath. On first glance, this debut in the seriesnot in the form of a Grabber or Ripper, but a Thunderbird, interestingly is certainly impressive. However, being so popular means there have been plenty of conspiracy theories about Genes tongue. The thunder starts with a Shure U4D-UHF into a Radial JD-7 Injector. The body and hardware can be shaped in any number of ways. - Hard Shell Gene Simmons fitted bass case signed by Gene Simmons. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Stuart shaved down the normally bulbous horns of the SB-1 into points.". It might sound impossible, but its true. Wicked Lester had their equipment stolen from the loft at Mott St. and Canal St. After this there is a long void of solid photographic evidence on what happens. Skip to main content. 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_____. Nashville, TN (January 8, 2021) -- Gibson, the iconic American guitar brand, has entered into a joint venture with Gene Simmons, international rock legend and co-founder of KISS, America's #1 gold record award-winning group of all time, in all categories (RIAA), to create G. From the Spector site - For 20 years, Gene Simmons of the legendary band KISS recorded and toured with his custom made Spector bass. I think it's fair to say that Gene's techs have made quite imaginative use of simple black tape throughout the years. 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. It has also been suggested that this one is actually from 1981 but that would make it later than the production model Kramer Axe which would cast some doubt on Carr's statement above. This time it looks like a fairly standard Fender bridge (mk V). "The first instruments are the Thunderbird basses, which will come in a few different colors. Gene even went as far as to accuse the legend of lip-syncing her performances in the past. There was once a time that Gene Simmons appeared to be on Fox News at every waking moment. Pink AXE Guitar. I think that when it comes to Bass ( Which I play Bass and Guitar among other instruments! ) The Cort Axe Bass reproduces the bass guitar Gene made so famousthe same style of bass that Gene plays onstage. 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. Oftentimes we find that ownership of an idea is just as important as the idea itself. We now know that Gene Simmons doesnt always have the most popular opinions on people who use illegal substances. Considering the rather complicated control layout, 3 knobs and 4 switches, it was probably not a Gene favorite. "I saw a bass he had built hanging on the wall and decided right then that I wanted it. Not only did Terry tell the rockstar that she thought it was a really obnoxious thing to say, but Gene initially refused to let the interview hit the air. Custom Charlie LoBue bass built for Gene Simmons of KISS. 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. Gene Simmons VaultCast Episode 1. The worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. 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. Gene continued to add how he thinks Prince slowly took his life over many years by using drink and illegal substances, even though neither were mentioned in the official report. LoBue custom. There's very nice video of it from both Houston and Anaheim in August that show the mk VI in action. According to Gene he met Stuart Spector, then just an upstart luthier working out of a small Brooklyn shop, during the Destroyer sessions. For me it was also pragmatism, because I already owned the word Axe as it relates to musical instruments, so I hand-designed it, and I still have the original artwork and it looks very much like the Axe thats available today. . 1's, Paul only changing from his own LoBue custom V when it was stolen. And the first time I used this was on New Year's Eve, Dubai, 2020. 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. Talking about rap and hip-hop was enough to get plenty of people talking about Gene Simmons and his ever-changing music views. Of course, being so open about his relationships hasnt always sat well with everyone else. Love it or hate it, some performers have been accused of lip-syncing their songs over the years. This is the first of many ways in which the G partnership will be paying tribute to Gene, his iconic status, and continue to inspire new generations of Gibson and Gene Simmons fans to play and create music.". Some time between Toledo 75.11.12 and Chicago 75.11.22 Gene changes the volume knob. It has a 24 frets and the deep cut away which allows me to easily reach the 23rd and 24th frets - a real bonus. After being on a breif hiatus the Thunderbird returned to the Gibson catalogue in 1976 for the Bicentennial. . It turns out Gene Simmons is no exception, but not many people know the rockstar was once actually a teacher. If the LoBue could be considered to have a long and complicated story then the tale of the Spectors is worthy of Sherlock Holmes. So I ended that relationship and continued to make them on my own.. Once we move into 1978 and the Alive II tour the second Spector (henceforth known as Spector #2) makes its first appearance. 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. Later in the year, in Columbus 76.11.30, the cover is very obviously split into two colors, a very sharp delineation that wasn't there in March and May, which suggests that it's been at least partially replaced. So much so that Gibson put out a demo vinyl record showcasing the various tones the system was capable of. One of the least used basses in Gene's arsenal, the Gibson Les Paul Triumph doesn't appear in any live photographs from 1976. During an October 28 question-and-answer session with fans aboard this year's Kiss Kruise, KISS frontman Paul Stanley was asked what he has learned about himself through his 50-year friendship and . None of the pre-1974 pics I've found suggest that the body was more than a slab-style with some rounding for the upper horns. 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. 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. 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. It's not shown in the tour book photos shot at SIR studios but instead makes its "proper" debut in the video for. And most people know that he was partial to using it while spending time the many thousands of women the frontman claimed to have spent time with . Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. PURCHASE & PAYMENT PLANS. It's only taken us 50 years to go play the final shows 10 blocks away on 33rd Street, which is Madison Square Garden," the band's bass player, Gene Simmons, said on . For Gene Simmons, playing with Kiss is more than being in a rock and roll band; its about being part of a rock and roll brand. Perhaps its no wonder that Gene has taken his idea of branding the band to the top and cultivated quite the brand over the years? There is something else that Nick Simmons has been working on over the years, and it comes in the form of his graphic novel. Although the world learned that things werent always smooth on their ride to the altar, the pair have been married ever since. It seems that Gene thinks its time for one genre in particular to disappear: rap. This guitar was purchased brand NEW in the year 2000! Meet Gene On Tour. Gene Simmons isn't telling California to kiss off yet. To highlight a detail that entered the story a little earlier when the Fender bridge was installed I've chosen these particular pics. So I started out with the visuals, because when somebody walks in, that the first thing that hits them. This bass is authorized by Gene Simmons, and each Axe is adorned with Gene's signature on the headstock. on August 28, 2019. Gi. We cant say that weve ever thought about a world where Gene Simmons is the one giving us fashion advice, but the more we think about it, the more we want to know what thats like. Newer Than: Search this thread only; Search this forum only. It turns out that none of the record labels Sophie contacted actually wanted to work with the star, meaning her plan worked and worked against her. What I will call mkII actually makes it's documented debut in Detroit 74.12.20. LoBue custom LP Triumph Gibson EB-0. There was suppose to be 1,000 . It can be tough for any celebritys child to make a name for themselves when their parents are Hollywood royalty. Lets face it; its no secret that some of our favorite celebrities have worked through some pretty mundane jobs before making their way to the top. Several fans have spoken about how both were taken from us too soon and the tragedies that have been linked to their passing. The one pic I've seen from San Antonio 77.11.22 is inconclusive as far as what knobs are on the bass. here, he blamed the politically correct climate across the nation from stopping Americans saying what they really feel. 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. Founding KISS bassist Gene Simmons has partnered with Gibson for a new line of electric guitars and basses dubbed G. 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