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. 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_____. 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). Conclusion. Along with the refinish the knobs were changed to match the new color. Overall there were some factual errors regarding the instruments during the Convention and the tour book was laughably incorrect. While his larger-than-life, demonic imagery . Newer Than: Search this thread only; Search this forum only. Just because Gene was a part of the scene doesnt mean that he took part in everything that came his way. 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 . 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. The bass player was planning on rising up above the stage on some wires. It has been suggested that it was a series/parallell switch which is feasible. 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? Kramer Aluminum Gene Simmons Axe Bass KISS 1980 Black & Gray Autographed by Gene Simmons and numbered w/OHSC, Serial No. It has a 30" scale which matches that of the LoBue. There's a high-gloss, mirror-like finish on the body and headstock, added rivules on the body near the pickup, and, true to form, a hole where there should be (or had been) a tone knob. It wasnt long before people were outraged by the comments, and Gene was forced to apologize. [*] The reddish Grabber was re-finished since Gibson never offered the Grabber in any kind of metal flake finish. The earliest known date for this is from Uniondale 79.09.01. That one night he dropped it and the neck broke in half." Spector #1 is certainly still in the picture but when it comes to relative use their fortunes are reversed with #1 "coming off the bench" here and there and #2 getting more stage time. That was until the scandal that rocked Nicks world in 2010. here, he blamed the politically correct climate across the nation from stopping Americans saying what they really feel. Many people thought Gene was talking about those who suffer from their mental health. However, he's also been known for the varied love life he's led over the years, with his numerous relationships having been . The G2 Thunderbird Bass is voiced with a pair of powerful T-Bird pickups, each with individual Volume controls and paired with a . The courts fired back that hand gestures themselves cant be trademarked, meaning Genes case was thrown out, and he was forced to let others pull the pose. Gene brings out the metal flake Grabber for 100,000 years at Winterland. What is a guitar but a collection of wood, magnets and metals? The inception of the Axe Bass came from the adage of referring to a guitar as an axe. Before we move forward we need to take a step back (and get a little ahead of ourselves) and adress a slight "wrinkle" in the photos. In 1987 Gene turns up with what looks like a slightly altered version of the Jackson. Here we can see the outline of the tape coverup (check the full-size pic for better detail) for the last time. That Gene managed to play that bass and actually got something resembling music from it is a true accomplishment. 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. The bass icon on bass rigs, riches and 50 years of music. There's very nice video of it from both Houston and Anaheim in August that show the mk VI in action. As mentioned in the Axe section this could be considered a comment of sorts on the differing sonic qualities of the two basses. 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. The Gibson Thunderbird was a backup used on occasion when the trusty Spector #1 had to take a rest. Ice Cubes group, N.W.A., was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "Kiss was born on 23rd Street. 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. [**] 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive! You know, I dont think in those terms, he explains. . By the time we're through, there will be a Flying V, and there's even going to be a double-neck guitar and bass. However, some. The prior owner believed this to be a late '90s, and when comparing with other listings on Reverb that appears to hold true. Custom Charlie LoBue bass built for Gene Simmons of KISS. It turns out Gene accidentally rubbed host Terry Gross up the wrong way during an interview with the star. 1979 saw the introduction of the Axe bass into Gene's repertoire and the beginning of a life-long association. 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. Published. Kiss is currently out on the road for their final tour, dubbed End Of The Road. Considering the rather complicated control layout, 3 knobs and 4 switches, it was probably not a Gene favorite. 1 bass for Gene and the exceedingly brief appearance of the Fender Precision is only in the role of backup. LoBue custom Fender P-bass. 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. 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. In fact, it couldnt be further from the truth. One can also see that the material under the studs is completely different from the rest of the bass. On the one hand it has an inlay of Gene's makeup on the headstock that looks very similar to the one that Carr did on Spector #1. All of the basses are built at a shop in South Korea [although there are some specialty one-off builds done in the USA by master builder, Jim Cara]. The two entities have teamed up for G, which will offer multiple electric guitar and bass collections across Gibson Brands, including Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer. In the case of Kramer, Jackson and Cort, as soon as quality started to dip, a new builder would be found. The first part of the Dynasty tour shows the Spector #1 mk III hanging in there. 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. Had the studs been mounted on the body this would have been completely non-sensical. I love it." His grandparents and one uncle were murdered by Hitler's henchmen. I sell out every night., Just as different paintbrushes might inspire us to paint differently, the Axe is a very different instrument and commands a different vibe when it is played. Love him or hate him, Gene Simmons has probably become one of the most high-profile ambassadors of electric bass since Kiss released its self-titled debut album in 1974. 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. Shannon Tweed rose to fame as a Playboy model and actress before she met and wooed Gene at the Playboy Mansion. Gene Simmons is one of those who has proven he has what it takes to keep calm and carry on as he tripped over a raised part of the stage during a performance in Montana back in 2016. All rights reserved. My bass is the only musical instrument that is an 'invention'.". It's a smart and quick solution since it's not visible for the most part. This obviously reflected the economic state of the band at the time, Paul and Ace also had very clear no. 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. The final change in a very short time frame was the addition of a Gibson chrome bridge cover (mk VI). 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. Heres how it works. 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. The reddish metal flake Grabber first shows up in Fayetteville, NC on 74.11.30 but it doesn't see steady action until 1975. 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. Celebrating 50 years in rock (1966-2016) Gene Simmons, multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, co-founder and front man of KISS, America's number one gold record award-winning group of all time in all categories (RIAA), and one of the most recognized performers in the world, recently announced the . So what is the Axe Bass, then? Gene Simmons has played all sorts of instruments over the years, from the Charlie LoBue custom bass guitar heard on the early Kiss albums to his own Punisher and Axe signatures, although for a while in the mid-70s Simmons did experiment with Gibson Grabbers and Rippers. It has a twin horn, small body, with one DiMarzio pickup." 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). Before that he had an old rickety Epiphone which was stolen, bought a Fender P for $150, sold that P for $300, took that cash and had Charlie build his . In the pic from 76.03.12 it's hard to tell whether the back of the body is just worn or if there is a protective cover, but by the time the band hits European soil for the first time, as shown here from Mannheim 76.05.18, there is a distinct reddish overlay screwed onto the back. There was once a time that Gene Simmons appeared to be on Fox News at every waking moment. During the time they were selling in Spencer's, various companies manufactured the . The most high-profile appearance during 1984-1986 is in Animalize Live Uncensored where it gets taken for a spin for Gene's solo spot. Its difficult for me to walk past a mirror without stopping to say, yo, whats up?. And the first time I used this was on New Year's Eve, Dubai, 2020. He's a better bass player than he is a guitar player. 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. First seen in Detroit on 78.01.20, these knobs will thankfully stay on for quite some time. Strings - Lutes - Guitars. It seems thats what some people think, especially when looking at old footage of The Demon of Kiss. Simmons is announcing a new signature bass guitar in collaboration with Gibson, called the Gene Simmons G Thunderbird Bass. Being a well-known name in the world of music means that Gene Simmons has plenty of opinions when it comes to other musicians and genres. Then, all he needs to do is let it start trickling from his mouth to up the performance. As seen in the pictures below, all taken from the first month of the Love Gun tour, there is an "irregularity" in the finish below the volume knob that can't be explained by a reflection or a shadow. There is also a new, wider binding. The one below from Cleveland 79.07.19 is the only one I've found that is actually from 1979. This is the story behind the iconic Axe Bass which has been wielded by Gene Simmons for decades. 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. After showing off a few licks, Simmons points out a particular passage he wants to learn, and Kaye obliges. Let's talk about your Axe basses. Thats right; the rockstar actually paid his way through college, all thanks to his comic book sales. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E Acoustic-Electric - $2.4 Million. 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