Gene brings out the metal flake Grabber for 100,000 years at Winterland. [*] 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." 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. Gene Simmons, bass guitarist for Kiss, gets ready to breathe fire during the crescendo of "Firehouse," a number performed during a concert in Hartford, Conn., Feb. 18, 1977. 1980. Now, Kiss is linked to an incredible number of product categories 3,000 to be precise. The imposing imagery the Axe inspires would lead many to believe that it is purely a stage instrument, but it was used extensively in the studio through the years as the tonal properties were always a priority. Cort GS Ax Punisher 2 Bass - One of Gene Simmons' two basses is a Cort GS Ax Punisher. That is probably going to be a very big item. The one below from Cleveland 79.07.19 is the only one I've found that is actually from 1979. At about eight or nine years of age Some time in November mk VII shows up. 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. Thats not individual products. Get the latest and greatest Guitar news with one of our guitar magazine subscriptions. 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. Over the group's 42 . The laser-engraved skull logo on the pickguard may not be to everyones taste, so youll either love it or hate it, though it does tie in with the rocknroll aesthetic associated with Kiss and therefore has its merits. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. 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. Again it's the bridge that gets a change with a very odd combination. 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 number of replicas that have turned up over the years is a clear indication of the bass' truly iconic status.) The result? Though he is known for his woodsman-inspired Axe guitar, he told me it . [***]. Apparently, he wasnt impressed with someone so prominent sharing such questionable opinions. 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. 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. Gene's version is either a '76 or '77 ebony version that was modfied from the get-go. The earliest known date for this is from Uniondale 79.09.01. Oftentimes we find that ownership of an idea is just as important as the idea itself. 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. Kiss bassist Gene Simmons told UCR about his artistic endeavors during an exclusive interview in August 2021. . Instead, he decided to keep himself as healthy as possible as Gene told CNN that hes never even tried an adult beverage or taken any illegal substances. I think it's fair to say that Gene's techs have made quite imaginative use of simple black tape throughout the years. (It would be easy to assume that it was a shadow cast by, or reflection of, the volume knob but the tone knob shows nothing similar. And don't worry - Kiss isn't gonna pull a Mtley Cre on you and . 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. 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. The axe-shape body has the same style and flare as the demon's own, complete with a painted silver blade on a shiny black . A backstage pic from Atlanta 74.07.18 also seem to suggest some shaping of the back. Search child forums as well 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. [****] Personal communication with Jack Williamson who asked Free about the matter. Greg Kennelty. (Also seen in Lund, Sweden. The bass checked . 1's, Paul only changing from his own LoBue custom V when it was stolen. Under the hood, in the 70s and 80s the Axe featured a boost, but the current models feature only EMG pickups and a preamp. The headstock featured Gene's autograph and the pointy shape of the head was mirrored by a bizarre pointed part below the bridge. The Fender Jazz basses Ive used on some songs, but live, theyre too boomy. The Ripper was introduced as the "big brother" to the Grabber in 1973. First seen in Detroit on 78.01.20, these knobs will thankfully stay on for quite some time. 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. 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. Of course, being so open about his relationships hasnt always sat well with everyone else. 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 we can say for sure is that it is black with a new pickguard by 75.11.07 and then emerges backstage in Toledo on 75.11.12 sporting a P-bass pickup. Gene Simmons: "Everything Vinnie Vincent did sounded like Yngwie Malmsteen on crack". According to Gene he met Stuart Spector, then just an upstart luthier working out of a small Brooklyn shop, during the Destroyer sessions. It usually means the artists miss out on the profits and can have some pretty huge effects. 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. 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. There is something else that Nick Simmons has been working on over the years, and it comes in the form of his graphic novel. Exactly what happens to the LoBue is matter of some confusion. 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. However, it wasnt long before people learned that he was talking about the hand gesture he was pulling at the time. Wherever the LoBue eventually ended up it is one of the great lost treasures of KISStory, one that deserves enshrinment. Since this all-black Spector shows up with both sets of replacement knobs it was re-finished early on. 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). So I ended that relationship and continued to make them on my own.. If theres one question thats been on many peoples lips over the years, its if Gene Simmons is an egomaniac away from the stage. 15155. I heard there's a special package including one of your Axe or Punisher basses. Sometimes the paintbrush can be just as beautiful as the art it inspires and creates. The change to mkIV happens sometime early July: the original pickup is on display during the Largo show 79.07.08 but by the shows in New York there is a new pickup in place. According to Gene "the original one was made by Valdez here in Los Angeles, and I still have it around here somewhere". It has a 30" scale which matches that of the LoBue. What happens when you want to put on one of the best stage shows the world has ever seen? Larry Harris had set up an endorsement deal which apparently specified that the band use Gibsons exclusively on stage in exchange for free instruments (see. Sadly, things didnt quite work out for the star. [**] 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive! 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. 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. Gene even went as far as to accuse the legend of lip-syncing her performances in the past. Sadly, Steve Carr passed away in 2006 which probably means that this part of the Axe story will forever be shrouded in mystery. 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. 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. As Simmons explained, [Cort] started mass producing them and selling them for a cheaper price, obviously, so the wood was cheaper everything was cheaper, and the paint started to crack. "The first instruments are the Thunderbird basses, which will come in a few different colors. According to Simmons' tech at (13:16), "This is the main bass for the show. After that modification number two kicks in and we see another set of knobs. G, from Gene to Gibson, will introduce new collections of right and left-handed electric guitars and basses across . But as far as what its going to mean after Im gone, oh my god, who cares? The one pic I've seen from San Antonio 77.11.22 is inconclusive as far as what knobs are on the bass. Why? And the first time I used this was on New Year's Eve, Dubai, 2020. 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. It might be no surprise that he doesnt always have nice things to say about fallen stars, including Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain. However, Gene Simmons had his own views on it all and they werent very popular. At the time Spector only had two model bass guitars, the SB-1 and the SB-2. Gear 2021: Ending a big week for Gibson that began with the acquisition of Mesa/Boogie, the company has now announced a new partnership with Kiss icon Gene Simmons. Including Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain bassist Gene Simmons told UCR about his relationships hasnt always sat well everyone! Thankfully stay on for quite some time in November mk VII shows up with both sets of knobs. 74.07.18 also seem to suggest some shaping of the best stage shows the world, Edge. It usually means the artists miss out on the bass ' truly status... Told UCR about his relationships hasnt always sat well with everyone else artistic endeavors during an interview. 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