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. The one pic I've seen from San Antonio 77.11.22 is inconclusive as far as what knobs are on the bass. It's not immedeately obvious but if one looks closely at the pics below there are pieces of tape that are there to hold it in place. There are a few pics that don't quite fit in. The headstock featured Gene's autograph and the pointy shape of the head was mirrored by a bizarre pointed part below the bridge. The shift to the Jackson comes about just before the European leg of the Lick it up tour. Thanks to abusername for pointing that out. I originally thought that the natural satin finish, introduced in 1975 and seen in this well-known footage from San Fransisco 75.01.31, was Gene's first which was later re-finished but he actually had two Grabbers on the road with him and he used both during the Winterland show. The bass checked . Believe it or not, but Gene is quite the entrepreneur when hes not working with the band. For this occasion Gene borrowed a Thunderbird and proceeded to "thumb" his way through the songs.). The problems with the bridge above promted another change. It's only got one pickup with one dial for volume, one for tone; you can either turn it up or down. Gene simply replied, Nobody. Everything starts with me, he explains. Kiss were Gibson endorsees in those days so it could well be that Simmons got it as a promotional . 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? The new collection will launch with the release of the G Thunderbird bass later this year. The bass on the right is slightly more problematic. Though he speaks measuredly . I think it's fair to say that Gene's techs have made quite imaginative use of simple black tape throughout the years. 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). First off there is no Thunderbird logo visible in the few pics showing the white pickguard version which means that it's probably a replacement. I wanted to share this video because of how li. See the evolution of Gene's Bass technique!! For the better part of the Spirit Tour '76 the LoBue retains the mk VI look. Gene did have some thoughts for those less fortunate as he continued to tell the world that rich people are the ones keeping things afloat. Gene Simmons and his son, Nick, have been spotted at a handful of events together over the years. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E went for $2.4 million at Julien's Auctions in 2015. However, that isnt the case. At about eight or nine years of age 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. The idea that it was a built-in fuzz is much less likely. 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. 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. Apparently, Gene thinks the best thing that people with less money can do is Try being nice to rich people. Thats certainly one way. A backstage pic from Atlanta 74.07.18 also seem to suggest some shaping of the back. 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. Gene Simmons's new haircut. 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. Considering the photographic evidence the natural finish Grabber doesn't seem to have gotten much action. 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. What are you waiting for. Sadly, Gene wasnt impressed with the shows choice as he referred to Madonna as a karaoke singer during an interview with TMZ. 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. Whether or not the change to the new bridge occured earlier than Cobo Hall 76.01.25 is anybody's guess. 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, there is a dark side of Gene Simmons that not many have learned about over the years. But did he ever imagine such a strange instrument would become as successful as it has? This mkV version stays unmolested for the remainder of 1979, the last photographic evidence being from 79.12.06. Now, depending on the pic and the angle the new pickup doesn't look quite like itself: at times it looks grayish and with barely discernible pole pieces, and other times it looks black with large and obvious pole pieces. Gene's version is either a '76 or '77 ebony version that was modfied from the get-go. We'll let him know. BA1 1UA. Miley Cyrus is one of the many on the list as the musician wanted to break away from her Disney Channel persona in the most memorable way possible. I drew what the Axe might be. So much so that Gibson put out a demo vinyl record showcasing the various tones the system was capable of. I heard there's a special package including one of your Axe or Punisher basses. What I will call mkII actually makes it's documented debut in Detroit 74.12.20. Apart from those changes it appears identical to the Jackson right down to the black tuning pegs. Simmons estimates hes sold about 10,000 instruments over the past 10 years. It is also, when visible, curiously unaffected by lighting conditions. The three-night stand in Detroit from 77.01.27, represented here by the pro-shot video from the third night, is the first sighting of the last incarnation of the LoBue (mk VIII). See the Pedulla section. It might be no surprise that he doesnt always have nice things to say about fallen stars, including Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain. 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. 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. Find out more about how we test. This obviously reflected the economic state of the band at the time, Paul and Ace also had very clear no. LoBue custom. Kiss legend Gene Simmons fondly recalls the days when a fledgling Rush would regularly play support to the panstick-sporting rockers. The second change of the Return of KISS tour are actually two changes. From the Spector site - For 20 years, Gene Simmons of the legendary band KISS recorded and toured with his custom made Spector bass. 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. In fact, many years ago, the rockstar told Off The Record with Michael Landsberg that hed been intimate with 4,500 women. It has a twin horn, small body, with one DiMarzio pickup." The Jackson Axe is mercifully kept in this near-original condition for at least the two following tours; there are no noticeable alterations. 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. Many people thought Gene was talking about those who suffer from their mental health. But in the three pictures below I'm having a. [*] 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. 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. Skip to main content. 2023 Guitar.com is part of NME Networks. [*] The shape of the bass was indeed completely original in that it was custom shaped but it wasn't an original design. The application claimed that Gene first used the gesture in 1974 while posing for a photo with the legend that is Dave Grohl. 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. 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). 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. Spector #1 Spector #2 Valdez Axe Carr Axe. However, it wasnt long before people learned that he was talking about the hand gesture he was pulling at the time. The offstage shot shows Gene with the bass and the action on that thing could make a grown man cry. One of the least used basses in Gene's arsenal, the Gibson Les Paul Triumph doesn't appear in any live photographs from 1976. on August 28, 2019. Since this all-black Spector shows up with both sets of replacement knobs it was re-finished early on. 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. Of course, being so open about his relationships hasnt always sat well with everyone else. The reddish metal flake Grabber appears at the Midnight Special taping on 75.04.01 where we get a fairly close look at the almost matte finish (and a taste of the obvious sonic qualities it possessed). Search child forums as well I don't often have a lot of good things to say about . Since this part relies entirely on picture evidence of miniscule details clicking the individual pictures below will bring up higher-res images. Although it was supposed to be a simple shopping spree, its said the couple ended up falling head over heels in love with one another, destroying Chers relationship with Gene and her friendship with Diana. Sadly, Steve Carr passed away in 2006 which probably means that this part of the Axe story will forever be shrouded in mystery. If there is one thing that several musicians hate more than most things, its people pirating their music. This Gene Simmons Punisher Bass is a rare, limited edition bass that swept through the Spencer's stores in malls throughout the US. 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. 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. It's not shown in the tour book photos shot at SIR studios but instead makes its "proper" debut in the video for. At the heart of the axe-shaped Simmons bass is its electronics system. (And the look of the #1s from behind betrays no evidence of a rear output jack but in all fairness the entire bass isn't visible. 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. But at the end of the day a guitar is just a tool to create art. G, from Gene to Gibson, will introduce new collections of right and left-handed electric guitars and basses across . 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. 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. Watch on. As Simmons explains, because I owned the name and the design, it qualifies as an invention in the library of congress. 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. 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. His grandparents and one uncle were murdered by Hitler's henchmen. During one interview, the rockstar was asked if he admired anyone else more than himself. 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. Actually, whether it was actually custom made for Gene is an issue on which Gene himself seems less than clear (something that is a recurring theme when Gene talks about his gear and makes the history of his basses a little difficult to untangle). Built-In fuzz is much less likely problems with the legend that is Grohl... So open about his relationships hasnt always sat well with everyone else the natural finish Grabber n't! 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