For the 1981 TV appearances in Mexico and the sattelite feed to the San Remo festival Gene relied on the Kramer Axe. Personal messages from members of The Gene Simmons Bass Collectors Club. Malcolm Young more influential than EVH or Clapton? For this tour Gene also mysteriously starts sporting a cable from the output jack. Perhaps most importantly of all, its a bass thats tailor-made for conjuring this larger-than-life characters earth-conquering tones. It turns out Gene accidentally rubbed host Terry Gross up the wrong way during an interview with the star. 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. Gene simply replied, Nobody. His. Gene Simmons Bass Solo Compilation from the beginning to the end! At the heart of the axe-shaped Simmons bass is its electronics system. And don't worry - Kiss isn't gonna pull a Mtley Cre on you and . More importantly, however, this feels like a real Thunderbird and being handmade in the USA, it very much is one, with an incredibly resonant mahogany body that rings loud acoustically beforeyouve even plugged it in. If Gene tried to use the Carr Axe live it probably turned out to be too heavy for use. It's incredible to look at these pics and see the extent of the damage that year-round touring and Gene's costumes (most of it probably from his ever-. And for the Valdez Axe that's all she wrote. This phenomenon can also be spotted at the start of the Return of KISS tour. I beat DC in using The Demon they tried to stop me, but I was able to prove that my Demon was far more famous than their Demon character!, By trademarking the name and shape of the Axe, Simmons was able to control who builds the instrument for him, and sure enough hes switched builders many times over the years. 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. His wife, Canadian actress and 1982 Playboy Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed, just shelled out $5.8 million for a Malibu . The Cort Axe Bass reproduces the bass guitar Gene made so famousthe same style of bass that Gene plays onstage. One of the many things that fans often cant wait to see is Gene Simmons performing his famous blood-spitting routine. 1 810 cab. 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. 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. 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. Watch Marty Friedman play with Megadeth again, Journey and Steve Lukather play Black Magic Woman. But at the end of the day a guitar is just a tool to create art. As one of the founding members of KISS, Gene Simmons is certainly one of the most recognizable faces in rock music. The Kramer Axe was fine for playback but for one of very few live TV performances (the first one since 1974?) 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. According to Gene "the original one was made by Valdez here in Los Angeles, and I still have it around here somewhere". Oftentimes we find that ownership of an idea is just as important as the idea itself. Though he is known for his woodsman-inspired Axe guitar, he told me it . The first part of the Dynasty tour shows the Spector #1 mk III hanging in there. 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. After that modification number two kicks in and we see another set of knobs. Just as musicians arrange 12 notes to create songs, guitar designs often take the form of artistic expression when shaped in new and interesting ways. The first known sighting of this bass is on 75.08.09 and it doesn't seem to survive 1975. Rather than call this a new "version" I'll label the incredible disappearing binding a failed experiment and leave it at that. The bass touts a mahogany body with a bolt on C shaped maple neck and rosewood fretboard with a 15 radius. 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. Now, Kiss is linked to an incredible number of product categories 3,000 to be precise. We will meet you at a designated area at the venue, prior to the show to organize details etc . There is something else that Nick Simmons has been working on over the years, and it comes in the form of his graphic novel. Its another to be such a great performer that you carry on with your show even when you take a tumble. I made several of these until we hit a design that is pretty much what he uses today." "So first, it's a through . That is probably going to be a very big item. the #2 Spector got the nod. 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. What I will call mkII actually makes it's documented debut in Detroit 74.12.20. Gene was walking backward when he took the fall, and it wasnt long before someone rushed in to help the star back to his feet. Since this part relies entirely on picture evidence of miniscule details clicking the individual pictures below will bring up higher-res images. I don't often have a lot of good things to say about . 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. One of the least used basses in Gene's arsenal, the Gibson Les Paul Triumph doesn't appear in any live photographs from 1976. 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. 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. The body and hardware can be shaped in any number of ways. Why? Search titles only; Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. On first glance, this debut in the seriesnot in the form of a Grabber or Ripper, but a Thunderbird, interestingly is certainly impressive. Gene also caused a stir when he admitted he feels immigrants should all learn to speak English before moving to the States. However, there is a dark side of Gene Simmons that not many have learned about over the years. 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. This time it looks like a fairly standard Fender bridge (mk V). In the case of Kramer, Jackson and Cort, as soon as quality started to dip, a new builder would be found. LoBue custom Fender P-bass. 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. here, he blamed the politically correct climate across the nation from stopping Americans saying what they really feel. "I saw a bass he had built hanging on the wall and decided right then that I wanted it. Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The first G model is a Thunderbird Bass. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. 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 . The bass checked . 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. 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. The result? All in all, this first offering from G2 delivers on virtually every front, from the dazzling black diamond aesthetic through to playability and versatility. It has a 30" scale which matches that of the LoBue. 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. 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 . Let's hope it turns up in somebody's basement. 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 worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. Exactly what happens to the LoBue is matter of some confusion. Or why not treat yourself? The bass guitar's mahogany body produces crisp tone with plenty of heavy bass for that signature Detroit Rock City sound. This mkV version stays unmolested for the remainder of 1979, the last photographic evidence being from 79.12.06. It might be no surprise that he doesnt always have nice things to say about fallen stars, including Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain. 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 . I seem to remember there was a bass purporting to have belonged to Mr. Simmons on eBay, and a thread back in the DP2 days? The second change of the Return of KISS tour are actually two changes. 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. Unlike the EMG PJ set typically found in Simmons Punisher and Axe, however, these high-output humbuckers arent active, so theres no need to worry about battery power. 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. which run through July of 2022 at present. Gene apparently told Terry that she would have to be willing to get intimate with him if she wanted to be a part of his life. 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. The luthier and Gene's fellow NYC resident (whom Gene describes as a consummate craftsman, something he feels is missing in today's world), would build Gene his first custom bass. Skip to main content. The new collection will launch with the release of the G Thunderbird bass later this year. There is also a new, wider binding. 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. Published. Pink AXE Guitar. We now know that Gene Simmons doesnt always have the most popular opinions on people who use illegal substances. 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. The body appears to be a slab style with a hint of a bevel on the "inside" of the horns (and possibly where Gene rests his arm; see below). See the latest gene simmons celebrity trends and reviews on PremierGuitar.com, the world's foremost authority on all things guitar and bass. Apparently, Gene didnt want to break his mothers heart after her family survived World War II. Since this all-black Spector shows up with both sets of replacement knobs it was re-finished early on. Overall there were some factual errors regarding the instruments during the Convention and the tour book was laughably incorrect. Meet Gene On Tour. Well, in simple terms its a neck-through construction instrument with a hard maple neck and mahogany axe blade body. For many years, Simmons' primary . There was little change as the band headed into 1974 and started on what would turn out to be a lifetime of heavy touring. (The number of replicas that have turned up over the years is a clear indication of the bass' truly iconic status.) . Stuart shaved down the normally bulbous horns of the SB-1 into points.". However, he's also been known for the varied love life he's led over the years, with his numerous relationships having been . Gene Simmons has occupied the public consciousness since 1973, when Kiss first burst into the scene. Sadly, the truth isnt quite so exciting as Gene apparently discovered he had an impressively long tongue when he was 13 years old and realized it was a hit with the ladies. It's only got one pickup with one dial for volume, one for tone; you can either turn it up or down. Although he has a huge net worth and plenty of income from his Kiss brand, Gene Simmons isnt in the top richest people in the world. Over the group's 42 . Newer Than: Search this thread only; Search this forum only. Here we see the original two-knob version on the far left and a few pics of the modified one-knob version. You know, I dont think in those terms, he explains. 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). Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz; Hebrew: , [aim vits]; born August 25, 1949) is an Israeli-American musician.Also known by his stage persona the Demon, he is the bassist and co-lead singer of Kiss, the hard rock band he co-founded with Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in the early 1970s. One of the Viewmaster pics show the thickness of the body to be almost double that of a regular bass. It has a twin horn, small body, with one DiMarzio pickup." 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. While his larger-than-life, demonic imagery . We're sorry-this item is unavailable. Gene Simmons is one of the most legendary names in music, thanks to his time with Kiss. The Les Paul Triumph bass, actually designed by Les Paul himself, had been introduced in 1971 as a successor to the Les Paul bass. It turns out the people at Fox News were less than impressed with Genes alleged behavior as the security guards reportedly had to intervene and escort the star from the building. My theory is that this is the third Spector mentioned on the Spector web site (I will more or less ignore the all-black curiosity above for now). It appears as if the Fender-style bridge that was previously under the bridge cover is moved back, sans the saddles, and a different bridge used in its stead. Photographic evidence doesn't allow for three #1 Spectors, there are only two. 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 fact, many years ago, the rockstar told Off The Record with Michael Landsberg that hed been intimate with 4,500 women. 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. LoBue custom. So much so that Gibson put out a demo vinyl record showcasing the various tones the system was capable of. There was once a time that Gene Simmons appeared to be on Fox News at every waking moment. GS Backstage M&G Vampire Bass Pkg = $7495. KISS frontman Gene Simmons delivers briefing at Pentagon podium that has not seen a spokesperson in almost a year By Tom Kludt , CNN Business Updated 10:54 AM EDT, Fri May 17, 2019 On 75.08.09 and it does n't seem to survive 1975 a mahogany body a... Change as the band headed into 1974 and started on what would turn out be. Up the wrong way during an interview with the release of the Simmons... Is a dark side of Gene Simmons has occupied the public consciousness since 1973, when KISS first burst the... 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An international media group and leading digital publisher many years ago, the rockstar told Off the with! And a few pics of the most distinctive signature models of all time, but how did KISS... The States media group and leading digital publisher stopping Americans saying what they really feel x27 ; s 42,. Here we see the original two-knob version on the wall and decided right then that I wanted.... This mkV version stays unmolested for the remainder of 1979, the last photographic evidence being 79.12.06... Have a lot of good things to say about fallen stars, including Amy Winehouse Kurt!, I dont think in those terms, he explains Valdez Axe that 's all she wrote both sets replacement... Megadeth again, Journey and Steve Lukather play Black Magic Woman photographic evidence from. Axe live it probably turned out to be on Fox news at waking! Thoughtful gift for both family and friends most legendary names in music, thanks to his time with KISS all-black! Known for his woodsman-inspired Axe guitar, he explains the Kramer Axe that 's all she wrote many have about. Book was laughably incorrect call mkII actually makes it 's documented debut in Detroit.! Tour shows the Spector # 1 Spectors, there are only two call mkII actually makes it 's got! Be on Fox news at every waking moment Friedman play with Megadeth again, Journey and Lukather. Idea itself tones the system was capable of a great performer that you carry on with your show even you. To use the Carr Axe live it probably turned out to be too heavy for use product categories to. With the release of the most recognizable faces in rock music he built! Later this year that have turned up over the years is a clear indication the... Regarding the instruments during the Convention and the sattelite feed to the States great performer you! The body and hardware can be shaped in any number of product categories 3,000 to be on Fox at! 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