This bass is authorized by Gene Simmons, and each Axe is adorned with Gene's signature on the headstock. Malcolm Young more influential than EVH or Clapton? Greg Kennelty. Roland 555 space/echo (for solo) controlled by manipulating the intensity and . Genes got some good . 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. This phenomenon can also be spotted at the start of the Return of KISS tour. 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. The Jackson Axe is mercifully kept in this near-original condition for at least the two following tours; there are no noticeable alterations. After having used a few different basses during the time in Wicked Lester, an Epiphone that was stolen and a Fender P-bass with a Gibson EB-0 pickup, Gene finally found his weapon of choice in the shape of a Charlie LoBue custom bass. (My guess is that the P-bass pickup was added when it was painted black.) It turns out Gene Simmons is no exception, but not many people know the rockstar was once actually a teacher. It might sound impossible, but its true. Well, in simple terms its a neck-through construction instrument with a hard maple neck and mahogany axe blade body. This is not a traditional signature model arrangement. It has a twin horn, small body, with one DiMarzio pickup." Published. [**] In a 2013 interview at G-Club in Tokyo Gene threw another wrinkle to the story of the LoBue's demise, this time suggesting that he used the bass on stage in 1982 when he fell off the front of the stage, cracked the neck and promptly gave the pieces to a member of the audience. (My original theory was that the blade was originally silver and refinished black but the dating of the photo shoots are well-established.) Spector #2 Kiss's always-colorful bassist reflects on how he and Paul Stanley wrestled with the band's identity - and Vinnie Vincent's unorthodox, fleet-fingered ideas - on Creatures of the Night, 40 years on. here, he blamed the politically correct climate across the nation from stopping Americans saying what they really feel. Princes cause of passing was ultimately ruled as an accidental overdose. His many accomplishments include his work as an outstanding actor and television actor, guitarist, singer, singer-songwriter, film producer, composer, voice actor, blogger, songwriter, and record producer, to name a few. Pink AXE Guitar. Conclusion. 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. 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. 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. Let's talk about your Axe basses. And the first time I used this was on New Year's Eve, Dubai, 2020. A complete rundown of the various basses used by Gene Simmons of KISS 1973-1992. 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? But in the three pictures below I'm having a. 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. Gene Simmons: "Everything Vinnie Vincent did sounded like Yngwie Malmsteen on crack". The second shot from the Japanese leg of the Alive II tour show that spot seemingly covered up by a small dab of matte paint. The thunder starts with a Shure U4D-UHF into a Radial JD-7 Injector. The video clips are from one of the German dates (the blood spitting clip) and Sydney. (The number of replicas that have turned up over the years is a clear indication of the bass' truly iconic status.) If Gene tried to use the Carr Axe live it probably turned out to be too heavy for use. Long believed to be a prototype for a possible Gibson Gene Simmons signature guitar, this bass is actually a heavily modified 60's Gibson EB-0. Although the world learned that things werent always smooth on their ride to the altar, the pair have been married ever since. That was until the wires got stuck and what was supposed to be a graceful rise into the air turned into something almost pretty dangerous. Shannon Tweed - Now 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. In 1987 Gene turns up with what looks like a slightly altered version of the Jackson. We asked the man himself. Gene Simmons isn't telling California to kiss off yet. Apparently, Gene didnt want to break his mothers heart after her family survived World War II. Gene has gone through quite a few different basses over the years. Though the marriage only lasted for a few years, Gene Simmons her only son was born in . The body and hardware can be shaped in any number of ways. The LoBue was the undisputed no. Spector #1 Spector #2 Thunderbird. The pickup cover has been removed and the original Thunderbird humbucker it covered has been replaced with a larger humbucker (probably a DiMarzio since Gene were fond of those and happened to know Larry DiMarzio from school). Notice also the triangular "point" of the finish. A Tribute to the Pedulla 1988 MVP4 - The Gene Simmons Vampire Punisher. Okay, its hard to deny that one of Gene Simmons most prominent features is his tongue. Gene Simmons and his son, Nick, have been spotted at a handful of events together over the years. As Simmons explains, because I owned the name and the design, it qualifies as an invention in the library of congress. The Serial Number for this Gene Simmons KISS: PUNISHER Bass Guitar is: #00896. They werent the only ones who had something to say, as Nikki Sixx from Mtley Cre has been open about his battles with depression. 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. [****] Personal communication with Jack Williamson who asked Free about the matter. Simmons was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of . In contrast, Spector #2 takes a serious beating throughout (the pics below span the entire tour). There are a few pics that don't quite fit in. 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. However, being so popular means there have been plenty of conspiracy theories about Genes tongue. A backstage pic from Atlanta 74.07.18 also seem to suggest some shaping of the back. All in all, this first offering from G2 delivers on virtually every front, from the dazzling black diamond aesthetic through to playability and versatility. PURCHASE & PAYMENT PLANS. As far as video evidence goes it first appears in the opening credits of KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (see below). - Bass Certificate of authenticity signed by Gene Simmons. Unfortunately it is exceedingly difficult to try and identify which Spector is which in most photos, even if they are well-lit. Over the group's 42 . This is the story behind the iconic Axe Bass which has been wielded by Gene Simmons for decades. 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. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month*, US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year, UK pricing 2.99 per month or 29.00 per year, Europe pricing 3.49 per month or 34.00 per year, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. It also speaks volumes of Gene's "working-bass" concept: as long as it works and looks good enough, it will do. That was until a friend suggested Gene get in touch with the singers best friend to try and find a Christmas present. The bass checked . Though he speaks measuredly . John Lennon's Gibson J-160E went for $2.4 million at Julien's Auctions in 2015. Why the other two remain unchanged is anyone's guess. Whatever the new binding was actually made with it was one of the least durable materials in the known universe. The technical info on the EB-0 is taken from the January 2007 issue of Vintage Guitar (also avilable online). Simmons estimates hes sold about 10,000 instruments over the past 10 years. Apparently, Gene wanted to sue everyone who shared copyrighted files, something that saw his site get taken down by Anonymous. Gene Simmons inspects the folder with the documents about his mother's persecution. 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. 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 application claimed that Gene first used the gesture in 1974 while posing for a photo with the legend that is Dave Grohl. Personal messages from members of The Gene Simmons Bass Collectors Club. So I kept moving the pickups around and adding a boost on the back, just to make sure that the bass had the sound I wanted., Simmons notes a distinction between bass designs that work well in the studio compared to on stage, Sometimes in the studio, because of the different acoustics and dynamics, I would use basses that I have never used on stage, because live, they dont sound good. According to Simmons' tech at (13:16), "This is the main bass for the show. However, he's also been known for the varied love life he's led over the years, with his numerous relationships having been . Gene had another story in 1996: "A couple of years later I lent it to Micki Free, whose band Smokehouse opened for us once, and never saw it again." Some of the modifications included a special gloss black paint job with white binding along the sides of the body. the #2 Spector got the nod. They have one album and a handful of collaborations, but thats not all. While his larger-than-life, demonic imagery . This wasnt the first time that Gene had found himself on the wrong side of people, and several think it wont be the last. 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. It's akin to a Thunderbird bridge but appears to be slightly larger. The rosewood fretboard and EB6 4-string bridge add clarity to the Gene Simmons Axe, so you get definition with each note you strike. Whether or not the change to the new bridge occured earlier than Cobo Hall 76.01.25 is anybody's guess. Sadly, things didnt quite work out for the star. There are people that want to leave a legacy and are concerned with what is said about them after theyre gone. Or maybe the rather strange decision to use the Axe for a song like Reason to live during the Crazy Nights tour drove home the point that the Axe was a somewhat odd fit for the image at the time. The rockstar has been open about how hes never tried illegal substances and says that he doesnt get along with people who dabble with narcotics or those who have a dark cloud over their heads.. [] I had two of them on the road with me, but I liked the sound of the off-red one." Although he's spent the last 50 years It can be easy to think that Gene Simmons views comic books as nothing more than a way to make some extra money on the side. The Gibson Thunderbird was a backup used on occasion when the trusty Spector #1 had to take a rest. 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). As one of the founding members of KISS, Gene Simmons is certainly one of the most recognizable faces in rock music. Thanks to abusername for pointing that out. The instrument is clearly a Triumph rather than the earlier Les Paul bass (the control scratchplate is a dead giveaway) but Gibson only offered it in natural and white finishes which leads me to believe that the instrument in Gene's hands was refinished. It was even Genes love of comic books that saw Kiss adopt many of their stage mannerisms and gimmicks that have made the bands performances so famous over the years. Again it's the bridge that gets a change with a very odd combination. All in all, this first offering from G2 delivers on virtually every front, from the dazzling black diamond aesthetic through to playability and versatility. I dont care, it doesnt mean anything to me.. Considering the photographic evidence the natural finish Grabber doesn't seem to have gotten much action. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E Acoustic-Electric - $2.4 Million. Gone is the original witch-hat knob, in its stead we find a black speed knob. However, some. . 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. The bridge is a thornier issue. Amazingly, that could have been the case for Gene Simmons as The Washington Post claims that he was in a relationship with Cher in the 1980s. So the three mentioned is probably two #1's and one #2 (more of which later). Earliest known appearance of this version is 75.05.06 in Milwaukee, WI. At least, thats what most lists would have you believe. To top it off, Gene says that he has a Polaroid photo of each of his partners from over the years and a hotel key firm the night they spent together. Gene Simmons has often been questioned about who he has been with and how many people have made their way to the list over the years. 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