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. So what is the Axe Bass, then? Exactly what happens to the LoBue is matter of some confusion. A Tribute to the Pedulla 1988 MVP4 - The Gene Simmons Vampire Punisher. Like the best signature models, this is an instrument that ultimately inspires you to sound and play like the musician behind it, while also being capable of a lot more, from Motown to country, and with the right kind of EQ scoop and compression, even slapped funk even if its not aimed at such musicians. 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. 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. It turns out Gene accidentally rubbed host Terry Gross up the wrong way during an interview with the star. It looked as though he needed it as Genes outfit weighs quite a lot thanks to all those theatrical additions. [*] 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." One person in particular had plenty to say as Ice Cube took to social media, which started a pretty heated feud between the two. LoBue custom Fender P-bass. "The first instruments are the Thunderbird basses, which will come in a few different colors. The bass guitar's mahogany body produces crisp tone with plenty of heavy bass for that signature Detroit Rock City sound. As for the modifications, it has been refinished and there's additional binding not on the original; under the bridge cover is a Leo Quan Badass bridge with the strings loading through the body via added string ferrules; a ca. On the other hand it was listed in the Butterfields auction without the name of the luthier and it was suggested that it dated from the 1983 Creatures tour (which there is no evidence for, the Axe used on that tour was a Kramer). Gene Simmons VaultCast Episode 1. I've scammed people all this time The world of Jean-Jacques Burnel. The move to Gibsons during 1975 was purely financial. It seems its something Genes kept up ever since. The Les Paul Triumph bass, actually designed by Les Paul himself, had been introduced in 1971 as a successor to the Les Paul bass. There was suppose to be 1,000 . here, he blamed the politically correct climate across the nation from stopping Americans saying what they really feel. - Bass Certificate of authenticity signed by Gene Simmons. 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. The studs are not glued or otherwise mounted directly on the body of the bass. Introduced in 1973, the Grabber was Gibson's first bolt-on neck bass and featured a sliding pickup (you "grabbed" it to change the pickup position, hence the name). 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. 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. To highlight a detail that entered the story a little earlier when the Fender bridge was installed I've chosen these particular pics. In fact, the rockstar went as far as it saw Mileys tongue was okay, but quickly put his foot in it with a few derogatory comments. Apparently, he wasnt impressed with someone so prominent sharing such questionable opinions. Then, all he needs to do is let it start trickling from his mouth to up the performance. Although I've found nothing to support this the general assumption among those who know far more about early Spectors than I seem to be that the pickup in the mk I was a Model 1. There seemed to be a strange moment in time when celebrities couldnt wait but to show their tongue on the red carpet. All of his business-savvy moves and investing in several companies, such as a financial company, a restaurant chain, and a sports team, means hes earned quite the fortune over the years. Meet Gene On Tour. 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. 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). Biography reports that Gene actually worked a host of jobs as he tried to raise money to start his own band. It turns out Gene Simmons is no exception, but not many people know the rockstar was once actually a teacher. Overall there were some factual errors regarding the instruments during the Convention and the tour book was laughably incorrect. It's only got one pickup with one dial for volume, one for tone; you can either turn it up or down. At the end of our show [I] walk offstage and I throw the guitar off the stage, and everyone gasps. Gene Simmons: "Everything Vinnie Vincent did sounded like Yngwie Malmsteen on crack". 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 . 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. The Spector takes over as the #1 and during the early part of the Love Gun tour it is brought out only occasionally soon to disappear completely. Nah Gene Simmons is a dick, and his bass lines are sometimes very simple, but he has this cool running bass thing going which is pretty unique and sounds cool. (The number of replicas that have turned up over the years is a clear indication of the bass' truly iconic status.) 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. In a rather unprecedented move the bass is left alone with no noticeable modifications. Thats right; the rockstar actually paid his way through college, all thanks to his comic book sales. The Kiss aesthetic wont appeal tonon-fans. As far as video evidence goes it first appears in the opening credits of KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (see below). Stage Played Experience = $14,995. Gene simply replied, Nobody. 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. Become part of our community of travelers to receive exclusive tips, tricks and travel expert secrets, By Hannah Pennington, Published on Mar 24, 2021, Gene Simmons claims that hes been intimate with thousands of women, The Cheapest Countries In The World For Traveling, Tourists Share The Craziest Things They Have Seen While Traveling The World, Hilarious Breakup Notes That Are Bordering On Awkard, Everything You Could Possibly Need to Know About Subscription Travel, Bizarre Photos Youd Only Ever See In Thailand, The Worlds Most Anticipated Bar Has Finally Opened In London, These Valentines Destinations Are Perfect For Every Type Of Couple. Though he is known for his woodsman-inspired Axe guitar, he told me it . The bridge is a thornier issue. [*] The reddish Grabber was re-finished since Gibson never offered the Grabber in any kind of metal flake finish. These are smaller, all black with a small white dot that shows the naught setting (mk III). Now, Kiss is linked to an incredible number of product categories 3,000 to be precise. There was a reason that so many people tried to live the life of groupies. Malcolm Young more influential than EVH or Clapton? Theres a lot to like about this costly Thunderbird, from its searing hot tones to that striking mirror-on-black aesthetic. Some have wondered why the Kiss star hasnt used his time in the limelight to help other people on their rise to the top. According to Gene "the original one was made by Valdez here in Los Angeles, and I still have it around here somewhere". It's been suggested that the incredible disappearing binding was masking tape that Gene himself applied during the hours of tedium on the tour bus. by Jacob Uitti 2 years ago. Had the studs been mounted on the body this would have been completely non-sensical. The bass on the right is slightly more problematic. 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. On the other hand, Gene seems to think hes a part of the One percent as he confessed to being one of the wealthiest people out there during an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune. 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. [**] 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive! It seems Gene will live to spit blood another day. In 2012, Madonna fans were in for a treat as the pop star was lined up to star at the Super Bowl halftime show. Gene Simmons has occupied the public consciousness since 1973, when Kiss first burst into the scene. [] I had two of them on the road with me, but I liked the sound of the off-red one." Gene Simmons is a legendary rock icon and the bassist from KISS, and his new Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird Bass reflects his tastes. 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. The bass lines Gene plays on Kiss songs aren't terribly technically difficult to learn if you have the tabs or sheet music, but to write the bass lines Gene writes and hold down those grooves in the pocket, really requires a good understanding of what the bass is supposed to be used for. That is probably going to be a very big item. "You can get a Gene Simmons Axe or Punisher signed; they go from $5,000 to $15,000. First seen in Detroit on 78.01.20, these knobs will thankfully stay on for quite some time. What I will call mkII actually makes it's documented debut in Detroit 74.12.20. 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. There will be a guitar version and left-handed versions. This mk III retains the original violin-type bridge. Answer (1 of 7): When I was younger it was KISS that got me to listen to Heavy Metal and I thought then that Gene Simmons was the best period! [*] Spiro of tribute band fame has mentioned that Gene told him it was stolen while being away for repairs after Gene "fell off the front of the stage". Apparently, Gene wanted to sue everyone who shared copyrighted files, something that saw his site get taken down by Anonymous. The thunder starts with a Shure U4D-UHF into a Radial JD-7 Injector. Gene and his bass finally did part ways, though by all accounts he was reluctant to give it up. Whatever the new binding was actually made with it was one of the least durable materials in the known universe. After being on a breif hiatus the Thunderbird returned to the Gibson catalogue in 1976 for the Bicentennial. Stuart shaved down the normally bulbous horns of the SB-1 into points.". The '73 and '74 models were slightly "rounder" over the horns and had a slightly wider body so considering the look of Gene's Ripper it was probably a 1975 ebony version which sported an alder body (Gibson reverted back to maple in 1977). Ever the savvy businessman, Simmons ended up trademarking the term "Axe" as it refers to a musical instrument, as well as the shape of the bass. Diana Ross. 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. Princes cause of passing was ultimately ruled as an accidental overdose. As if things couldnt get any worse, Gene proceeded to tear his shirt and shouted, Hey chicks, sue me!. As Simmons explains, "because I owned the name and the design, it qualifies as an invention in the library of congress. It looked cool on a piece of paper so I thought it would look cool as a bass., The Axe has become such an integral part to not only KISS, and Genes Demon character, but Gene Simmons himself. 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. 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." The following day, Fox News announced that Gene had been permanently banned from the studios, with some reports claiming there is a photo of Gene behind the security desk to ensure he never sneaks in. Earliest known appearance of this version is 75.05.06 in Milwaukee, WI. The LoBue was the undisputed no. It turns out that Gene Simmons worked in a whole host of careers before he made his way to the world of rock and roll. 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. The first known sighting of this bass is on 75.08.09 and it doesn't seem to survive 1975. 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. All that twerking and tongue flashing was enough to change peoples minds about the star. 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. I dont care, it doesnt mean anything to me.. However, that isnt the case. He is the God Of Thunder, after all. The worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. The reddish metal flake Grabber first shows up in Fayetteville, NC on 74.11.30 but it doesn't see steady action until 1975. Both stars were known for their use of illegal substances, and both lost their lives while they were still in their prime. On first glance, this debut in the seriesnot in the form of a Grabber or Ripper, but a Thunderbird, interestingly is certainly impressive. The first part of the Dynasty tour shows the Spector #1 mk III hanging in there. Published. [**]. 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. Why? 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. One of the least used basses in Gene's arsenal, the Gibson Les Paul Triumph doesn't appear in any live photographs from 1976. Since this all-black Spector shows up with both sets of replacement knobs it was re-finished early on. "The first project with KISS for me, was when Gene said he wanted a guitar shaped like an executioner's axe. Sadly, we get the feeling that Gene would have rocked a lot less face paint during his time in the classroom. Now, 46 years later, he and Gibson are teaming up for G2, a new line of basses and guitars announced this past week during the NAMM conference. Greg Kennelty. For this occasion Gene borrowed a Thunderbird and proceeded to "thumb" his way through the songs.). 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. That was until a friend suggested Gene get in touch with the singers best friend to try and find a Christmas present. 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. Together, the happy couple share two kids; Nichols Adam Tweed-Simmons and Sophie Alexandra Tweed-Simmons. All rights reserved. Im spectacular, before adding, Oh Im stunning. Yes, it seems that Gene has struggled to find room in his heart for anyone other than himself as the star often loves to talk about his love for himself, even if its left some people wondering if he knows how to be down to Earth. However, the couple was never in a rush to make it down the aisle. 10 young bluesbreakers who are making the Blues fun again, Maybe Id move to Japan and try and be an English teacher! Mastodons Bill Kelliher on the future of the band, his love of Les Pauls and what hed do if he wasnt in the band. 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