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. 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. It was one of three designed in this configuration for Gene." This is the first of many ways in which the G partnership will be paying tribute to Gene, his iconic status, and continue to inspire new generations of Gibson and Gene Simmons fans to play and create music.". Gene simply replied, Nobody. For some reason the remaining original knobs also get changed at this time, making all three controls black speed knobs. Instead, roadies would allegedly hand Gene a cup of theater blood at some point in the performance. We asked the man himself. Apparently, the staff were all in a meeting when Gene burst into the room unannounced. 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 Ripper was introduced as the "big brother" to the Grabber in 1973. 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. Stage Played Experience = $14,995. My bass is the only musical instrument that is an invention., Jokes abound about the level of KISS merchandise available, but the reality is that Simmons was ahead of his time in terms of understanding how to monetise and control his image and legacy, and trademark ownership has played a big part of that. For the 1981 TV appearances in Mexico and the sattelite feed to the San Remo festival Gene relied on the Kramer Axe. Tweed and Simmons were together for 28 years before they decided to tie the knot in 2011. My theory is that all of these (with the exception of the already heavily modified EB-0) were endorsement instruments that were either pure backups or ones that Gene tried to make into his kind of bass. The women and shady affairs that destroyed Gene Simmons' life. Great Eastern FX Co. Focus Fuzz review: The best of all possible fuzz worlds in a single box? Exact year is unknown but Gibson transitioned to this body type in 1961. [*] 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". Sadly, we get the feeling that Gene would have rocked a lot less face paint during his time in the classroom. "I just had a guy named Stuart Spector build me one with a longer neck. There's very nice video of it from both Houston and Anaheim in August that show the mk VI in action. 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. 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. A complete rundown of the various basses used by Gene Simmons of KISS 1973-1992. - Bass Certificate of authenticity signed by Gene Simmons. Sadly, neither relationship lasted for Gene. 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. Sophie reportedly pestered major streaming sites instead. But, far be it from Gene to play an off-the-rack bass in standard configuration for long. Then, all he needs to do is let it start trickling from his mouth to up the performance. The Gibson Thunderbird was a backup used on occasion when the trusty Spector #1 had to take a rest. There was little change as the band headed into 1974 and started on what would turn out to be a lifetime of heavy touring. Stuart shaved down the normally bulbous horns of the SB-1 into points." . They both had the same body shape and the number only designated the number of pickups. And then we come to the "how many Spectors" issue. If theres one question thats been on many peoples lips over the years, its if Gene Simmons is an egomaniac away from the stage. The LoBue worked tirelessly night in and night out and didn't go through any changes except the wear and tear of heavy use. 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. 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. Ice Cubes group, N.W.A., was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. One of the many things that fans often cant wait to see is Gene Simmons performing his famous blood-spitting routine. The jury is out on that one. For Gene, its simple: he thinks that future rockstars should give up on their dreams as the barriers in the way to the top have become insurmountable. Thankfully, many talented bands have continued to prove Gene wrong in recent years. Shannon Tweed - Now What I will refer to as Spector #1 (although in reality it is two basses) makes it debut for the Love Gun tour on the very first night in Halifax. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Thanks to abusername for pointing that out. Then came the aftermath. The bass(es) were high-gloss black with white trim and a very distinct "point" on the back where the body finish met the unfinished neck (see further down). 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 . On the one hand it has an inlay of Gene's makeup on the headstock that looks very similar to the one that Carr did on Spector #1. If theres one thing that Gene Simmons is proud of in his life, its the supposed number of women that hes been with throughout his career. The Spector web site is clear on the matter: "The bass in the photo above [on the Spector web site, not featured here] is still in Gene's possession as far as we know. That was until the scandal that rocked Nicks world in 2010. Viewed as a whole it is obvious that the LoBue was far and away Gene's favorite. They cover the classic Kiss tones, from the walking lines of Strutter through to heavier hits likeCreatures Of The Night and beyond. In 1987 Gene turns up with what looks like a slightly altered version of the Jackson. Probably taken straight from an old EB-0 or Thunderbird it first appears on 76.02.23 and will stay on until the bass disappears for good despite a few later changes to the bridge underneath it. The earliest known date for this is from Uniondale 79.09.01. However, there is a dark side of Gene Simmons that not many have learned about over the years. 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). I made several of these until we hit a design that is pretty much what he uses today." 1 810 cab. These days the basses are available through his own website [GeneSimmonsAxe.com] and every Axe Bass is built by hand, and is personally inspected by Simmons before being shipped to the customer. 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. 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. 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. It seems thats always been the case for Nick as the star has been working on his own band, Peroux, for the last few years. According to Simmons' tech at (13:16), "This is the main bass for the show. This is the story behind the iconic Axe Bass which has been wielded by Gene Simmons for decades. As a subscriber enjoy big savings off the shop price! The technical info on the EB-0 is taken from the January 2007 issue of Vintage Guitar (also avilable online). I do stuff because I get excited about it and then I hope that other people will get excited about it as well. 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. 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. Cort GS Ax Punisher 2 Bass - One of Gene Simmons' two basses is a Cort GS Ax Punisher. Sometimes the paintbrush can be just as beautiful as the art it inspires and creates. This feels like a real Thunderbird and being handmade in the USA, it very much is one, with an incredibly resonant mahogany body. Whether or not this is the first Axe that Gene got or not is something of a mystery. This phenomenon can also be spotted at the start of the Return of KISS tour. Shannon Tweed rose to fame as a Playboy model and actress before she met and wooed Gene at the Playboy Mansion. As Simmons explains, "because I owned the name and the design, it qualifies as an invention in the library of congress. 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). Studio legend Carol Kaye gave KISS bassist Gene Simmons an impromptu bass lesson at Sunset Sound studios in Hollywood, and luckily cameras were rolling to catch it. The first known sighting of this bass is on 75.08.09 and it doesn't seem to survive 1975. With so little video evidence from this part of the tour it's hard to say whether these are two different pickups or just the trick of light and angles but considering the next (and later) developments I'm going to put my money on the light/angles hypothesis. Bath [*] 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive! Just walking through the hotel lobby and hallways chatting with Gene was an unbelievable experience. Because of this I will "narrate" this story as if there's a single Spector until much later when they are more easily identifiable. LoBue custom. FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bruno-Masquio/219366238103439INSTAGRAM - @brunomasquioiTUNES - https://itunes.apple.com/br/artist/bruno-masquio/id55. 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 . Find out more about how we test. 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. 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. Now, Kiss is linked to an incredible number of product categories 3,000 to be precise. 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.. Conclusion. Several fans have spoken about how both were taken from us too soon and the tragedies that have been linked to their passing. Gene has claimed that he had it painted black before the start of the Alive! The Q-system was designed by Bill Lawrence and was quite versatile. As if things couldnt get any worse, Gene proceeded to tear his shirt and shouted, Hey chicks, sue me!. This is where Gene's search for something very specific seems to start. However, it wasnt long before people learned that he was talking about the hand gesture he was pulling at the time. Still, it was captured on film, meaning Gene wont forget the moment anytime soon. [**] 1996 Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive! 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). The passing of time has proved fruitful for Kiss' 1982 . 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. . 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. Had the studs been mounted on the body this would have been completely non-sensical. 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. All that twerking and tongue flashing was enough to change peoples minds about the star. They have one album and a handful of collaborations, but thats not all. The thunder starts with a Shure U4D-UHF into a Radial JD-7 Injector. Gene Simmons and his son, Nick, have been spotted at a handful of events together over the years. Like many, the rockstar was forced to take any job that came his way, including a role as a deli cashier. 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. Heres how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Below are a couple of pics from rehearsals and the early part of the tour. However, Gene Simmons had his own views on it all and they werent very popular. It seems this only made Gene even angrier than ever. The offstage shot also gives us the first look at the tape coverup of the original bridge holes as discussed below, thus beginning Gene's long use of tape coverups. But did he ever imagine such a strange instrument would become as successful as it has? Theres a good chance that you might have to be prepared for things to go a little wrong. Gene Simmons isn't telling California to kiss off yet. The first G model is a Thunderbird Bass. After that modification number two kicks in and we see another set of knobs. But for the Fridays TV appearance in January 1982 Spector #2 was back. See Gibson for more details. Apparently, the staff were all in a meeting when Gene burst into the room - unannounced. Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird: Price Comparison, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. 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). "Kiss was born on 23rd Street. As Simmons explains, because I owned the name and the design, it qualifies as an invention in the library of congress. 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. Spector #1 is certainly still in the picture but when it comes to relative use their fortunes are reversed with #1 "coming off the bench" here and there and #2 getting more stage time. Search titles only; Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. Its difficult for me to walk past a mirror without stopping to say, yo, whats up?. 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. 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. The bass guitar's mahogany body produces crisp tone with plenty of heavy bass for that signature Detroit Rock City sound. Earliest known appearance of this version is 75.05.06 in Milwaukee, WI. Gene Simmons Punisher 2 Bass. Whether or not the change to the new bridge occured earlier than Cobo Hall 76.01.25 is anybody's guess. 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. In the end the long-scale neck and the rather elaborate Q-system electronics probably proved unnecessary for Gene's no-frills style. She wanted to make sure her music was on the hottest playlists at the time and wouldnt rest until she got the results. The musician was behind some of the most legendary tunes of our time and left a huge mark on the world when he passed in 2016. This wasnt the first time that Gene had found himself on the wrong side of people, and several think it wont be the last. 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). Whatever the reason for the lack of an Axe, this particular Axe makes its last appearance during the European leg of the Crazy Nights tour, shows up for the convention and then disappears; it doesn't even feature in the auction (which. Greg Kennelty. The iconic Kiss bassist promises his new signature instrument is "The most fun you'll be able to have with your pants on". You know, I dont think in those terms, he explains. PURCHASE & PAYMENT PLANS. The result? Nick also has some acting credits to his name. A long-tongued, fire-breathing, towering bass player who performs in a demon warpaint, massive platform boots, and stylized armor, Simmons is a sight to behold. "The first project with KISS for me, was when Gene said he wanted a guitar shaped like an executioner's axe. The caption next to this Axe bass noted that it was a limited-edition built by Kramer. (Plenty of 1980 shots are improperly labeled 1979 online. It looked as though he was all set to reach the big time as it wasnt long before his work gained plenty of fans worldwide. Gene has nothing but nice things to say about the stories that have been brought to life and the art thats used throughout each graphic novel. Things didnt get off to a good start as he accused them of playing a victim, but he made things even worse by stating in an interview that they should take their own lives. We're sorry-this item is unavailable. Skip to main content. The Jackson Axe is mercifully kept in this near-original condition for at least the two following tours; there are no noticeable alterations. The Kiss aesthetic wont appeal tonon-fans. Find out more about the Axe Bass at www.genesimmonsaxe.com. It seems Gene will live to spit blood another day. John Lennon's Gibson J-160E went for $2.4 million at Julien's Auctions in 2015. 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. In the pic from 76.03.12 it's hard to tell whether the back of the body is just worn or if there is a protective cover, but by the time the band hits European soil for the first time, as shown here from Mannheim 76.05.18, there is a distinct reddish overlay screwed onto the back. 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. During an October 28 question-and-answer session with fans aboard this year's Kiss Kruise, KISS frontman Paul Stanley was asked what he has learned about himself through his 50-year friendship and . Gene Simmons: "Everything Vinnie Vincent did sounded like Yngwie Malmsteen on crack". Open menu Close menu . I heard there's a special package including one of your Axe or Punisher basses. The new collection will launch with the release of the G Thunderbird bass later this year. Some people love to embrace every different type of music, while others prefer to stick to what they know. Believe it or not, but Gene is quite the entrepreneur when hes not working with the band. Sadly, Gene Simmons wasnt impressed with the look. The G2 Thunderbird Bass is voiced with a pair of powerful T-Bird pickups, each with individual Volume controls and paired with a . While the price tag for the Axe basses might be high, they are often sold as a package deal with other perks. Once you do, the ceramic magnets in the Rhythm and Lead T-Bird humbuckers pack a powerful and immediate response, with no shortage of punch and depth, making for a bass that sounds, much like the American groups landmark 1975 release, truly alive. By Roy Kaddosh. Sadly, Steve Carr passed away in 2006 which probably means that this part of the Axe story will forever be shrouded in mystery. It is also, when visible, curiously unaffected by lighting conditions. The basic design of the bass has changed a little through the years and it's been made by several luthiers and companies. The picture on the far left here clearly shows that the body was beveled where Gene rested his right arm. My bass is the only musical instrument that is an 'invention'.". Let's hope it turns up in somebody's basement. 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. Considering that the mkI version had a single coil pickup (possibly a stacked humbucker) the third knob is somewhat of a mystery. Before we move forward we need to take a step back (and get a little ahead of ourselves) and adress a slight "wrinkle" in the photos. 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). 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 the early-early years of KISS, he favored a Charlie LoBue bass ( photos ); this was a custom bass guitar made by Charlie. Gene? It wasnt long before people were outraged by the comments, and Gene was forced to apologize. Perhaps most importantly of all, its a bass thats tailor-made for conjuring this larger-than-life characters earth-conquering tones. It might sound impossible, but its true. It turns out Gene accidentally rubbed host Terry Gross up the wrong way during an interview with the star. on August 28, 2019. 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. Gene brings out the metal flake Grabber for 100,000 years at Winterland. As Simmons explains, I started out playing Ampeg SVTs and for a while we were going to do a line of SVT amps and they were originally going to be called The Punisher, and I was able to beat Marvel to the trademark for the name Punisher, even though they had a character named The Punisher. 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). At least, that is if you want to avoid a moment like Gene Simmons had at one of his live shows. 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. To highlight a detail that entered the story a little earlier when the Fender bridge was installed I've chosen these particular pics. The Axe is one of the most recognisable and distinctive signature instruments ever, but you wont get Simmons wasting time worrying about the enduring legacy of his favourite bass. 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.

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