The Last Bass Outpost
Main Forums => The Bass Zone => Topic started by: hieronymous on July 10, 2014, 12:57:22 PM
-
This appeared on the notreble.com website:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q15LqTowvhA
I'm kind of surprised how gracious Mr. Simmons is. They really need to both have basses so that she can show him the riff. But I think sometimes his bass playing abilities show through.
-
Always admired her. She's a gracious and nice person to boot too. I had a nice correspondence going with her about 10 years ago, when I had some questions. She even me gave her phone number. At that time she was also very interested in getting her record straight and the record overall on recordings that she had done that were being credited to others. She also is really stuck on that Ibanez bass.
-
Oh, it's hard to be humble... but he does a pretty good job of it... ;)
-
Always admired her. She's a gracious and nice person to boot too. I had a nice correspondence going with her about 10 years ago, when I had some questions. She even me gave her phone number. At that time she was also very interested in getting her record straight and the record overall on recordings that she had done that were being credited to others. She also is really stuck on that Ibanez bass.
There's something stuck on the bass too! Foam mute from the top?
-
I was waiting to hear Carole tell Gene that she played on all of Kiss's studio albums.
-
Could be the first time I've ever seen Gene not only temporarily shelve his ego, but also border on gushing over someone's playing.
-
Yeah, I thought that was a cool clip. I've seen some facebook comments about "oh, see, he really does suck!", but it looked to me like he was just a guy learning a bass groove he'd never played before. He was totally open to her suggestions and made the effort. Doesn't help that there's a cameraman there, but I guess HE should be used to that.
I was waiting to hear Carole tell Gene that she played on all of Kiss's studio albums.
;D ;D ;D
-
There's something stuck on the bass too! Foam mute from the top?
I'm not sure, but for whatever reason I think Carol Kaye may leave that on on purpose. It seems like I remember that from somewhere.
-
I think you're right, she does use a foam mute.
As for Gene, it doesn't surprise me that his real personality is not his Kiss persona.
-
As for Gene, it doesn't surprise me that his real personality is not his Kiss persona.
I doubt that would be possible :)
But if he ever gets interviewd about this, he'll probably say that he traded the bass lesson for a 'flute' lession or something...
-
Perhaps he's being polite to her as a way of making up for the fact he was a complete asshole to Terry Gross when she interviewed him on "Fresh Air".
-
terry gross is wonderful. i don't think she has a mean bone in her body. a shame she had to interview gs. kiss persona or not he is still the supreme asshat in my book.
-
He never got the groove of her lick, he was trying to play disco octaves.
Very cool clip, thanks for sharing.
-
For a man who's been making a living as a professional bass player for more than 40 years his technique and ability is rather disappointing (imho).
-
Nice to see Gene show obvious real respect for her.
But I think he just stole her bass line for a new KISS tune :)
-
For a man who's been making a living as a professional bass player for more than 40 years his technique and ability is rather disappointing (imho).
I think I expected him to suck so I was actually impressed by some of it!
-
Nice to see Gene show obvious real respect for her.
But I think he just stole her bass line for a new KISS tune :)
I can't put my finger on the song but I swear that bass lick is from a song featured prominently in "The Blues Brothers".
-
denis, that was the vamp/lead in to the blues brothers show. r&b bands would play a little instrumental ditty at the start then the 'star' would come on. think james brown. the music is very close, indeed.
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOXq_vLCjco
-
For a man who's been making a living as a professional bass player for more than 40 years his technique and ability is rather disappointing (imho).
Tsk, tsk, tsk - how nasty you can be, Rob. Rather than showing an old lady what perhaps he can do better, he's taking a lesson. And I was actually expecting him to be that way because he is a polite person when he's not playing his role or trying to offend people with butch low pc remarks, it's as much part of his act as blood spitting, fire breathing and the makeup.
Simmons was never above learning something on bass - his signature bass run on Detroit Rock City was hand-taught to him by Bob Ezrin (who had lifted it off a Stax recording) and Simmons practiced it all night to get it right for the recording. It's an unusual bass run for the song because while Detroit Rock City is a pure shuffle, the bass run is not quite triolic throughout, but mixes triplets and duplets in feel.
Simmons has never been either very fast or agile on bass, he's even a bit heavy-handed (which makes Carol's style not so easy to replicate for him, because she has a light touch and strums the bass more), but he puts thought in his bass lines. If you listen to old Kiss recordings, he's no root note thrasher at all. That said, rhythmically he is mostly meat and potatoes (but so is Paul McCartney, who excelled in melodic and harmonic bass playing).
-
If you listen to old Kiss recordings, he's no root note thrasher at all. That said, rhythmically he is mostly meat and potatoes (but so is Paul McCartney, who excelled in melodic and harmonic bass playing).
Both have had a penchant for high action as well.
-
I like all three (from a musical standpoint)---Paul McCartney, Gene Simmons, Carol Kaye.
-
Both have had a penchant for high action as well.
I have also read about the high action on McCartney's Ric when it was sent to the factory to re-charge the horseshoes, and how he requested that it will not be altered in any way. But I can assure you that on his Höfner, "the one", the action is set medium-low.