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. In the words of Mr. Simmons himself: "Stu Spector made me another bass at the same time, very similar, but the horn on the top was slightly warped and longer than the bottom one" (Guitars that Rule the World, Metal Edge presents KISS Alive 1996). 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. Both stars were known for their use of illegal substances, and both lost their lives while they were still in their prime. Apparently, Gene has always been obsessed with comic books and knows some of the biggest names who have worked on the art over the years, but it was getting his hands on certain Golden Age books and turning them around for $10,000 each that really saw the money start rolling in from a young age. I originally thought that the natural satin finish, introduced in 1975 and seen in this well-known footage from San Fransisco 75.01.31, was Gene's first which was later re-finished but he actually had two Grabbers on the road with him and he used both during the Winterland show. Instead, he decided to keep himself as healthy as possible as Gene told CNN that hes never even tried an adult beverage or taken any illegal substances. 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. Gene even went as far as to accuse the legend of lip-syncing her performances in the past. If there is one thing that many of us have learned, its that Gene Simmons knows a good business opportunity when he sees one. It has a 30" scale which matches that of the LoBue. 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. After showing off a few licks, Simmons points out a particular passage he wants to learn, and Kaye obliges. 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. (My original theory was that the blade was originally silver and refinished black but the dating of the photo shoots are well-established.) Its said that he would judge peoples intelligence depending on the noise it made. First the finish is re-done to be an all-black and Steve Carr makes a headstock inlay of Gene's makeup face. So the three mentioned is probably two #1's and one #2 (more of which later). Search titles only; Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. Sadly, Gene Simmons wasnt impressed with the look. There's very nice video of it from both Houston and Anaheim in August that show the mk VI in action. I made several of these until we hit a design that is pretty much what he uses today." At least, that is if you want to avoid a moment like Gene Simmons had at one of his live shows. And the first time I used this was on New Year's Eve, Dubai, 2020. Though the marriage only lasted for a few years, Gene Simmons her only son was born in . The Jackson Axe is mercifully kept in this near-original condition for at least the two following tours; there are no noticeable alterations. Its another to be such a great performer that you carry on with your show even when you take a tumble. Still, it was captured on film, meaning Gene wont forget the moment anytime soon. (The Thunderbird plays one final role in this story but not until 1992. Thankfully, some things have gone in her favor, as Sophie has done some modeling and worked as a reality TV star in a handful of shows, including Gene Simmons Family Jewels. Thats all when Sophie doesnt work as a body positivity advocate. 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. "Well, that is very kind of you to say. 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 . It's still there in St- Louis 76.12.04 but by 76.12.11 in Pembroke Pines it's been reduced to, well, almost nothing. The SB-1 had a mini switch, something that none of Gene's Spectors have and it would be easy to assume that his instruments were simply built without one. However, there is a dark side of Gene Simmons that not many have learned about over the years. Gibson havent let themselves down here at all, with this review model feeling lighter than it looks. 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. I have yet to figure out what this bridge was. But in the three pictures below I'm having a. M&G Pkg $4450. It turns out Gene accidentally rubbed host Terry Gross up the wrong way during an interview with the star. For the show in London, Ontario 74.12.22 Gene poses with the Grabber backstage but plays the LoBue for the show. Roland 555 space/echo (for solo) controlled by manipulating the intensity and . 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 . 15155. The bassist will bring back the Gene Simmons' Axe MasterClass for fans . The one below from Cleveland 79.07.19 is the only one I've found that is actually from 1979. "So first, it's a through . Shannon Tweed rose to fame as a Playboy model and actress before she met and wooed Gene at the Playboy Mansion. 1 810 cab. I don't often have a lot of good things to say about . They werent the only ones who had something to say, as Nikki Sixx from Mtley Cre has been open about his battles with depression. 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. It turns out that some people were so offended by how Gene Simmons conducted himself and the thoughts he has on people suffering from their mental health that they decided to protest against the rockstar and his band. The basses are often signed or played on stage depending on what price point the buyer wants to reach for. For this tour Gene also mysteriously starts sporting a cable from the output jack. I love it." Thats not the only time that Gene has opened up about his relationships away from the cameras, as the rockstar later confessed that hed actually been with up to 5,000 different women. All rights reserved. And for the Valdez Axe that's all she wrote. From the Spector site - For 20 years, Gene Simmons of the legendary band KISS recorded and toured with his custom made Spector bass. The second change of the Return of KISS tour are actually two changes. Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. It's only got one pickup with one dial for volume, one for tone; you can either turn it up or down. This obviously reflected the economic state of the band at the time, Paul and Ace also had very clear no. which run through July of 2022 at present. . For some reason the remaining original knobs also get changed at this time, making all three controls black speed knobs. The pickup becomes a Gibson EB-0 style, something that Gene had experimented with before (the Fender he used during the Wicked Lester days) and it would be the last pickup change for the LoBue. 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. 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 original incarnation of the LoBue (mk I) had an unfinished wood body, a set neck, a violin-style bridge, a single-coil pickup, a black pickguard, and, despite Gene's quote above, three knobs. The bridge is a thornier issue. 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. Kiss legend Gene Simmons fondly recalls the days when a fledgling Rush would regularly play support to the panstick-sporting rockers. It wasnt long before people were outraged by the comments, and Gene was forced to apologize. The headstock featured Gene's autograph and the pointy shape of the head was mirrored by a bizarre pointed part below the bridge. . This mk III retains the original violin-type bridge. Search titles only; Posted by Member: Separate names with a comma. After the re-finish (more info below) the coverup disappears, most likely because the hole was filled before the finish was applied. 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. Would you believe that hes been building a business empire for himself since he was back in college? 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. (The number of replicas that have turned up over the years is a clear indication of the bass' truly iconic status.) Then, all he needs to do is let it start trickling from his mouth to up the performance. According to Gene he met Stuart Spector, then just an upstart luthier working out of a small Brooklyn shop, during the Destroyer sessions. 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). It seems its something Genes kept up ever since. At the time Spector only had two model bass guitars, the SB-1 and the SB-2. 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. 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. It has the same basic hardware as the #1 but a slightly different body shape and a mirror-like pickguard with a jagged lower edge. Hot on the heels of the announcement of Gibson's acquisition of Mesa/Boogie, the company has unveiled another new partnership, this time with Kiss bassist Gene Simmons. In a rather unprecedented move the bass is left alone with no noticeable modifications. See Gibson for more details. GS Backstage M&G Vampire Bass Pkg = $7495. Viewed as a whole it is obvious that the LoBue was far and away Gene's favorite. 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