The Admiral Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) Overview of gear from the 2014 tour, and a fascinating insight into how Gene does business. The plan 1. Own the company that makes the basses 2. Have yours set up in a custom format, as opposed to stock 3. Play them once 4. Sell them online prior to the gig 5. Punter turns up, watches gig, comes backstage, meets Gene 6. Bass handed over - from that nights gig 7. Pictures taken and bass signed 8. Gene $10,000 richer. He does this almost every night apparently. People criticise his playing, but you can't fault his business savvy. Some great Les Paul porn in the initial part of the vid with Tommy Thayer too. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg2fRBXhB6Q Edited August 29, 2014 by The Admiral Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Interesting video clip and good to see musicians using little if any effects pedals. I then got distracted and watching other rig rundowns ending up on George Bensons signature fender amp. Nice little earner for Gene especially if it's cash in hand :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UglyDog Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 [quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1409294041' post='2538304'] The plan 1. Own the company that makes the basses 2. Have yours set up in a custom format, as opposed to stock 3. Play them once 4. Sell them online prior to the gig 5. Punter turns up, watches gig, comes backstage, meets Gene 6. Bass handed over - from that nights gig 7. Pictures taken and bass signed 8. Gene $10,000 richer. [/quote] You forgot: 2a. Do magazine interviews where you talk about how the stock instruments cost a handful of dollars to make, brag about how much you are raking it in with every one you sell, and suggest that your fans are mug punters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_m Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Must be a bugger when your cable snags on your codpiece eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 One born every minute I guess. Well, one Kiss fan with a ten grand hole in their pocket that is. If they'll pay it then he'll charge it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassie Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 The main reason I can't bear this band - stamping their name over any old piece of crap and flogging it to their fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Admiral Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 [quote name='UglyDog' timestamp='1409310827' post='2538522'] You forgot: 2a. Do magazine interviews where you talk about how the stock instruments cost a handful of dollars to make, brag about how much you are raking it in with every one you sell, and suggest that your fans are mug punters. [/quote] I've missed that, but it doesn't surprise me at all. If you ever saw the reality programme - his office is a desk I n the middle of a vast space full of Kiss memorabilia and he clearly couldn't give a toss about the music - it's all about the money. I thought the basses in the video looked very average - the sort of thing you could source in the Far East for £50, and as for the fans paying $10k for an 'investment piece', part of the future value is linked to their rarity and if he's knocking them out every night - that as a growing pool, and a lower value for every one bought. Although Kiss fans are frequently so rabid, it will probably be a keeper and bought for the fan satisfaction and the wall at home, not as an investment. Can you link to the article about him slagging the basses? I'd love to read that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 He,s no daft when it comes to money and then there,s the Elvis tribute gigs without sideboards when Kiss is off the road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 [quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1409294041' post='2538304']People criticise his playing[/quote] They shouldn't do. He was great on some of those early 70s recordings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 [quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1409362571' post='2539088'] I've missed that, but it doesn't surprise me at all. If you ever saw the reality programme - his office is a desk I n the middle of a vast space full of Kiss memorabilia and he clearly couldn't give a toss about the music - it's all about the money. [/quote] Although Gene's love of the almighty dollar is well known, to suggest he is anything but passionate about his music is unfair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Admiral Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 [quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1409447186' post='2539844'] Although Gene's love of the almighty dollar is well known, to suggest he is anything but passionate about his music is unfair. [/quote] Yes, you are right, I'll agree my words were chosen badly, but I think it's become less about the music and far more about the money over the years. I was actually looking up the Kiss Unplugged stuff on youtube, and he plays well in that - althought the most striking thing is how they have aged. But then, it was nearly 20 years ago - and it does make you realise how much 'work' Paul has had done on his face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 I used to love KISS. When I was a nipper, but I realise they are big business now, but how can you slag off Gene, when it's the stupid public that pay for it? KISS we're never about supreme musicianship, but they worked bloody hard to give one of the best rock acts ever. If they make a bit on the side, so what? Name one artist that does it purely for the music! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Everyone should have a pension fund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0175westwood29 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 i just find the fact that his sig bass or whatever it is, the one you can buy is totally different! just make them the way you play them and didnt really get the wasted use of the samsamp that only goes to his ears!? but the 10000 bass that he plays for a solo! shut up! thats not on unless that money goes to charity! andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 [quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1409493605' post='2540141'] but the 10000 bass that he plays for a solo! shut up! thats not on unless that money goes to charity! [/quote] Gene can do whatever he wants with his money. However Kiss (or at least Gene and Paul) do undertake a hell of a lot of charity work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 (edited) Apparently he made an arse of himself after robin Williams death as he said something along the lines of , I can't be bothered with people that have addictions. He was inundated with hate mail and his lawyer had to release a well worded retraction So whatever else you say about Gene, he is a bit of a knob! Edited September 4, 2014 by ubit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 [quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1409493605' post='2540141'] and didnt really get the wasted use of the samsamp that only goes to his ears!? [/quote] I do the same but with EBS MB2s. Why bother telling the engineer what you want in your ears bass tone wise when you can mix it yourself and be completely independent of the front of house mix? I like uber clarity in my ears without all the sub bass that is send out front. Makes perfect sense to me. I have my own gain structure and eq available at my fingertips without trying to explain what I want - he's not compromising the front of house mix for me and vice versa. I completely buy into that logic I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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