Gene Simmons was just lately requested about his musical preferences concerning his instrument of selection, the bass guitar, and the ever-opinionated KISS co-founder took a crack at jazz bassists and different virtuosos comparable to Flea to show his level.
To no shock, Simmons prefers simplicity — a catchy hook — over technical ability, as mirrored in his songwriting in KISS.
In a brand new interview with Guitar World, he admitted that he by no means had curiosity in being a “bass virtuoso,” including that he doesn’t like “show-offs in music” and that he’s “way more drawn to issues which are memorable.”
Simmons went on to provide his narrow-minded sizzling tackle jazz — what he known as music “supposed to point out off how nicely you play” — and technically gifted guitarists comparable to John McLaughlin.
“You is usually a jazz participant and be revered by musicians, however the remainder of the world doesn’t care,” Simmons stated. “We’re going to play a recreation: identify a jazz participant which means one thing.”
He continued, shifting from jazz to bass virtuosos basically: “There are an terrible lot of fantastic bass gamers, like Jaco Pastorius and the jazz guys. Or guys like Flea, who is basically good on his instrument, however I can’t bear in mind something he performs — and I additionally don’t just like the sound of a bass being slapped.”
To Simmons, writing a easy track or riff is the “hardest factor to do.”
“Generally, if it’s shockingly easy, and barely transferring in any respect,” he concluded, “however I can hum it, that’s what issues as a result of it’s memorable.”
For what it’s value, Jaco and Flea each landed within the High 5 of Consequence‘s 1oo Best Bassists of All Time.
In the meantime, Simmons seems to be carried out writing/taking part in simplistic riffs with KISS following the rock legends’ farewell tour in 2023. The band members have since bought the KISS music catalog, identify, and likeness to Pophouse for $300 million, and the KISS avatar present is about to launch in 2027.