Finally? Gene Simmons single handedly got Van Halen signed,played bass on Running With The Devil,helped promote the shit out of them,took Rush out on the road to have them open for Kiss,and has helped so many other bands get exposure and get looked at by record labels and producers and even did a kickass version of Firestarter by The Prodigy which they loved and even became friends with him. They guy might come off as arrogant to to some but he really is a cool man who keeps his feet down to earth,and that's why he's been at the top of business for so long.
Melvins actually opened for KISS a few times during their reunion tour in 96. Gene gets it. He could jam with almost anyone he wants but he picked the Melvins.
Several years ago I specifically asked Dale how it was touring with KISS and were they dicks. He said no...they and their crew treated them right. Made sure they had a sound check every night
Without a doubt, KISS is one of the most influential bands from the rock era. Not just fluff bands either. They influenced at least one member in the overwhelming majority of important and highly respected bands from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Probably the finest example being Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine.
Primus with melvins would be my dream show. I’ve seen Primus eight times but missed the melvins last time they were in the area cause I didn’t see a single add for the show until the day of, could have gotten to see ministry again too
@@zwood1838 luckily the Melvins tour their asses off so they’ll be back. I live in michigan and they came twice this year. Only saw them once though this year
"I listened to your guys' version... I thought something was wrong with my tape..." I would pay good money for that answering machine message. Not great money. But good money.
Say what you want about Gene. He's been in the music business for 50 years and has walked that upper crust of Rock starism than most can only dream of. Like him or hate him.... the man is an entertainer and a business man. And a very successful one at that.
agreed, Gene sometimes can be abrasive, but the guy does know the music scene. Gene also helped Van Halen in the early days paying for there demo tape, he wanted to sign them but his label passed , so he set em free with the demo and rest is history.
...Gene also wanted Pentagram in the 70s but the bassist was late bc he hitchhiked to the demo & was wearing his plumbing outfit and that was that no callback The Internet has boosted Melvins and that is awesome.
Kurt turned me onto the Melvins when I was kid thankfully. Seeing them with Down was the loudest show I have ever been to in my life...which includes Deftones, Motorhead, White Zombie etc.
That is so true. And those bands have publicly stated their gratitude even to this day. Still we hear a lot of "Kiss are greedy dinosaurs and monsters!" They helped Van Halen get going in the mainstream ( even if Gene's demo's and such didnt take off) And Paul Stanley had a helping hand with Guns N Rose's before Appetite came out, he was a possible choice of record producer.
Say what you want about KISS and Gene, but they never had anything handed to them early on, toured constantly and every band they played with -- Rush, Bob Seger, Cheap Trick -- they all talk about how supportive and nice the guys in KISS were, esp Gene -- they were always on the side of their fellow musicians …. Yes, he's got this massive chip on his shoulder when dealing with the media, but from day one, KISS had to constantly overcome the ridicule and disrespect from all those who couldn't hear the great songs under the image .. They weren't part of the hipster/Andy Warhol scene, critics not only hated them but went out of their way to disrespect what they accomplished .. They were four guys with no money who created something that influenced a few generations of musicians .. Goin' Blind is one example of a ton of great songs that were foolish dismissed or ignored because the empty elitist attitude people have allow the music to define who they are and couldn't get past the image .. People disliking a band for the way they look is worse than people liking a band for the way they look ..
Like Gene, Buzz isn’t afraid to call bs when he sees it, and stays true to his art. Got to admire him for that, especially nowadays, where cancel culture is rife within the industry.
It's a cover of a KISS original by The Melvins on a KISS tribute compilation called KISS My Ass. What they're talking about is the process of putting The Melvins' version of that album.
My brother went to a Melvins concert on Halloween dressed as King Buzzo (namely a fro wig and a Melvins shirt) and he won the costume contest and got his picture taken with Buzzo
Hmm, curious that there's footage of Gene unsuccessfully trying to break that door down, but no footage of him casually destroying it with taekwando skills.
Gene didn't even remember. He asked the interviewer if he kicked the door down and he said yes so Gene ran with it and started going on about how easily he can make wood splinter lmao
Buzz had much respect for Gene and said he was down to earth and not pretentious which made me respect Gene because lets face it the Melvins don't give a fudge who they piss off. Not to mention this is an awesome story, thank you!
I met Gene in 02, booksigning tour for his first book in Toronto. He was amazingly down to earth and cool with me. January 15, 2002, Chapters in TO. We had a very intense talk and music and life...
There’s a bizarre recording of Melvins playing this on some morning talk show like good morning America or something like that. It’s awful and amazing at the same time.
there are some things i dont like about gene from his reality show days and stuff he says in the media i guess but the more i learn about kiss and his role he certainly put the work in as a musician, discovering van halen etc
