In a recent interview with Guitar World magazine, KISS bassist Gene Simmons explained how he was more influenced by bass players who could come up with a memorable melody than those who were considered virtuosos on their instruments.
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With that in mind, Simmons also shared a list of bassists that had the greatest impact on his own playing. The top spot of Gene’s list was taken by one of the most famous musicians on the planet, Paul McCartney, while at No. 2 was a rocker who’s better known for his work as a guitarist than as a bassist—Ronnie Wood.
Also landing on Simmons’ list of most influential bassists were Mountian’s Felix Pappalardi, Yes’ Chris Squire, prolific session musician Carol Kaye, and Van Halen’s Michael Anthony.
On Paul McCartney
Regarding the legendary Beatles member, Simmons said, “McCartney is probably the most influential bassist for me. The biggest compliment I can give Paul McCartney is that you can pick the vast majority of Beatles songs and you’ll remember what the bass was playing.”
Simmons noted that in many rock bands, including AC/DC, “[t]he bass locks in with the drums.” He told Guitar World that, in contrast, he appreciated the way McCartney’s playing worked in conjunction with his Beatles bandmates because he felt they “were closer to a string quartet, where the violin and the cello have their own melody.”
He continued, “While the instruments were doing melodies, the bass was, too. It wasn’t tied to the drums. I got inspiration for songs that were hopefully so memorable that it inferred, ‘Well, maybe the guitars should double up and play those bass parts.’”
Added Simmons, “With all these beautiful songs, you remember the basslines because McCartney’s not sticking to the root. He’s moving around the fretboard and coming up with his own melodies, which is a lot harder to do because you’ve got to be creative and still stay within the harmonic confines of the song.”
Gene concluded that Sir Paul was “hands and feet above the other guys,” while noting that “he’s a triple threat.”
As Simmons explained, “[H]he wrote songs that were unmatched, became the most successful songwriter of all time, and he wrote them by himself.”
On Ronnie Wood
Wood is best known for playing guitar in the Faces and The Rolling Stones. Before he became a member of the Faces, though, Wood played bass in the Jeff Beck Group, and was featured on that band’s acclaimed first two albums—Truth (1968) and Beck-Ola (1969).
Simmons told Guitar World that Wood was one of “the top guys” listened to during his early days playing bass.
“Those first two [Jeff Beck Group] records were pivotal,” he noted. “They came out before Led Zeppelin; I heard that stuff and was awed by how free-flowing they were.”
Gene said he felt that Wood’s bass playing “on both those records is superb.” He added, “In my estimation he’s a far better bass player than he is a guitar player.”
Simmons pointed out that Wood’s bass was particular memorable on Truth.
“Ronnie Wood’s approach to bass playing, and his tone, sounded like a cross between a bass and a guitar,” Gene maintained.
On the Other Bassists on Simmons’ List
Felix Pappalardi: “Felix Pappalardi from Mountain had a similar approach on bass [to Wood], and a tone which was distorted—but there was a lot there.”
Chris Squire: “You remember the Yes bass parts, like in ‘Roundabout’; you certainly remember what Chris Squire was playing. But strangely, when you hear his solo record, there’s that unique, authentic, personal bass playing and sound. It’s his Rickenbacker bass, distorted and way up in the mix.”
Carol Kaye: “You can’t say ‘bass playing’ without Carol Kaye. People thought it was an African American gentleman playing bass on those Motown Records—but there was a short Jewish woman doing that. And I knew her, and we played bass together … She taught me real hard, telling me, ‘No, no, you’re playing the notes but you’re not playing the feel.’”
Michael Anthony: “Michael Anthony from Van Halen never got a lot of attention—but he’s really good. … There was that sound, that approach, where Eddie [Van Halen] would have a riff, but Michael is playing around it. It’s like people trying to chase a fox and get it in the trap, which is much more interesting to me than walking a straight line where you know where it’s going.”
“Carol Kaye taught me real hard, telling me, ‘No, no, you’re playing the notes but you’re not playing the feel’”: Gene Simmons names 6 bass players who shaped his sound https://t.co/FuiM4PiJQ4 pic.twitter.com/OFBIEYZBIQ
— Guitar World (@GuitarWorld) October 28, 2024
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
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