Classic Rock
Gene Simmons says Jimmy Page and Paul McCartney praised his bass playing
The Kiss co-founder, bassist and singer Gene Simmons was a fundamental part of the band, being the group’s main songwriter also alongside Paul Stanley during the 50 years they were active.
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Although they are one of the best-selling bands of all time, with an estimated amount of more than 100 million records sold worldwide, many critics complained that the band’s playing and songwriting was too simple.
But in an interview with Adam Carolla (Transcribed by Ultimate Guitar), Simmons recalled when the Led Zeppelin guitarist/producer Jimmy Page and The Beatle Paul McCartney praised his bass playing.
Gene Simmons says Jimmy Page and Paul McCartney praised his bass playing
“Page came to see us the first time when we played Wembley, came to see us some other times when we were there (In England). And he came up to me after the show, with my hand to God, and said, ‘Mate, you can give [John] Entwistle a run for his money.’ And I was just about ready to pass out. That’s not true, of course. But the fact that he may say that — the highest compliment.”
“(…) The only higher one might be [Paul] McCartney coming over and saying, ‘You’re doing a good job.’ Because nobody played bass the way McCartney did. Because you can hear a song and remember the bass parts that McCartney played,” Gene Simmons said.
Kiss played their final concert last December 2023 after 50 years on the road. The band’s final line-up had Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley (Guitar and vocals), Tommy Thayer (Guitar) and Eric Singer (Drums).
In 2024, Gene Simmons already started to tour around the world with his own solo band. He plays a few solo career songs, some covers but most of the setlist is composed of Kiss songs with him on vocals. Until now Paul Stanley didn’t reveal any future plans to record or tour.
