Gene Simmons comments on =VH=

**matt814u2** · 08.01.06, 06:36 AM

Gene Simmons is on Stern right now. He said that he discovered =VH= at the Starwood in Cali. He was actually there to see the headliner and ran backstage to approach them. They were about sign with a Yogurt Company for funding and instead signed with Gene. The rest of Kiss and Gene's company didn't think =VH= would amount to anything so he ripped up the contract. A few weeks later WB signed them and the rest is history. He was surprisingly very humble about the story how he discovered them.

Howard asked Gene who the best 5 guitarists of all time are. His initial response was it doesn't matter in today's music. Sad but true. There are no "virtuosos" in modern day music. There was in the 60s, 70s, 80s and part of the 90s. Guess that's out the window these days.

**TOM_5150** · 08.01.06, 07:26 AM

Gene knows good talent.

**TOM_5150** · 08.01.06, 07:28 AM

Forgot to mention........the headlining act that Gene came to see at the Starwood was George Lynch's band, The Boyz. George stated he was crushed by Ed's performance and knew he had to hit the woodshed fast.

**smithjc** · 08.01.06, 08:31 AM

Kewl story.

The discovery of the mighty VH.

**chefcraig** · 08.01.06, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by smithjc

Kewl story.

The discovery of the mighty VH.

Which is more or less like Columbus sailing to America, getting waved to by the Indians living there and claiming "Hey, I discovered America".

**LOC** · 08.01.06, 10:22 AM

Actually, he recorded 20 or so songs and tried to get them a record contract.

but with Gene's antiseptic style of production...
They sounded too stale, you didn't get the real personality of the band,
dialed the reverb waaay back, and made it a very tight, polished sound.

He was making it sound like KISS, and it didn't work.

He couldn't get them a record deal with the demos he produced,
so he let them out of the contract...

Ted Templeman took the reigns, knew the right sounds to go after...
and (together w/Van Halen) he made history.

Had nothing to do with caving in to Paul's demands....
That's how he 'spins' it now,
to save face and not have to admit that he failed as a producer.

**smithjc** · 08.01.06, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by chefcraig

Which is more or less like Columbus sailing to America, getting waved to by the Indians living there and claiming "Hey, I discovered America".

Hey I resemble that remark.

**chefcraig** · 08.01.06, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by LOC

Actually, he recorded 20 or so songs and tried to get them a record contract.

but with Gene's antiseptic style of production...
They sounded too stale, you didn't get the real personality of the band,
dialed the reverb waaay back, and made it a very tight, polished sound.

He was making it sound like KISS, and it didn't work.

He couldn't get them a record deal with the demos he produced,
so he let them out of the contract...

Ted Templeman took the reigns, knew the right sounds to go after...
and (together w/Van Halen) he made history.

Had nothing to do with caving in to Paul's demands....
That's how he 'spins' it now,
to save face and not have to admit that he failed as a producer.

I'm not denying Simmons involvement. I do take issue with the rather self-serving claim of "discovering" something that already exists.

Years ago, the "artist" known to musak jazz fans everywhere as "Kenny G" tried to copyright the concept of "rebreathing", a way of actually breathing through one's instrument allowing prolonged periods of sustain. Unfortunately for Mr. "G", the idea had existed since the invention of horned instruments and was a commonly used practice, so his "idea" was laughed out of court.

When it comes to shameless self promotion, Gene Simmons is a legend. Sadly, he is primarily a legend in his own mind.

**Brett** · 08.01.06, 11:28 AM

Say what you want about Kiss, everyone knows how I feel about them, but you can't deny that Gene is a very shrewd businessman and an intelligent person.

**Junior** · 08.01.06, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Brett

Say what you want about Kiss, everyone knows how I feel about them, but you can't deny that Gene is a very shrewd businessman and an intelligent person.

Absolutley. It's deffinetly not their music that has sustained them all these years.

**hain23x** · 08.01.06, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by Brett

Say what you want about Kiss, everyone knows how I feel about them, but you can't deny that Gene is a very shrewd businessman and an intelligent person.

hey, ya'll can catch Gene's new reality show on A&E starting, I believe, Aug 7th

**mistere** · 08.01.06, 04:06 PM

I dunno. Gene looked pretty stupid when he was on "Millionaire" and tanked
on an $800 question.

He's done OK with money 'cause he's merchandised everything that isn't
nailed down and sold out more times than pussy flavored ice cream in the
prison cafeteria. But as an intellectual, he's way overrated. Check out the
ill-fated "Rock School" for more proof.

**Wickett** · 08.01.06, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by hain23x

hey, ya'll can catch Gene's new reality show on A&E starting, I believe, Aug 7th

Gene and his family were on The View today promoting the show if anyone's interested. And please don't ask me how I knew ANYTHING about the view

**LLFHS** · 08.01.06, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by mistere

He's done OK with money 'cause he's merchandised everything that isn't
nailed down and sold out more times than pussy flavored ice cream in the
prison cafeteria.

Pure poetry, I say.

**lubbockvhfan** · 08.01.06, 06:08 PM

You know the funny thing about it is he acknowledges it. He has made no apologies for basically being an amoral money grubbing shill. He admits it. I respect his honesty. I respect nothing else about him but I respect his honesty.