Rock stars and their personas

IntoTheRough

jonnyburgo said:

Ted Nugent, absolute dickhead and doessnt care who knows it.

The juxtaposition of this and your sig is rather good.

--

Liam Gallagher certainly never faked any of it. Remember when he got his teeth knocked out for being a bit gobby with the wrong people?

Noel attributes a lot of his ego to his cocaine years but I think he had it before and after really, that's just him.

Philly_Q

monquixote said:

EricTheWeary said:

monquixote said:

The closest I can think of someone who seems to inhabit his rock star persona at all times is Gene Simmons who consequently comes across as a total bell end most of the time.

I’m trying to think of his name but one of the latter guitarists in Kiss launched a sig amp a few years ago. Profits went to a charity. Gene launched a sig bass guitar around the same time, profits went to Gene. Presumably the stand in guitarist is much less of a multi millionaire than Gene is. He doesn’t seem to be able to do anything without reinforcing his Bell endishness. I guess some people like that about him. 

That would be Tommy Thayer.

Gene Simmons kind of reminds me of Donald Trump. I expect he would be pleased at that description.

Although interestingly Simmons and Stanley have been very much in opposition to Trump, certainly in regard to his handling of the Covid crisis.

EricTheWeary

Philly_Q said:

monquixote said:

EricTheWeary said:

monquixote said:

The closest I can think of someone who seems to inhabit his rock star persona at all times is Gene Simmons who consequently comes across as a total bell end most of the time.

I’m trying to think of his name but one of the latter guitarists in Kiss launched a sig amp a few years ago. Profits went to a charity. Gene launched a sig bass guitar around the same time, profits went to Gene. Presumably the stand in guitarist is much less of a multi millionaire than Gene is. He doesn’t seem to be able to do anything without reinforcing his Bell endishness. I guess some people like that about him. 

That would be Tommy Thayer.

Gene Simmons kind of reminds me of Donald Trump. I expect he would be pleased at that description.

Although interestingly Simmons and Stanley have been very much in opposition to Trump, certainly in regard to his handling of the Covid crisis.

Just googling this, seems a bit vague but Simmons/Kiss refused to play at Trump's inauguration. They aren't all bad after all! 

Brio

Phil Collins is not a fake. After some interactions I was privy to I can confirm he really is as big a cock as he appears to be.
I also had to listen to a one man band (the great Don Partridge) trying to learn You Cant Hurry Love by playing the single about 20 times on the trot, so I may have been biased from an early stage).

monquixote

Philly_Q said:

monquixote said:

EricTheWeary said:

monquixote said:

The closest I can think of someone who seems to inhabit his rock star persona at all times is Gene Simmons who consequently comes across as a total bell end most of the time.

I’m trying to think of his name but one of the latter guitarists in Kiss launched a sig amp a few years ago. Profits went to a charity. Gene launched a sig bass guitar around the same time, profits went to Gene. Presumably the stand in guitarist is much less of a multi millionaire than Gene is. He doesn’t seem to be able to do anything without reinforcing his Bell endishness. I guess some people like that about him. 

That would be Tommy Thayer.

Gene Simmons kind of reminds me of Donald Trump. I expect he would be pleased at that description.

Although interestingly Simmons and Stanley have been very much in opposition to Trump, certainly in regard to his handling of the Covid crisis.

As far as I was aware Trump and Gene Simmons are buddies.

I think Paul Stanley who is a much less extreme character has been a vocal critic which is probably why Kiss didn't play any Trump events.

EricTheWeary

monquixote said:

Philly_Q said:

monquixote said:

EricTheWeary said:

monquixote said:

The closest I can think of someone who seems to inhabit his rock star persona at all times is Gene Simmons who consequently comes across as a total bell end most of the time.

I’m trying to think of his name but one of the latter guitarists in Kiss launched a sig amp a few years ago. Profits went to a charity. Gene launched a sig bass guitar around the same time, profits went to Gene. Presumably the stand in guitarist is much less of a multi millionaire than Gene is. He doesn’t seem to be able to do anything without reinforcing his Bell endishness. I guess some people like that about him. 

That would be Tommy Thayer.

Gene Simmons kind of reminds me of Donald Trump. I expect he would be pleased at that description.

Although interestingly Simmons and Stanley have been very much in opposition to Trump, certainly in regard to his handling of the Covid crisis.

As far as I was aware Trump and Gene Simmons are buddies.

I think Paul Stanley who is a much less extreme character has been a vocal critic which is probably why Kiss didn't play any Trump events.

Paul Stanley is on the current 9-42 podcast. Fairly short interview but he seemed like a nice, normal bloke really. 

Philly_Q

monquixote said:

Philly_Q said:

monquixote said:

EricTheWeary said:

monquixote said:

The closest I can think of someone who seems to inhabit his rock star persona at all times is Gene Simmons who consequently comes across as a total bell end most of the time.

I’m trying to think of his name but one of the latter guitarists in Kiss launched a sig amp a few years ago. Profits went to a charity. Gene launched a sig bass guitar around the same time, profits went to Gene. Presumably the stand in guitarist is much less of a multi millionaire than Gene is. He doesn’t seem to be able to do anything without reinforcing his Bell endishness. I guess some people like that about him. 

That would be Tommy Thayer.

Gene Simmons kind of reminds me of Donald Trump. I expect he would be pleased at that description.

Although interestingly Simmons and Stanley have been very much in opposition to Trump, certainly in regard to his handling of the Covid crisis.

As far as I was aware Trump and Gene Simmons are buddies.

I think Paul Stanley who is a much less extreme character has been a vocal critic which is probably why Kiss didn't play any Trump events.

Gene certainly appeared on Celebrity Apprentice (as did Dee Snider, I think) and I guess he and Trump were on friendly terms then.  In fact I could easily imagine Gene hosting the Celebrity Apprentice after Trump became President....

He said some positive things about Trump in 2016 but I don't think he actually endorsed him.  And he has definitely changed his tune recently.  He strongly slapped down people alleging electoral fraud, for example.

I'm not sure what I think of Gene.  He's probably not a very nice man and he certainly makes no bones about being in it for the money, but - based on what I've read and seen over the years - I don't actually dislike him.

Emp_Fab

I remember Simmons appearing on Simon Mayo's show once on R2 - I missed the actual interview but laughed for the next half hour as Mayo read out messages from listeners who were all saying what a complete twat Simmons was  

RustySpanner

Aziz Ibrahim - amazing guitarist who happens to be a very decent bloke. 

Jason

EricTheWeary said:

monquixote said:

Philly_Q said:

monquixote said:

EricTheWeary said:

monquixote said:

The closest I can think of someone who seems to inhabit his rock star persona at all times is Gene Simmons who consequently comes across as a total bell end most of the time.

I’m trying to think of his name but one of the latter guitarists in Kiss launched a sig amp a few years ago. Profits went to a charity. Gene launched a sig bass guitar around the same time, profits went to Gene. Presumably the stand in guitarist is much less of a multi millionaire than Gene is. He doesn’t seem to be able to do anything without reinforcing his Bell endishness. I guess some people like that about him. 

That would be Tommy Thayer.

Gene Simmons kind of reminds me of Donald Trump. I expect he would be pleased at that description.

Although interestingly Simmons and Stanley have been very much in opposition to Trump, certainly in regard to his handling of the Covid crisis.

As far as I was aware Trump and Gene Simmons are buddies.

I think Paul Stanley who is a much less extreme character has been a vocal critic which is probably why Kiss didn't play any Trump events.

Paul Stanley is on the current 9-42 podcast. Fairly short interview but he seemed like a nice, normal bloke really. 

Thank you ;-)

I've spoken to them both recently, from my experience Paul is a nice normal bloke, still very much into it for the music and Gene was actually very funny when he dropped his guard.

If you look at it as a business thing, because it is the music business,

Tommy's amp deal with H&K is based off Tommy not being the reason why he is famous. he is a hired gun, he may have been in the band a long time, but he doesn't have the credibility of Bruce Kulick, let alone Ace Frehley. I think he does a good job.

Gene's bass deal is different because

a) they are actually his company making them (well Cort make them under licence) 

b) the reason why anyone would want Gene is because of what he and Paul have as the founders of a hugely successful band.

I'm not an apologist for Gene, as a Kiss fan I've held my head in my hands many times with the things he has said and done, but having met many famous people, they all have personas, they have to or they wouldn't survive.

I watched John Lydon sneer and snarl his way through an interview and then had him really worried about my hayfever, the successful ones know when to use it when to not. Gene keeps Kiss in the news.

P. T. Barnum is credited with famously saying, “Any kind of publicity is good publicity as long as they spell your name right.”

Gene knows this and it works. Both Gene and Paul do a lot for charity, they just don't shout about it. They play good cop bad cop all the time and fifty years on it still works.

Freebird

Most of the people I admire musically always seem to rub me up the wrong way.

monquixote

Philly_Q said:

Gene certainly appeared on Celebrity Apprentice (as did Dee Snider, I think) and I guess he and Trump were on friendly terms then.  In fact I could easily imagine Gene hosting the Celebrity Apprentice after Trump became President....

He said some positive things about Trump in 2016 but I don't think he actually endorsed him.  And he has definitely changed his tune recently.  He strongly slapped down people alleging electoral fraud, for example.

I'm not sure what I think of Gene.  He's probably not a very nice man and he certainly makes no bones about being in it for the money, but - based on what I've read and seen over the years - I don't actually dislike him.

I think Gene Simmons is an interesting one because he is very similar to Trump, but because he's a rock star he's allowed to be very open about spending time with porn stars and largely only caring about his own personal wealth.

I imagine a lot of people in power are much the same as him, but he is just a lot more open about it.

The interesting thing is that he really is a self made man (the son of poverty stricken holocaust survivors) and with the way he masterminded the cartoon persona and merchandising of his band he created a genuinely new business model which is now commonplace (bands making more from merch than record sales) so there is an argument he is a much better business man.

He's certainly not a very likeable man though.

Freebird

I bet Jean Symons is a top bloke when you get to know him.

Neill

I only know pop/rock stars by degrees of separation, I have a good friend who knows Martha Reeves (Martha and the Vandellas) very well and tells me she is the loveliest person with not a hint of the diva about her.  Must admit that's how she came across, in contrast to her contemporary Diana Ross who by all accounts is not a particularly nice character. 

I also used to know a guy who knew Amy Winehouse pretty well and actually predicted her early demise, saying she was even more screwed up than she appeared to be, if that's possible. 

By far the best one though is the drummer I used to know who had been in Joe Brown's backing band.  Joe was a big mate, and neighbour of, George Harrison of course, and one day the band were rehearsing in the studio and in walks George.  He was returning a guitar or something he had borrowed from Joe, and says you are coming to my party next week.. Sure, says Joe, "and you guys are invited too" George says to the rest of the band.  Well my mate reckons George is just being polite but Joe assures him he meant it, in fact George would now be quite upset if they don't turn up.  So, off they go to George's mansion and of course anyone who is anyone is there, and these three journeymen from Brum...  Well as soon as they walk in George makes a beeline for them "Hi guys, really glad you could make it - let me introduce you to Eric..." etc.  My mate has been two feet off the ground ever since, but it shows you can be one of the most famous people on the planet and still be sincere and considerate.

My wife has met Bryan Ferry and thought he was adorable, unlike his girlfriend at the time Jerry Hall, who Mrs Neill described as an "absolute cow".

I also know Roy Wood's cousin and I'm happy to confirm that Roy is just as down to earth as he appears to be (without the make up of course). 

FelineGuitars

My personal gripe is guys who go from "working class hero" with a blue collar socialist agenda to rich rockstar who now embraces right/ far right wing political views which they won't shut up about.

Sadly Gene Simmons is a prime candidate for this and he has killed my lifelong love of Kiss.

I wouldn't begrudge him the fame and money etc as long as he kept his gob shut.

To be fair about Gene , there is another Gene that you can get if you ever meet him - the one is down to earth and a great conversationalist, who wants nothing more than to talk about great rock and roll that he grew up with or comic books etc. My mate Nick got to spend an evening at dinner with him and he was in that mode about 25 years ago.

My liking for him died when he came out in support for Trump amongst other things. 

You do have to be careful when meeting your heroes, as sometimes you may just catch them at the wrong time . 

Met BrianMay a few times and he has always been a gent, although one time he was a bit off but he was in a rush .

Shrews

Ronnie Rogers, guitarist and songwriter from T'Pau, still playing the local circuit with his skiffle band 'The Ronaldos' for the sheer enjoyment, is a sign he's a decent fellow unaffected by a bit of stardom. Has been know to join my friends around the table for a beer, although I've not met him yet.

Carol Decker however is apparently the opposite. I do remember her serving behind a bar in town before they become famous and I was an underage drinker. She had lovely hair!  I also remember being in a pub and a guying asking for an autograph in around 1987 and him getting a mouthful from her and her mates.  Fair enough, she didn't want to be bothered, but there was no need for that. No class!  It wasn't like anyone else was bothering her or there were queues around the block.

Here's Ronnie in The Yorkshire House, Shrewsbury.  You can see him on 1.17 to the left of the screen with his silver hair.  Had a dark, permed mullet back in the day!

Sassafras

Donovan.
If he's to be believed, he invented every type of music since neanderthal man first bashed a hollow tree stump and liked the sound.

prowla

This is a great talk-through of Fish Out Of Water by Chris Squire.

prowla

And Dinner with Rush - the blokes around a table.

chillidoggy

Fame hasn't changed me at all.