Gene Simmons recently shared a surprising critique about Led Zeppelin’s bassist, John Paul Jones, making it clear that Jones’s contributions left little impact on him. Despite Jones’s role in one of the most iconic rock bands, Simmons admitted he could barely recall his bass lines.
The KISS bassist went on to add that while he thought Jones was talented, the problem lay in his sound. According to Simmons, Jones’s bass lines often went unnoticed, drowned out by the rest of the band’s heavy instrumentation.
With Simmons’ reputation for blunt opinions, his comments about Jones are stirring up discussions among fans.
Simmons’ Surprising Praise and Critique of Other Bassists
Simmons recently shared his thoughts on Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood, offering surprising praise—not for Wood’s guitar skills, but for his bass playing. Simmons described Wood’s bass work as “superb” and even suggested he shines more on bass than guitar.
However, Simmons had a different take on Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones. He acknowledged Jones as a talented bassist but felt his sound was lacking in clarity and prominence.
Simmons described Jones’s tone as “muffled” and more suited for R&B, making it hard for him to remember any specific bass lines.
Simmons on Ronnie Wood’s Bass Skills and His Love for Zeppelin’s Riffs
Simmons also highlighted Ronnie Wood’s bass playing on Jeff Beck’s Truth album, pointing out how Wood’s style stood out to him. Simmons praised Wood’s unique tone, which he described as a blend of bass and guitar—a sound that left a lasting impression on him.
In contrast, when it comes to Led Zeppelin, Simmons tends to focus more on the band’s explosive energy than on individual bass lines. He’s particularly a fan of “Communication Breakdown,” which he described as having a “machine gun riff” that instantly grabbed his attention.
Simmons’ remarks reveal his admiration for powerful, memorable sounds in rock, whether it’s Wood’s distinctive bass or Zeppelin’s heavy-hitting riffs.
On Bass Virtuosity and the Roots of Zeppelin’s Sound
Earlier this month, Gene Simmons opened up about his views on Flea, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist, offering some mixed opinions. While he acknowledged Flea’s skill, he criticized music that seems designed mainly to showcase technical ability. For Simmons, crafting a simple, memorable song or riff is the real challenge.
Simmons also expressed his general disinterest in bass techniques like slapping, often associated with jazz and funk players like Flea. Despite Flea’s talent, Simmons admitted he couldn’t recall any of his bass lines and wasn’t a fan of the slapped bass sound.
Interestingly, Simmons suggested that Led Zeppelin’s sound drew inspiration from The Jeff Beck Group. In a 2023 interview, he credited Jeff Beck as a versatile guitarist and implied that Beck’s influence helped shape Zeppelin’s style and overall vibe.