The iconic guitarist Gene Simmons thought had a “limited range”
The Grateful Dead have a legacy of mythic proportions and a fanbase to match. The same could be said about the late Jerry Garcia, the lead guitarist/singer who constantly pushed the band to new frontiers as they spun magic out of their instruments, helping cultivate their genre-spanning sound. For some, Garcia is a legend, but for Gene Simmons, he had a “limited range”.
Garcia, often called the band’s frontman (though he did not self-identify as such), is considered one of the most influential guitarists in rock music history. He is celebrated for his unique style that blends several genres, like blues and jazz, with rock and folk, and his improvisational brilliance when playing live. As the Dead’s lead guitarist, his live solos, each a spontaneous exploration of the original compositions, became a key characteristic of the Dead’s live legacy, which continues to inspire musicians to this day.
However, according to Simmons, Garcia had “a limited range in his playing ability.” In a recent interview with Forbes, the Kiss bassist and vocalist was asked to revisit previous statements he had made about the Grateful Dead while appearing on Dean Delray’s Let There Be Talk podcast in 2022.
During the podcast, Simmons seemed frustrated at the Grateful Dead’s inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, saying he thought they were “not cool” and musing that seeing them live was “the biggest snore I’ve ever seen”. Asked in the more recent interview if he would change his mind after experiencing a show at The Sphere in Las Vegas, where Dead and Company (the band’s latest iteration featuring John Mayer) had a 30-show residency, Simmons did not sound impressed.
Reiterating the Dead were never his favourite band, Simmons acknowledged that the Dead were fortunate enough to create a culture around their work, which extends far beyond the music itself. He was, of course, referring to the band’s close-knit network of fans, also known as the Deadheads, which is bound together by a strong sense of community and a common lifestyle which, as he pointed out, includes getting high. Fans will travel together, following the band, and have been encouraged to record the live shows, the tapes becoming a valuable currency.
What differentiates the Dead’s culture from other musical fandoms is that its appeal lies in communal experience rather than musical sophistication, Simmons explained. The reason they used to fill stadiums was that the same ideals bound them together. “It was about not dressing up, not being like rock stars,” he said.
Even though the Dead were clearly not his cup of tea, Simmons admitted that what they created was “extraordinary” and “rare”. The band itself was born out of the 1960s counterculture, promoting ideals of peace, love, and community, which resonated with members of that generation. At its helm, Garcia became a symbol of this lifestyle and his generation’s creative expression.
