Been doing press all day for That Metal Show and almost everyone is bringing up the Kiss HOF stuff with me. It is no doubt the story of the week and since it broke on my show last Friday when Ace called in many are discussing it with me. It’s interesting to hear everyone’s take on all of this. It’s also been interesting reading everyone’s comments here on this site and the loads of email about it. I get and understand ALL sides of this. People who actually take the time to fully listen to and read what I say realize there is no agenda here but being a fan and giving MY opinion when asked. I respect yours even if it differs from mine. Just like I respect your decision to go see the current version of Kiss, even if I decided a while ago it’s not for me. There is SO much misinformation out there. Not only about what I say and feel (anything positive doesn’t make a good headline) but about the whole HOF process to begin with. In a nutshell I think this whole thing again comes down to Gene and Paul not wanting to go down reunion road with Ace and Peter at all, and not wanting to open a huge can of worms like the MTV Unplugged. Again, I was there, once Ace and Peter came out for two songs it was a reunion avalanche they could not go away from. When you spend 12 years telling people (believe it or not) it doesn’t matter who is behind the makeup, you can’t bring Ace and Peter out and get a huge reaction and remind everyone it does matter! Eventually Kiss wil be a franchise with no original members in those personas. That is where this is all heading. Going back to the original band hurts selling that concept and is bad for the current Kiss business model. I don’t believe it is any real hate against Ace and Peter, it is just a bad business decision and we all know Kiss knows business! I don’t agree with this decision, but get it from a marketing standpoint.
There has also been a familiar cry from Ace and Peter detractors that “they had their chance, they fucked it up”. True, they will be the first to tell you they are far from innocent in their conduct at times while a member of the band. But what exactly does that have to do with now? NOBODY wants a reunion tour again. I sure don’t! Nobody can go forever. But it seems the past keeps getting thrown out there as a reason for the HOF issue. Why? It has nothing to do with the fact that the original four guys are the ones being inducted and a song or two is all anyone is looking for one night only. Nobody is also mentioning that these guys have been clean and sober for many years now. People change with time. A couple songs would have only damaged one thing, the current Kiss marketing plans. And I GET THAT. If I was trying to sell what was coming and owned the business of Kiss like Gene and Paul do I can’t say I would feel different from a BUSINESS angle. But we were always told the fans were the boss with Kiss. And no denying the MAJORITY of the fans who fought so long and hard to see this day are upset. But I still feel no performance in this instance (because the HOF decided only the original four are going in) is better than a current band performance which you can see any time you want pretty much.
I am curious if they all show up. To me it’s clear if you read the recent interview that Paul is annoyed with the whole process (rightfully so), the fact they were snubbed for 15 years, and the fact the HOF is ignoring other members for induction (again, the case can be made rightfully so). But most artists who complain about it still end up showing up. Axl Rose didn’t. he knew it was all a play for a reunion if even for a photo op and stayed away. I honestly don’t think the HOF cares that much if Kiss plays. Getting them in the same room together is a victory enough for them. Now we wait and see what happens next. Do all four guys show? What does the HOF put on since there is no performance from the band? Is there so much fan pressure that a last minute performance gets pulled together? One more thing; fans did not get Kiss in the HOF through voting. It’s a nice thought and the fans being so vocal about it helped sway voters, but the actual fan vote is minimal and can not alone get a band in. If it did bands like Kiss, Rush and Alice Cooper would not have been snubbed over a decade! If the HOF would have put Kiss in when they were first eligible in 1999 none of this would be happening, because the original band was still together then from the reunion! And we all know the fact that Kiss, like them or not, should have gone in first time eligible, NOT 15 years later! More soon no doubt.. Again, ALL opinions welcome here as always.
280 Responses
Stanley tells the LA Times: “Imagine getting on stage and playing with a line-up that does not exist.” He compares the situation to being forced to reunite with a former spouse.
He adds that he’d still be happy for Frehley and Criss to take part in the actual induction – but he’ll accept no argument that current members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer should not be there too. “The naysayers talk about Tommy or Eric being impostors,” Stanley says. “I think an impostor is a guy up there doing it for a pay cheque.”
Hmmm…Tommy and Eric are doing this for a pay cheque. Which means, that Paul indirectly admits, that Tommy and Eric are actually impostors……right?
Some idiots said for Paul and Gene to kiss Ace and Peter’s ass. Those idiots forget Paul and Gene kept the KISS banner flying when Ace and Peter abandoned the band, their make up designs, and the fans. Ace and Peter… Notice how the bitch when their solo careers that they wanted so badly, are doing poorly? They need to kiss Paul and Gene’s ass, because if they did not keep the KISS brand going, no one would even know who Ace Frehley and Peter Criss were!
As a KISS fan since the very beginning, I am torn on all of this. While I understand (sorta) the HOF wanting the original 4 since that was the version that put KISS on the map, I also firmly believe other members (Namely Eric Carr, Bruce, Mark, Tommy and Eric Singer….Vinnie was never a player, so to speak, in the game) should at least get an honorable mention. To me, this HOF is a sham….it’s not about who deserves to be there as much as it is about who licks enough boots, kisses enough ass, and polishes enough sacks to appease the panel that decides who gets in and who doesn’t…I mean C’mon!!! Grand Master Flash?!?!?!? Madonna?!?!?!?!?!?! Run DMC?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? And it took KISS 15 years to get in…Honestly I think Gene & Paul should show up and when announced walk up and say “Thanks but no thanks!!” They need this bullshit award to legitimize what KISS is to those of us in the R&R community who KNOW they are icons!!
It’s mainly what the HoF wants and that’s all four original members performing together. Problem here is that Paul and Gene turned it down and wanted Tommy and Eric. Good thing HoF didn’t budge and I don’t blame Ace for doing what he did when he called your show to break the news about the original lineup not performing. I wonder if he was trying to spare KISS fans from being deceived. 2 spacemen and 2 catmen together? Uh-uh!! There can only be one set of KISS in makeup at a time.
first concert kiss 1976 uria heep opened,with that said,there would be no band succes without,ace this guy for me was the best musician in the band the band shoud go in all original and be done with it. eddie i have been to 58 concerts since kiss show in buffalo most good bands from 70s early 80s i have every ticket stub backstage passes.lets write abook about the best bands ever.
Kirk, I’m currently writing a book, and may want to include some photos of your ticket stubs. Shoot me an email when you get a chance: [email protected]