2/27: MORE KISS HOF DISCUSSION AND THOUGHTS

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.

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280 Responses

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  • Dave C. on

    I tweeted Gene: Do it for Bill Aucoin! It’s not a tour, or even an entire full show! It’s maybe 3 songs,
    However, got no response!


    • Dwayne Cole on

      yes


  • Jake on

    I am glad they are not performing as Paul would only embarrass himself now that he can not sing anymore. It would have been neat though to see the original members play a few songs without makeup. Oh well, after Gene and Paul declined to play with Ace and Peter I am declining on spending any money on KISS. I just hope the original four at least pose for a picture together.


    • Dwayne Cole on

      I too have noticed Paul has lost his range. He had surgery on his vocal chords after the Sonic Boom tour. Didn’t seem to have a positive effect. Could be, at his age nothing more can be done. They tune a whole step flat now. I think he’s done so much rapping unnecessarily between songs and sang so high for so long, it’s worn his voice out. Just in 2004, he was singing like a bird. Age does catch up with you at some point.


    • John Singer on

      Like age caught up Halford with Vince Neil a decade ago!


  • robert on

    I couldnt agree more with most everything you said. Im going to Barclays, just in case, and theres also Nirvana, Hall&Oates, and Peter Gabriel, so its an important night regardless. Paul is 100% right, there are 16 members of parliament funkadelic!, 12 members of grateful dead, 8 members of RHCP, 8 members of the flamingos? Its really a BIG INSULT to the band theyre inducting (KISS) to not include, Carr, Singer, Thayer, Kulick, etc, but 16 members of funkadelic are in!!!

    Personally I support old kiss and current kiss. Saw kiss 3 times last 2 tours, and acesolo 3 times recently in NYC.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame_inductees


    • Dwayne Cole on

      At least you get 2 albums instead of just one.


  • Ian on

    I fully agree with this. Definitely a fair assessment. There is so much more I’d love to know about what’s going on with all sides. What are they thinking now after the fan reaction to the no performance announcement? I’d love for these guys to show up on TMS to set it straight. Even if Tommy and Eric would come on it would be great to hear from a current member of the band.


  • Rockmonster on

    Gene and Paul need to step up for the fans for 3 or 4 songs with full gear with Ace and Peter. Eric and Tommy can be there in street clothes……..but the four original guys are the ones that worked night after night in that loft in NYC in the early 70’s to give birth to the hottest band in the world. Three or Four songs would not hurt the current version of KISS. All fans know who all the men in the band are and look like. So I say they pay homage to the ORIGINALS for a 15 minute set and do it with class.


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