10/29: MY TAKE ON KISS, THE HALL, ACE & PETER, AND MORE.

I’ve seen SO many comments about Ace & Peter reuniting at my party, Kiss (as usual), the R&R Hall and Gene’s comments about Ace & Peter not playing, and more. Last night on the radio show had MANY calls on the topic with many opinions. I welcome all opinions as usual if based in some level of reality and not just blind worshipers one way or the other that drink the Kool Aid they are served. The biggest question I have heard from many is why would Gene & Paul (Gene most recently) continue to talk about what fuck ups these guys are (he hasn’t played with them in over ten years), talk about them being drunk or on drugs (both have been sober for many years now), and say they can’t play at a Hall induction when Kiss has not even been inducted yet (no matter how you feel, that is just INSANE!). The answer is simple. Gene is the ultimate salesman. He prides himself on this, that is no secret. His job is to sell THIS Kiss. Just like it was to sell all the other lineups when that was happening. Explains why he will tell you THIS Kiss is bigger than anything, when in reality they CO HEADLINE tours with Motley Crue instead of HEADLINING arenas in the US. Explains why he takes subtle shots about Ace & Peter doing signing shows, when he and Paul sell signed played guitars to fans after shows. Not a huge difference from what I see? But it’s about selling whatever he is doing and Kiss is doing now, which will soon be a sanctioned Kiss tribute with no original members. And who knows, that might be a pretty good band. Many will say the same old “Eddie is just backing up his friends, only cares about the original band”. Yes Ace & Peter are friends and did an amazing thing playing together for me recently. But I’m more just trying to offer some balance and objectivity as a lifelong Kiss fan myself, who HAS supported and loved all the replacement members and lineups. I simply chose not to support what they have been doing lately because the impersonation rubs me (and MANY others who won’t say it) the wrong way. That’s my huge sin to some I guess, so be it.

The real reason these barbs in the press from them continue at Ace & Peter is because they know the avalanche that would happen if they ever played with them again from fans and the media. Example? I was at the 1996 MTV Unplugged taping. Then they were all about the non makeup lineup with Singer and Kulick. That’s what they were selling then. When Ace & Peter came out for a brief appearance on a couple songs the entire crowd went nuts. From the second they stepped on that stage the electricity was insane, and they knew they had no choice but to go back to that band no matter how hard they were selling the Singer/Kulick band and about to release a new album with them. I felt a very similar energy in the crowd when Ace & Peter walked out on stage together at my event last Wednesday, right down to the ear to ear smiles from every fan and musician in the building! So I see it as a big defense mechanism by Gene & Paul. They know another reunion, even for a song, would ignite a huge fire once again. For the record I do NOT think there should be another original Kiss reunion. For a couple songs at a long overdue Hall induction, for sure! But for a tour, no way. I don’t think ANY of the original members could deliver enough of a high energy show to do the legacy justice at this stage. As I have said MANY times the current Kiss can and should do whatever they want. The fact that it’s not for me doesn’t matter. If you are cool with it enjoy what’s left of it. But the idea of the original band FINALLY getting into the Hall (and I must stress they were nominated before and passed over once already, so NOT a done deal!) and Ace & Peter not being invited and welcome to at least play a song or two would be a travesty to even the most hardcore Kiss fan. I look forward to your comments.

173 Responses

  1. I am not a big Kiss fan, but if they get inducted into the hall – All original members should be invited to attend and play…..its a joke if all members are not included!

  2. Eddie, I agree with you. Gene has made a huge mistake with their fan base or should I say their “bosses”. It’ s an abomination not to have the original four play at the Jann Weiner Rock and Roll Hall of Fame if elected. I have been a fan as long as you and have accepted a lot of nonsense from this band , while waving the Kiss Army flag. But if this goes down that way and Ace and Peter are not invited to play, I am done as a Kiss fan. Not to mention, let’s be human and support two individuals who have been clean and sober for a long time. What a disgrace!

  3. We all saw the train wreck that was the Van Halen induction into the RRHOF. As a huge KISS fan, I can only hope Gene and Paul do the right thing if and when they are inducted – and get Ace and Peter up on stage to play one song. It’s really a no-brainer. Doc McGhee needs to tell Gene just to shut up for once and let this thing play out. For someone who always talks about how they give the fans what they want, this is the one time when the universe wants to see the original band together one last time.

  4. You’re spot on with everything here, Ed.
    When I grew up, the thing was to dress up as a KISS member for Halloween. At least, for me it was.
    One year I was ACE the following year I was Pete. Note, I said ACE and PETER. Not “The Cat Man” or “Space ACE”.
    Even at that young of an age, for me, I worshiped Peter as a drummer and who else hasn’t stood up on on the arms of their couch imagining they’re ACE playing a guitar solo with a tennis racket?
    That band, back then, was my introduction into Rock and Roll and for many years I loved ACE as a guitarist and PETER as a drummer.
    I loved KISS back then but over the years of course, I’ve outgrown them but have never outgrown how much excited I was as a kid to see ACE and PETER play when I saw them at their Dynasty tour.
    I hate how GENE downplays those early days and now shovels so much crap on ACE and PETER. He completely disregards how huge amounts of their fanbase loved those guys.

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