Well it has finally happened and Kiss is in the R&R Hall Of Fame. In recent years we have seen Alice Cooper, Rush, Heart finally go in. Hell if this keeps up I may not have much more to scream about. Not to worry though, still TONS of bands snubbed, including the inexplicable continued snubbing of Deep Purple, which sadly continued for this year. But for 15 years Kiss was ignored, and finally they couldn’t ignore them anymore. Make no mistake, there are many in the Hall voting panel miserable this is happening. But it HAD to happen. Not for the right reasons of music, influence, ground breaking performance etc, but for the economics. The Hall needs fans of major bands finally in Cleveland selling tickets to that museum. So the elitists who tried to keep Kiss out all these years had to fold because they need bands like Kiss and Rush because they need the fan interest those bands bring! The president of the Hall was on my radio show a couple years ago and agreed that is a concern. Laura Nyro isn’t moving tickets in Cleveland!
I’ve heard many people say “I hope Gene and Paul let Ace and Peter come”. That is not the way this works. They don’t control this, the Hall does. The Hall is inducting the original four members only. So they will all be invited and able to speak that night. Where the questions come in is who plays? Of course the hope for any Kiss fan is the original band does at least a song or two. Ace and Peter patched up their own issues at my radio party just a couple months ago and also played together. So nobody can say they are incapable of a couple songs as the original four. The question is will Gene and Paul agree to play with the original band? They have spent more than the last 10 years pushing the current band and slinging barbs at times at Ace and Peter. Can they bury these issues and make it work at least for a night? The problem is the enormity of the four of them on stage together will once again completely undo all the work they have done selling the current version of the band to some degree. Make no mistake, I was at the MTV unplugged, when these guys appear together it will be an avalanche from the fans in terms of reaction. So the question comes into play in the performance area. Do they all play together? Do Gene and Paul try and crowbar in the current band to play? Do Ace and Peter not play if that’s the case? Do they wear makeup? In the past many scenarios have played out with the performance portion. From more than one lineup playing, to no performance by the band at all. So anything can happen in this area and this is where the negotiation comes in and things can get dicey. They could also opt to not play and have a tribute of some sorts perform. But the original four guys will be there and be inducted. The playing is all still TBD. Back in 2006 at a VH1 show I worked on Gene and Paul refused to let Ace and Peter play with them at Rock Honors. It resulted in Peter not attending and Ace in a strange scenario playing with the tribute to Kiss while Tommy performed with Kiss dressed as Ace! But this is the Hall and much bigger and HAS to be done right and respectfully for all four members and most importantly US the FANS! So let’s see what ends up unfolding as the discussions will begin between the various camps very soon.
Another thing, the decision to only include the original 4. I understand the decision. I loved Eric Carr, and I am fully aware of the major contribution in KISStory by many key members. But if you don’t cut it at the original guys only then you have to put everyone that was ever in the band in. So in my view it’s the originals (which it is) or everyone (which it is not). If you extend beyond the original 4 how can you then not also include Eric Singer, who has been in the band a long time, or Bruce Kulick, or even Vinnie who had a huge role in writing key comeback albums? So it’s either all of them or just the founding members, and the Hall is only inducting Ace, Peter, Gene & Paul. Hopefully there will at least be a verbal acknowledgement of what the other guys have contributed. To me they should all four accept together, do a couple songs with the original four (after all, this honor is all about them) and then maybe jam a song with some of the Kiss super fans from other bands. I am NOT lobbying for any reunion full time here. As a matter of fact I think this would be a good time for Kiss to finally retire. Go in the Hall with the guys that started it, and everyone go on to solo stuff and other things. To me it would be a great way to end and put a button on a remarkable career ending in the Hall with the same four that started it. But that’s just my take. I’m sure Gene sees way too many business deals still left to keep dragging some version of Kiss through the mill. But Gene and Paul own the entity known as Kiss, kept it alive, and are within their right to do what they want regardless if I like it or not. I just think it would be a great way to go out. Like a football player winning the Super Bowl and then retiring.
So much more to come on this, but at least, FINALLY, Kiss is in! I’ve had many tweets and emails from fans thanking me for being so vocal about this for so many years on radio and TV. Not saying for a minute I played a role in Kiss, Rush or Alice going in, but I appreciate those that have sent those notes of thanks for bringing awareness to this insane injustice. I assure you many in the mainstream woke up today saying “Kiss, you mean they weren’t in that already?” Kiss was my gateway band into rock music. Regardless of my feelings about what they have done in recent years I have and always will be a Kiss fan. I think being a fan is about debating and liking different eras more than others and being able to voice those opinions. I was the guy made fun of in high school by so many for liking Kiss. I was in high school from ’79-’82, trust me, NO band was more uncool than Kiss then! Many fellow fans know of that struggle haha! So no matter what era of Kiss you were into let’s all celebrate this great overdue moment! I spoke to Ace last night and also Peter’s wife Gigi (Peter was sleeping when the news broke) and Peter himself just a couple minutes ago. Obviously all are excited and still learning how this will all go down. My annual KISSmas Special, which I have been doing since 1990, will take place live this Friday night from 11P-2A ET on Q104.3 NYC. My 23rd year celebrating all Kiss around Christmas and this year will be extra special no doubt. Ace will call in live to discuss the Hall. Also how fitting is this that this year the event is happening in Brooklyn open to the public? Especially for Peter! All respect to the other honorees but this thing is going to be all about Kiss as it should be, and I suspect the fans will let certain parties know how they feel about waiting 15 years that night. Congratulations to Ace, Peter, Gene & Paul, and to the fellow Kiss fans out there our day has finally come, so congrats to you as well. See you on the radio Friday night to celebrate KISSmas and see you in Brooklyn in April!
This just in, Rolling Stone story with Gene. They mention me and TMS. Gene clearly caught off guard because it is a ridiculous excuse for not doing TMS!
187 Responses
Eddie, Will you respond to what Gene just said about YOU in the Rolling Stone piece on the Merry Kissmas show?
I’ll respond right now. I’ll change the name for him if he wants to come on for that episode! He was clearly caught off guard and didn’t know what to say. Hysterical actually! And since he is pushing how “live” Kiss is I assume that means he will credit the off stage musicians they have had playing with them live for decades? Don’t get me wrong. I respect they are all really playing, but they have had hidden help for decades. He thinks TMS is so unimportant? It’s his FANS that wants to see him on it. And if so irrelevant why is ROLLING STONE bringing it up! Priceless.
Thanks for the reply, Eddie. I’m looking forward to the Merry Kissmass show this year. I hope it is live and there will be a lot of discussion of Kiss related topics and current events.
So, you write comments like this and keep wondering why you have no respect from certain artists like Gene, Paul, Ozzy, and James..etc. You can not expect to talk such elicit trash about people in print or on air and then expect them to consider wanting to be berated on your show with similar sentiments. Knowing a few of the aforementioned musicians, I think a public apology may gain you more respect and camaraderie than you realize. Bottom line, if you keep acting like a resentful and scorned little school boy..you will keep being treated like that. Take some inventory of your actions and maybe you will restore some of these relationships that you have managed to squander away!
Sincerely
An “Old” Friend
Trash? Wow, what did you just read? AMAZING the hyper sensitive few that can’t handle OPINIONS and objectivity. Same people that discount all the positives and dwell on one or two negatives… Weird how Kiss is the only band you can’t have a debate about without being thrown off the reservation by some..
So, as you can see from TT’s twitter..they haven’t used off stage help in years and you are just spreading more lies. Get it together and issue a formal apology for your erroneous remarks sir.
Really? Where did I say they did now? I don’t know what they do now because I don’t go see them. I spoke about Derek Sherninan and Gary Corbett, who I know for a FACT did it in the 80’s and beyond. Again, your assumptions and time line, not mine! But feel free to pick apart only the lines that can cause issues like everyone else instead of the context of the actual post! Attack attack attack mentality, pretty sad.
As musician help offstage you mean keyboards behind stage and maybe some more rhythm guitar work behind stage as well?
And vocals, yes
Not sure if you saw how I responded to that jibe from Gene – “not important”? Disingenuous at best. 8 seasons and a worldwide audience on VH1 Classic should qualify any show as having some weight and worth. The man is being a stubborn snot on this one. I predict he’ll cave eventually. Oh, and btw, the Reality Check TV bit you did with me at NAMM 2013 is finally done (sorry it took so long, but we tend to churn out our material chronologically, and we were backlogged!) – here it is: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151742890651364
12 Seasons, soon to be 13. Gene can do whatever he wants of course, there are more underlying reasons and pressure I suspect to stay away.. Thanks
As much as this 37 year KISS fan would love to see it, I doubt it will just be Gene, Paul ,Peter & Ace playing together. They’ll probably (much like Unplugged) just jam, with the current line-up backing them up, without makeup. This will satisfy Gene & Paul’s need to promote the current line-up and also help bolster the sound.( I’m thinking maybe Peter’s lost some of his chops over the years. ) Un-like Van Halen, as long as they all show up, and play together in some capacity, I’ll be happy. Congratulations for a long over due, and much deserved honor!!
Let’s just hope the induction does not turn into the embarrassment that was the Van Halen & Guns N Roses induction. For the sake of the fans that got them there!
OK, you say the original 4. Then how can you explain Sammy Hagar’s inclusion when Van Halen was inducted in the HOF?
The guy was on as many albums as DLR and had HUGE hits and success as the singer and front man with that band, a little different. Dio didn’t go with Sabbath
Thaks Eddie for clearing that up. Was a tad confused on that.
Actually, before they were inducted, Sammy only did four studio albums with VH, whereas Dave did six. If you count A Different Kind Of Truth which came out after the induction, that brings the totals up to Dave – 7, Sammy – 4. Also, it’s a fact that they sold more records with Dave. They had more chart success with Sammy (every Sammy LP went to #1 and they never had a #1 LP with Dave), but their best-selling albums were with Dave (the first one and 1984), both selling in excess of 10 million each. No Sammy-era VH album ever sold that much (I think 5150 came closest, at 6 or 7 million). You are right that the Sabbath percentage gap is much wider between Ozzy and Dio albums, though. On a personal note, I like Dio a little more than Ozzy, but strongly prefer Dave to Sammy (I’m sure Sammy’s a really nice guy, I just don’t care for most of his songwriting). And now, back to the subject at hand, namely Kiss: Eddie, while I occasionally disagree with your opinions on VH, I agree with EVERYTHING I’ve ever heard you say about Kiss, my all-time favorite band. Your interview on Three Sides Of The Coin was the best discussion on the band I’ve ever heard.
Here are the official Fan Poll results. Kiss only just beat Nirvana in the end. But the top 5 each got 1 vote.
http://www.rockhall.com/get-involved/interact/poll/
My 2 cents is, the original 4 get up and do their speeches and play a couple of songs without makeup.
And every past member, all the way from the wicked lester days to the current impostors, should get a mention and a thanks in the speech. All of these surviving people, you would hope, will also get invited to the occasion too, just like Metallica did with their former members.
Maybe Vinnie will jump up and start a fight? Add some more drama to this fiasco.