The last 24 hours or so have been pretty cool following the announcement Kiss has finally made the R&R Hall. I want to thank the many fans that have reached out to me and said thanks for pushing for this so many years. I’m not for a minute taking credit for it, but it is nice to see progress being made after so many years of disrespect and ignoring not only Kiss, but Alice and Rush who also recently finally went in. If my ranting on TV and radio for the last decade has helped push this along it’s nice to know many feel it had an impact. For those that don’t know the back story, the president of the Hall became so aware of how outspoken I had been about these bands he actually came on my radio show a couple years ago to discuss it all. I was even thrown directly into the discussion yesterday when Andy Greene from Rolling Stone brought my name up to Gene in an interview with him (link in my news section). It’s nice to know so many have associated my voice with this happening and I appreciate it and I’m just glad for all the fellow Kiss fans it’s now a reality. We have waited far too long and if it all indeed did play a role and help, great! Most important 15 years of injustice will come to an end (even though it will always bother me how they made bands like Kiss, Alice and Rush wait, while Nirvana and Guns go first time!). One other thing about the RS story, Gene must have been clearly caught off guard when the writer asked him about me and why he won’t come on TMS, because it was an absurd explanation that barely made sense! Hand gestures? Not heavy metal? (we are rock and metal, didn’t bother Heart, Paul Rodgers, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, etc). As always my door remains open to Gene and Paul. Their FANS want to see and hear them on my shows, because they want informed objective discussion on platforms with people who truly know the band and history. Paul plays a much larger role in Gene not coming on than anyone thinks. He of course is also more than welcome and I congratulate them both on the induction. Being a fan of anything should allow you to discuss what you like and don’t like in a bands history. I have and always will do that and respect other views as well.
Now that Kiss is in my comments section on my site, twitter and email have exploded with questions and comments. It’s been all good stuff and appreciate all opinions. What’s important to note is that many of the questions people are asking are simply not decided yet. Only yesterday did the band learn they were in. The Hall selected only the original band to be inducted. That does not mean however that other members may not be involved or represented on stage. But Ace, Peter, Gene and Paul are the ones actually being inducted. I would fully expect some acknowledgment (as there should be) and maybe even some performance that includes others. Again, this is where the negotiations come in over the next couple months, and honestly where things can get nasty with bands and the Hall and how things go down. But at the very least the original 4 will be there by all indications and all seem open to a song or two, at least as of now. I fully expect Gene and Paul to push for Eric & Tommy to be involved somehow. If that’s the case I surely hope Bruce and Vinnie are offered a role and proper acknowledgement of Eric Carr and Mark St. John are presented. Which leads me to my point about all or none. To me the Hall would have had to induct everyone from Kiss. Or just the originals which they have decided. So since this night is about the four guys that started it all I would keep it at just that. Of course Gene and Paul can mention the others by name, even have them there. But once the playing starts getting mixed in then it could get weird and hard feelings can come into play. Especially if makeup is involved, which we do not know yet. So there is still much to be worked out. You have three separate camps here; Peter, Ace, Gene/Paul. And no doubt 3 different views on what should happen. More info as it comes available, but let’s hope it all plays out in the best and most respectful way possible for the band and the fans. We have all waited too long for this!
My annual KISSmas special is this Friday 11P-2A ET on Q104.3 NYC. You can listen outside NYC area via the iHeartradio app or at www.q1043.com Rules of streaming and it’s access controlled by the station not me. This show also airs the following weekend on all affiliates. Ace Frehley will call in live! All Kiss music, all eras as usual.
130 Responses
Good point, but never credited. That’s why I say either all, or just originals. And the HALL decided originals only
its how it works the hall starts with the original band, but then the band is asked anyone else, even managers can get in.
Eddie
You have been a very personal advocate of Frehley over the years. Do you think Paul was just a little sick of the bashing and your personal connection to Ace to not be bothered with this show? It alaways seemed like the show was a platform for Frehley more than anything and for you two to rip into Gene and Paul at varying stages. He might just think “ahh he’s Ace;s fucking mate…why bother”.
I would imagine he’s a fairly stubborn guy and doesnt really need to do your show I guess. Also, I read somewhere that “That Metal Show” did not have a very large viewership ( I watch it online myself of course) and this might not interest Gene and Paul in terms of media coverage for that simple reason as there is no real gain for them to do it and more for “your” show to put them in the hot seat over all the personal inner workings you might know about from your friendship with Ace??
SO dumb the whole “friendship with Ace” rap! It is SO baseless as my history supporting ALL versions of Kiss proves the last 30 years. But it’s the convenient tag line. Didn’t bother Bruce Kulick when we had him on the show! Why would I do that if I was such an Ace guy and so against all the other versions? As for “low viewership”. You don’t stay on TV more than 5 years and do over 100 episodes of a show with low viewers. It certainly isn’t American Idol or regular network numbers by any stretch! But it IS a global show that ROCK MUSIC FANS respond to and support. As a result bands see a direct impact on sales when they appear. Unlike a mainstream show when a small portion of the viewers may care about a rock act being on, all the people that watch TMS live rock and we are proud to be an avenue for the many that choose to come on. I can’t help if viewers only hear from Ace or Peter if the others choose not to be on.
Well, let’s be clear. We are talking about VH-1 Classic viewership, not major network viewership. If you had your viewership numbers on a major network, the show would have been cancelled after one season.
Paul just tweeted today and it’s on KISS FB
Gotta laugh. Some people want to seem important by talking like they know what we’ll be doing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. THEY KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! – Paul Stanley
We’ll see who gets inducted……………………………………………… I’ll guess it’s what the Peppers did and everyone goes.
Who goes and who gets inducted two different things. Gilby played with Guns but was not inducted. And if Paul was referring to me clearly he hasn’t been reading my posts too completely. Seems to be confused between “knows what’s going on” and fans having fun discussing and speculating on scenarios. Not to mention what I say in my latest post. But I appreciate him as always reading my site, as I know for a fact he has in the past. And I congratulate him on the long overdue induction.
Trunk, you really come across like a pompous ass. That’s why Paul doesn’t like you. You are no one compared to these rock stars.
Hysterical you call me a pompous ass but then defend Gene and Paul? And when did i EVER say I was more important than anyone?? You seem to be formulating opinions based on no knowledge whatsoever. And if Paul doesn’t like me that’s fine, but the real reason is because I have an OPINION and don’t buy every single thing hook line and sinker and ask relevant questions. Oh, and thank you for being so engaged in my world and website. Clearly you love this “pompous ass” enough to be on my site.
Eddie – you were instrumental in getting KISS and Rush into thd hall…Be sure to keep th fight going strong for Deep Purple. They should have been inducted years ago and keeping them out is a travesty. Im sure with your help they stand a good chance on being voted in next year. And while on the topic of DP – any chance of getting Blackmore and other band members on the show? THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE…Anyway, thanks for all you do and if u need another cohost shoot me an email….
Thanks for your comments. I have no idea if I played a role in any band going into the HOF, just happy I have a platform to expose the injustice. Purple should have been in 20 years ago and move into the #1 snub spot for sure! Blackmore won’t do interviews that discuss Rainbow or Purple sadly.
I’m an odd ball KISS fan I guess.
1. Paul is my favorite and I love his intros in guitar
2. Ace is way better than he gets credit for to me. Rocket Ride, Shock Me, Strange Ways, and Cold Gin are in my Top 10 KISS songs. I wish I could hear Rocket Ride and Strange Ways live from KISS
3. Gene is a better bassist/ vocalist than he’s ever got credit for. I love his tone. I love his pick style. I think his harmony is very underrated.
4. Peter vocals are my fav and I like his style of drumming as I do Eric Carr’s in a different way. Eric Singer is one of my favorite vocalist in any band.
5. Peter and Ace were in a bad way when they left and probably didn’t give their best to KISS. See number 11.
6. I like Vinnie Vincent and wish he was more public
7. I wish I’d heard more Mark St. John solos
8. I think Bruce Kulick is awesome and love Revenge and his version of Ace’s solos.
9. Eric Singer might be one of my favorite musicians in any band.
10. I think Tommy Thayer is a real Gentlemen. He is a great Ace and Ace should be flattered Paul and Gene want him to be Ace. I think Ace is flattered and it doesn’t bother him like it does some.
11. I absolutely love Eddie Trunk! You are one of Rock Music’s greatest cheerleaders. You are great for KISS and I think you needs more respect from all KISS fans. I disagree with you on your thoughts on Ace and Peter’s character being used by Tommy and Eric, but who agrees on everything? I wish that Peter and Ace could make appearances with KISS like Izzy Stradlin does with gnr. They could have two drummers like the Some of my fav 70s band.
12. One of my favorite KISS moments is when during MTV’s unplugged, Ace told the crowd during Reunion Chants, that Bruce and Eric were part of the family. I want all things KISS to love each other because I have to defend them to people who all the time say they aren’t a good band, just a good circus who faked a live album. They only know rock n roll all night and heard that they are like milli vanilli. Any KISS fan knows this is far from the truth and they play their butts off and have a lot of great material that should’ve got radio play just as Led Zeppelin. I love when Gene says Rock is drums and guitars. When you come to see KISS, you get 4 guys playing their hearts out, nobody under the stage. When Paul has vocal issues, he still gives you Paul and I love him for it. Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Chuck Berry put themselves out there like that too. The good and the not so good but its real. I hope Gene, Paul, Ace, Peter, Vinnie, Bruce, Eric, Tommy, Eddie Trunk, KISS Army, and myself put our difference aside, and celebrate all things KISS. I want Gene and Paul to go on TMS and embrace it along with their fans. Lets face it, many if the guest are huge KISS fans. Vinnie Paul, Sebastian Bach, Scott Ian, Michael Sweet, etc.