As I have said consistently since the announcement that Kiss will be going into the HOF, now is when much of the discussion and negotiation on what goes down starts to happen. You have what Ace and Peter want, what Gene & Paul want, and what the HOF itself wants to happen, and somewhere it all needs to be worked out. With the holidays behind us expect info to come out as we get closer to the date and the various parties talk. There is already some very differing information coming out now as a matter of fact. If you listen to my interview with Ace (now on my home page for all to hear), it is clear he would like the original band to be featured since they are the members actually being inducted. Speaking of that, there has been much debate since the announcement on even this topic. The HOF makes that call and they decided the founding members only. That’s what I was told by several people who actually have votes. That could also be an issue on how this goes down and something being discussed internally. My view on it personally is if it isn’t just the original band, then it should be ALL the people that have been a part of it. But everyone has consistently told me, including voters, it is only the original four actually being inducted. That does not mean however that others from the bands history won’t be there and won’t even potentially be involved as was the case with Heart and others. Ace also stated in the interview with me the HOF wanted the band in makeup which he was open to. Both Peter and Ace said they spoke with Gene and Paul and vibes were good before the holidays. Ace expressed concern in my interview about how the current band would be represented vs him and Peter who are actually being honored. Ace’s concern is also likely fueled by a VH1 Rock Honors event in 2006 where he was in the strange position of not being allowed to play with Kiss, while Tommy did dressed as him. Ace played with the tribute band that night to Kiss.
Last night Paul Stanley’s twitter account showed a glimpse into the very different views about what will and won’t go down and the issues that still need to be worked through. You can check the feed for yourself @paulstanleylive When asked last night if the original band would play together at the HOF his response is “seems unlikely”. When asked if he thinks working with Ace & Peter would be better now that both are sober he responded “No”. When asked if he would wear makeup with Ace & Peter he responded “No way”.
This is clearly a shift in what fans thought and were hoping for and what Ace and Peter mentioned. It also points to the various egos, posturing and control issues that could turn something the fans have wanted for 15 years into a train wreck! Paul’s answers do not surprise me at all. For Gene and Paul this puts them in a tough spot having to reconnect with members they’d prefer not to deal with no doubt, and who they have spent the last 10 years trying to recreate in the current band. Quite frankly coming out with the original band once again in makeup opens up a huge can of worms with fans that they have been trying to keep a lid on for a decade. It does not work with what they are currently trying to sell so well. And make no mistake, like it or not, they know seeing the original four in makeup again would be HUGE for fans and put a dent in what they have been selling to fans; that it doesn’t matter so much who’s behind the makeup. So you can already see how some of this is playing out. Gene & Paul on one side trying to protect the current Kiss and not go down reunion road again, and Ace & Peter wanting to be sure their night being inducted pays tribute to them, and not other versions of the band not being inducted. Nobody wearing makeup would take away some of the confusion as to who is who, but as per Ace the HOF really wanted the band in costume.
I understand Gene & Paul wanting to protect their current business model. Trust me, they know and have seen first hand the avalanche a reunion, even for a few hours, with Ace & Peter will cause (MTV Unplugged). It would be nice to think for one night the fans could celebrate the original bands induction with all of them working together for a few hours. Then bring up everyone from KISStory at the end for a jam or something. But I suspect this has many twists and turns still to come and Paul’s tweets last night give just a little peak into how this could unfortunately get very messy. If you are planning on buying tickets to this to see a Kiss reunion even for a couple songs as many have told me, I would seriously hold off. Looks like much still to be decided and as per Paul’s verified Twitter account it doesn’t sound promising at the moment. Listen to the interview with Ace I did a couple weeks ago, then read Paul’s tweets last night. This isn’t me stirring the pot or with any inside information. Just doesn’t take a genius to see there are some very different opinions as to how this should go down already. We shall see…I’m sure much more as we go.
294 Responses
Eddie, I’m miffed at Paul’s comments other than he wants to get even for unflattering comments in Ace and Peter’s book. Peter did everything but call him gay. It seems pretty petty considering the big picture. I truly believe the band has a thing for You in some fashion even if it is just that you are friends with Ace and Peter. The Rock Honors gig was a clear in the thought process of the KISS Duo. I would be surprised to hear Paul give any credit to the bands success to bill Aucion and Delaney.
This has me really torn. I loved the original band…I enjoyed Eric Carr and his ability, Vinnie Vincent is a great song writer! I loved the kick in the ass Mark st John brought for Animalized. I thought for pure musicianship Bruce Kulick was a terrfic player and fit the Kiss model very well. Revenge with Eric Singer was a great comeback album for me. Where I get lost is the cover version of the current line up. Dont get me wrong….When Black and Blue came out I loved and still do love that band. Tommy is a great player as is Eric but when they assumed the image of the original members they lost me. For one night, let the original band perform but I believe all the members should jam together. Id like to see Kulick or Vincent play. Just my 2 cents!
I love Kiss. Greater than 50% of their set list last year consisted of songs from the original 4. That right there shows that even the band itself acknowledges their most important work, was with Peter and Paul. Music isn’t about “who is the better drummer.” It is about creating songs, connecting with people, and putting on a great show.
The Hall determines who gets in, so debating that seems futile. I for one don’t want another reunion tour. Paul and Gene turned Kiss into a tribute band by recycling characters, and quite frankly I think they intentionally duped some people over the years. However, the lineup getting inducted should play together, that is a no-brainer. I also think it makes perfect sense to include other members in subsequent jams.
I SAY NO TO TOMMY AND ERIC PERIOD..THESE GUY’S HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ORIGINAL KISS ,THEY ARE NOT THE ONES BEING HONORED AND SHOULD SIMPLY BUTT OUT , HELL THOSE GUYS ARE FANS THEMSELVES OF THE ORIGINAL KISS AND SHOULD KNOW THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE ORIGINAL KISS AND SHOULD NOT INCOPORATE THEMSELVES IN THE SITUATION, REGARDLESS WHAT BOTH PAUL AND GENE SAY OR WANT..I DON’T THINK MOST DIE HARD KISS FAN WANT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS BEING HONORED AND THOSE GUYS SHOULD WORKOUT ANY PROBLEMS THEY NEED TO AND QUIT WITH THE EGO TRIPS, BECAUSE THIS CURRENT LINEUP IS ALL BASED ON WHAT THE ORIGINAL BAND STARTED 40 YRS AGO .I HAVE BEEN A FAN SINCE 77 AND TELL YA ALL THE DEFENDING I HAD TO DO ALL THOSE YRS FOR KISS , TO PEOPLE FOR BEING A FAN AND TO SEE WHATS GOING ON WITH THEM TODAY REALLY SICKEN’S ME.I DON’T KNOW HOW IT WILL PAN OUT IN THE END BUT I TELL YOU THIS MUCH IN MY OWN OPINION THERE IS ONLY ONE KISS IN MAKEUP AND THAT’S GENE ,PAUL ,ACE AND PETER..AND EXCEPTION WITH ERIC CARR LOVED HIM TO DEATH
Love the article Eddie. My wife and I are part of those unlucky individuals who have planned a trip from Kansas City to NYC for this event. Luckily it is in NYC and we also plan on making a sight seeing vacation out of it. One thing is for sure, I’m not buying tickets and going if there is no Ace and Peter IN MAKE-UP. My fear is that they have turned the beings Ace and Peter into the Catman and Spaceman “characters” and that they think these “characters” will suffice as the original band. I haven’t seen KISS since thr last original band tour in 2001. I am a huge KISS fan with theur faces tattooed on me to prove it and the news from Paul breaks my heart. How can they be so disrespectful to us who made them what they are? We want just one night of the original four. Like you said, they don’t want to “face the music” of the fact they know it will damage their current version. Doesn’t matter to me…..they lost me a while ago.