1/4: PAUL STANLEY’S TWEETS, VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS ON KISS HOF CEREMONY.
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.
Guys, this is part of the $how Bu$ine$$.We ALL know they will be hugging and Laughing on stage.
Hello, Mr. Trunk. This is my first time writing and I am pleased to say I am a still good looking fifty four year old old school metal fan. Have a comment about what you stated about the HOF wielding a lot of influence about what happens at the ceremony. If you recall your metal history, years ago Tollingk Stone ran an interview with Mr.Hetfield who told the interviewer when asked why Mr. Mustaine was left out of the induction despite having been a member of Metallica albeit he wasin the band short period of time, he was a member of said band whether people like it or not, said Mustaine was left out because he was not in the band long enough. To this day, I think that was a hateful thing to do, and my p9oint to you is, that iit goes to show you that certain band members have a lot more say in who is or who is not inducted and who is not. By the way, love your show for what your’re doing for metal.
Sorry about some of the typhos. but I forgot to memtion that particular issue of Rolling Stone had ACDC wiith Brian Johnson and Angus on the cover.
I think Eddie spends entirely too much time ‘stirring the pot’ at the expense of those whom he can not gets favors from. Not everyone desires your company Eddie. Nobody cares whether you agree with KISS’ business model. And if the band EVER thought you were a friend to them, they certainly know better now. Having a difference of opinion is one thing, but you’ve been on nothing short of a campaign to discredit Paul and Gene because, for some reason, you think they owe you something. Every nuance of a discussion from Paul or Gene is being hyped by YOU to keep this tension alive and thus keep YOU in the spotlight while we wait for the band’s induction. Once again, you’re riding off their coat tails by creating conflict where there isn’t any. Quit playing naive to your audience and act like you understand these four men know how to play the media. It’s the last time all four will be together and it will be for a career award. They will be there and Gene will do everything he can to profit from it afterwards. There’s no mystery to any of this. And I’m sure someone gave YOU free tickets to the event, while everyone else has to shell out the big money. That’s not a fan, that’s an opportunist kissing butt to promote himself. So quit acting innocent in all this. You’re benefiting as much as you can from discussing this. And do so after you cried you would never talk about them again. My how things change.
I benefit from this huh? AMAZING! Kind of like saying sports talk is benefiting from NFL playoffs happening. I mean I am rock media and have been screaming for Kiss TO BE in the HOF for decades. But you just choose to drum up some negative baseless angle that makes zero factual sense. It takes a warped person to attack me for DISCUSSING and covering this when I was one of the few vocal in the media that Kiss SHOULD GET IN! Pathetic intelligent debate and discussion about what is of interest to my audience is considered “stirring the pot”, but when you are drinking the Kool Aid so be it…
‘Pathetic intelligent debate’? Let’s drop the theatrics Eddie. EVERYBODY knows this move is financially motivated by the HOF. Nobody held them at gun point and put KISS in. If getting into the Hall was easy, no one would care about the induction and this institution would have dried up years ago. They make it hard to build demand so people will watch and come to the center to celebrate when these bands finally get in. Are there people on the board who hate KISS? Probably so. They probably have some people on the board that hate the Beatles too. Personal bias is not how any successful business makes money. They go where it’s green… just like you. Case in point – These guys have flipped you off so many times, I’ve lost count. Would I feel like you? Probably so. But you’re also going to keep doing what’s good for business, which means you’re going to keep talking about them, even if in private you call them SOB’s. HOF works like that too. So KISS is hardly the first or the last band that will appear to be ‘rejected’ for their contributions. That’s why I roll my eyes when you pretend to be some “passionate fan” crying for their ‘right’ to be inducted. That’s so naive. You’ve been around the block in this business. You know how it works. They were getting with or without your commentary. When you make those impassioned pleas, you’re just singing to the choir. You’re not walking out on a limb. You’re pouring the Kool-aid they all drink from and trying to paint yourself as some kind of “rebel” for stating the obvious. NO ONE in the media is raising an eyebrow over KISS being inducted. It’s an obvious choice. It’s just a news maker because they finally got in. Good for the HOF. They did their marketing well. They made some headlines. Nothing warped in that assessment whatsoever. And if you think Paul doesn’t play the media, then where the hell have you been as a supposed KISS fan? Him being at odds with Ace and Peter is as predictable a script as comparing each new KISS record with Destroyer. So yes, you take those media nuggets and stir the pot. If you really dislike how these guys treat you, quit playing their stooge every time they throw out a one-liner. They absolutely know how to get the most out of you without coming anywhere near you.
Wow Tom, you seem to really have this all figured out. Good for you! And I’m the one being “played”. There are so many things off with this I wouldn’t know where to begin…but you have your right to an opinion… wow
Please explain the innuendo that I’m being played? I’m not remotely in Paul or Gene’s camp. I thought their last two records stunk to high hell ( So Cali you can put to rest any suggestion I’m Paul Stanley). Both efforts were amateurish at best in my book. I would rather listen to the Elder backwards five times than struggle through those two records again. The Medicare boys SEEM to think writing new songs about chasing a piece of ass is something today’s kids need to hear. It’s really scary if you give it more than two minutes consideration. But as far as the KISS marketing machine goes, I don’t see the mystery here. So it seems laughable to me that someone as seasoned as you would take issue with how this model works. Lets erase for one minute you’re a fan. Let’s forget that the excitement and novelty of meeting most anyone in this business probably dimmed a long time ago.
KISS has ALWAYS been about pushing whatever their current image is. In the beginning they wore makeup for attention. Then someone told them to stay hidden to hype it more. Then they were told to write an anthem-style song to give fans a message to rally around them. Then they had to explain why they wore the makeup, so they pushed this idea it was an “extension of their personalities”. But here’s the thing… It’s all marketing Eddie. And more importantly, it came from people other than members of the band.
There was never a moment when any of those band members sat down on their own authority and said any of these things between themselves as a reason to be in KISS. Allot of it came from Aucoin or others in charge of promoting them. So why do you defend the messaging from that era as if it was any more legitimate than what it is today? They got rid of Criss and changed the character because they legally had to (but demanded they still be considered “KISS”). They took off the makeup entirely but demanded everyone still see them as “KISS”. Cycled through endless guitarists in the early 80’s, but said, “We’re still KISS”. And when they put the makeup back on, they tried to claim this was how they always ‘should have been’. Oh surprise, surprise. The only consistent truth in their history has been what line of bull they will say to promote their current lineup. So my question to you Eddie is pretty simple… Why does ANY OF THIS surprise you?
They’re pushing an old image that has always made them the most money. But it’s an old image someone else fine-tuned and gave a message to that was not part of the band. So what is sacred my friend? Why not let Tommy and Eric wear that makeup? Someone told Ace and Peter what to do with it. Someone else made those outfits for them in the 70’s. Where is the crime here? It’s the same narrative. People are acting offended because they’re still wallowing in the brainwash that was sold to them decades ago. It’s a fairy tale. But more importantly, it was manufactured hype. What they’re doing today is absolutely NO DIFFERENT than what they did when they first got together. They promote and sell spectacle.
You call yourself a journalist. Why not report on the career-long hypocrisy of KISS? Why not explain that Ace and Peter had to give up those rights to let Tommy and Eric wear the makeup today? Unfortunately, none of that sells. And unfortunately that would REALLY put you on a limb. The reality of business is not always as sexy as the marketing that, by nature, will wax-poetic. The narrative from the 70’s is the story Aucoin sold the public while he tried to keep four very confused kids together while they all crumbled under the stress of massive fame. Both Paul and Gene were epic screw ups just like Ace and Peter. Only Ace and Peter went about it in a way that made them easier targets when credit or blame was divided out by Paul and Gene.
Honestly I can’t sit here and argue Kiss stuff. It is really silly at this point. Everyone has their opinions and conclusions. You clearly have no clue of my 30 year history discussing EVERY aspect of Kiss and so many other bands. Selective stuff you and a few decide to dissect and pounce on, forgetting 30 years of positives, support, and screaming to get them in the HOF for so long the President of it came on my radio show. But you don’t get that. Just the little you truly know about what goes on. Believe what you want about me and Kiss. I have WAY too much to do and too many other bands to deal with that have fans that can deal with opinions and debate.. I’m done with how absurd this all is.
Tom you just dont get it do you .
Eddie is first and foremost a fan just like all of us . We devoted alot of our time , money, and most importantly, our passion, for this band over most of our lives and received so much enjoyment from Kiss over all these years .I’m a 46 year old man who lives in st.paul, mn and who has loved being a Kiss fan from 76 to 01 . My Dad took me to my first Kiss concert in 79 and so did many parents around our neighborhood .
What Gene and Paul have done to this version, the makeup version ,to try and make the most money with ticket sales is a big “fuck you” to so many fans. Not to mention Pete and Ace . Especially now as they have more than enough money ( its actually pretty pathetic) . That makeup belongs to real people that fans fell in love with . Not some fucking character . What does that say about what Gene and Paul think about the fans that MADE them in the 70’s and LET THEM survive the 80’s ? They dont even have much of a real army now . Just a bunch of Joe Blows who own their greatist hits release going to the shows.
I think you are reading way to much into why you think Eddie is doing things . Eddie is just a passionate, die hard fan like all of us ( except you ) talking about our opinions . Thats another reason why , I think, people like TMS . They are just like my friends and I , and talk just like we talk to each other about a big part of our life ; Metal . Why does Eddie have to remain neutral on this ? This is how he feels . What does he gain finacially by not liking what Gene and Paul have done now . He just happens to feel the way thousands and thousands of fans feel There is no underlying motive .
And Peter selling their makeup design is non topic starter . Who knows
what happened during the ending of their ties w/ Paul and Gene . Who knows how much they spent to buy it. Who knows how broke Ace and Peter might have been when it went down. I , in no way, care ,or think ,it must mean that Ace and Peter didn’t care about their personas or fans.
Kiss fans from the 70’s and 80’s are in a league of their own . So when you have Gene and Paul so blatantly say ” fuck you ” to their fans and members of the band with their comment’s and actions you are going to see this kind of backlash and debate . Eddie just happens to be one of us only in the media.
The way you talk make’s me honestly believe you are not a fan but, in fact , working in the Kiss camp . And it seems as though you feel Eddie has all this pull with the thoughts and opinion’s of Kiss fans which , quite frankly , is insulting !
Haha, ‘Tom’ is probably Paul Stanley…. make you wonder, huh?
BTW, Tom, Eddie isn’t creating conflict, he is reporting the ‘news and information’. The conflict is being started by Paul- NOT Gene. Paul posting various snarply tweets- yes I made that word up- has gotten fans into an uproar and they have come here to vent and voice their opinion.
Paul has got this volcano riled up, not Eddie. He just reports on it.
you know what i find funny is in 2001 ace frehley had no problem playing with eric singer in the cat makeup and in 2003 peter criss had no problem playing with tommy thayer in the space makeup. why?? cause they were getting paid. dont let ace and peter bullshit you there just as greedy and money hungry as gene and paul and as far as ed trunk goes he is a jilted ex lover. paul stanley threw him out of the kiss camp and ed cant deal with that. ed all his life has tried to play both sides of the fence with kiss. also notice that ed goes on and on talking about kiss but gene and paul say nothing!! ed thinks he is an important person and that kiss should need him but guess what ed they dont!!
When did I ever say they needed me?? Where does this stuff come from? It is AMAZING the things people conjure up! Truly stunning conclusions some reach based on nothing! Why the hell would they talk about me??? I am in the MEDIA! It’s my job to talk about this and all other major rock stories! NEVER saw people behave like this for a band I screamed about being in the HOF for decades while others called them a joke! It is madness! And I have done just fine thank you without Kiss doing my shows. TMS is over 100 episodes and counting without G&P. It’s the FANS that ask them about it. If you had a clue you’d know that.
Half of these people on here are probably bored 15 year olds. Or one person masquerading as a multiple personality troll.
you are always saying how paul and gene should come on your show and discuss your issues.
my question is why? who are you to them? they prob think your a pion but yet you think they should come on your show. why would paul stanley care about you or wanna make up with you?? your not that important and by you keep running your mouth about kiss and the hall of fame you are ruining it for us die hard fans with you going on and on about what you think kiss should do for the hall of fame. thats why paul stanley put out those tweets cause people like you run your mouth and paul says oh yeah ill show you. please keep quiet and talk about ufo thanks!
Wow, thanks for giving me so much power and influence. To be able to ruin the HOF?!? To get Paul to tweet about what you suspect is ME? I guess I have a ton of juice in this world! Scary, truly scary the conclusions people reach. And sorry for doing my job covering a story in rock. Please if you don’t like it why are you constantly on here? Had no idea I had all this power, flattering indeed, so thanks.
PS: Stunning no acknowledgement of all the positives I say. Just find the 1% negative and pounce! Amazing..
ed, i have been listening to you since the wdha days. i actually enjoyed your shows. my only problem and why i now hate listening to your shows is all you do is talk about kiss. everything leads to a kiss comment. how many times do we have to hear about poor ed being kicked out of the kiss camp and how you have no idea why and how your the only new york area radio guy to support them and how you started the merry kiss special yes we know all this ed. thank you for that but enough already.
Really Rob? Strange assesment by you? Not sure exactly what you are listening too but just did several shows and didn’t discuss Kiss at all… Maybe I should stop covering major stories in rock? And maybe I should also just stop doing that annual all Kiss show. Seems like it is bothering you hearing all their music from all their eras? I’m sure Z100 or some other station will support the bands music when I’m done…
This schlep is some pimple faced bored teenager egging you on. Or some old, 400 lb man in Toad Suck, Arkansas who missed out on the ’70’s and is trying to relive it here.