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.
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Gene & Paul are just dicks no other way to put it.
If they are so confident in the disney version of kiss then it shouldn’t be a big deal for the originals to play a few songs.
Ha ha good one -Disney version of Kiss …
i’m sure everything will be fine.
If indeedGene and Paul end up doing the induction and show sans Ace and Peter, I hope the fas revolt by throwing rotten fruit at them. ( Just my opinion. Gene and Paul have been on this power trip too long. Hell I met them back on the Creatures tour and they were all too cool for school. ) They’ve got to be reminded that they are who they are because of us.. the fans who buy their albums, and tickets to their shows. The fans want the original four there, and if the rest of the KISS members come out and jam, hell that’d be cool too. but the original four are being inducted, not the logo and make-up designs that are owned by Gene and Paul.
Love the suggestion for the fans when Gene and Paul take the stage
Doesn’t it almost feel like the fans wanted this induction more so than those two? Almost as if they would have preferred never being inducted in the first place. But yet they’ll attend and benefit from the ceremony.
That’s the thing with Ace & Peter, both really nice guys.
They act like they enjoy meeting their fans and that they care.
You know I’m glad you mention that. Because to me it seems like Paul and Gene don’t want anything to do with KISS fans unless the fans are paying. Take the meet and greets for example,
people were paying $1000 dollars to have a picture made with them. The reason Paul and Gene won’t go on That Metal Show is because It’s a intimate setting and KISS won’t be able to charge a $1000 dollars to each studio audience member. I wish Gene Simmons would rear end my car. I would own the KISS name when all was said and done.
Other well known celebs are the same way. I paid a LOT to meet a very well known ’70’s sensation back in 2010 and it wasn’t worth the money. There was no personal warmth to it at all. It’s just a money grab. I don’t regret it, but it wasn’t worth the cash.
I’ve met Criss recently and though he charges for autographs, meeting him was well worth the small price. I understand they make money off of signings and thats fine, he was reasonable and a joy to meet.
Somehow though Gene says ‘if you see me somewhere, don’t be shy, come up and say hi’ I am wondering if he would be as gracious if someone really did…
Yes I walked up to him at the reopening of planet Hollywood in Vegas a few years ago and he was nice as always, I have met him and Paul at least 4 times, really nice guys.
I hope this HOF stuff doesn’t get out hand and make the band look like another enterprise and not as a rock and roll band.
When the HOF inductions were announced Gene seemed OK with performing with Peter and Ace for that night. He gave a handful of interviews where when asked, his reply was ‘Sure, why not?’
He seemed OK with it, as Gene is very well aware of the what the ‘fans’ want. So I am wondering if Paul is REALLY the puppet master behind KISS. After the induction announcement Paul actually posted a photo of Peter on his Twitter feed and said they had just spoken with Peter and everything was all warm and fuzzy. So now I wonder why the big chill?
Gene has always come across as the heavy, yet deep down I think Gene appreciates the fans and seems encouraging when talking and interacting with them.
Paul seems like HE is the one who doesn’t want Ace and Peter to contribute. I really hope that he and Gene doesn’t ruin it for everyone.
Paul really runs the show I think. Gene may be the out front guy, but Paul I think pulls the strings way more than people think..
I agree. For the most part Gene tries to come across as gruff and tough but deep down he knows what the fans want and they want the original four at the HOF. Gene makes it a point to be ‘Mr. Look At ME, I’m SOOO Successful’ but he deep down knows the original four together would be a goldmine. Wouldn’t shock me that an unplugged type of mini tour might even pop up some day in the near future.
If Paul doesn’t get his knickers twisted up over it.
According to liner notes in the boxed set, it was Paul who wanted the reunion tour after unplugged, and Gene was totally against it. Paul really had to twist Gene’s arm, and he relented. Gene then felt vindicated when things fell apart near the end of the tour.
You got it Brothah!
I have been a KISS fan for so many years I can’t count. Understand the need to go on, this actually could backfire in a real bad way for Paul and Gene. For years the fans for the most part enjoy the product now and accept it, being that what it is, Kiss now is better than no Kiss at all. However with the HOF around the corner, if Paul and Gene are going to do makeup without Peter and Ace or if all 4 are without makeup then this might be the straw that breaks the Kiss back. The integrity of the makeup has taken a slight hit with Eric and Tommy, but if Paul and Gene refuse to do the right thing with the HOF, I don’t think the product will recover. This isn’t just saying a couple of bad quotes in the press about each other, this is a direct hit to the fans. This is an extremely dangerous integrity move on the part of the band. Paul and Gene need to do the right thing, if not, this might indeed be the end of Kiss