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
More rock stars taking themselves way too seriously. This is all about Gene and Paul spending the last 30 years trying to prove that they don’t need Ace and Peter, but the sad truth is that Kiss for the last 30+ years has lived in the shadow of the original band, regardless of which lineups were better… The original band was the biggest band in the world at one time. At least Ace and Peter can admit they were bigger with Gene and Paul, where as Gene and Paul have made a concerted effort to make fans believe Ace and Peter didn’t matter as much as they think… I’m willing to bet it still bothers Gene and Paul that Peter’s Beth is Kiss’ biggest single, and Ace’s solo album sold the most copies, while things that Ace and Peter were against, such as going Disco, recording The Elder, and filming Kiss Meets the Phantom served only to hurt the band. The HOF wanting only the original members, and personally I believe Bruce Kulick and Eric Carr deserve induction as well, it craps on 15 or 16 years of Kiss without Peter and Ace… That has to bruise their ego bad.
Yup totally agree everything you mentions here…it must be highly annoying for Paul , who seems to hate Peter and Ace, to hear their names in every interview in every situation when it comes to KISS.
hey EDDIe dont feel so sad Tommy may need a tech in april, and paul may need some spaghetti……….right, they can work thier way back up to the top., Thanks for advising Ace the fans thank you. that one demanding interview seems to have changed the whole thing.
btw are you fans thinking kiss would walk around meet everyone eat a fine dinner in makeup, be respectful and watch everyont get inducted, then get up there and do their thing? 6 plus hours?????????? clueless. no makeup all members end of story. but ace seems to be scared to stand next to Tommy, let alone Bruce, and why did ace need the makeup so bad? Bruce would make him look like a beginner.
Don’t think anyone would make Ace look like a ‘beginner’. Ace was a pioneer and many thousands of guitarists picked up a guitar because of him.
Hilarious-the reason TOMMY has as job is because of the greatness of ACE. GO hump the neighbors cat. I may just go by the cheap as spaceman ephipone tommy thayer guitar and burn it now.
thousands picked up the guitar because he was in a big band, dressed like a spaceman, played so fast his guitar smoked, 10 year olds are impressed by that stuff, he isnt BRIAN MAY, STEVE VAI OR EDDIE, He isnt the greatest musician, and seeing him live is like wow how sloppy can a guitarist be? overrated bruce was way more diverse then ace…..ace looked like a beginner next to him on the unplugged show, as for peter…..Eric. Words are not enough.
not because of his playing,
Regarding this HOF thing, I’m getting to the point where I quite frankly don’t think they should be inducted at all. Paul has been somewhat of an ass the past couple of years. It’s sad to see a band that I have been a fan of since I was a little kid – which is … many moons ago.
It will be one hell of an embarrassment if Paul gets up there to sing. His voice has been gone for the better part of 3-4 years now.
Get up there (originals only) thank everyone who has been in KISS over the years. Announce the end of KISS right there and then. It’s like a bad soap opera, with botox divas and bad wigs. That’s how I feel about it right now anyways….
Or maybe KISS should not perform at all, when Black Sabbath was inducted they did not perform at all. The same thing can happen here, I understand the old KISS fans wanting to see the original line up again for like the 3rd time playing live. Reality Peter Criss does not has what it takes to keep playing drums remember his arms are messed up (and I know Eddie is going to defend Peter and Ace since he is always making them feel more important than Gene & Paul, when it was Ace and Peter that screwed up more than twice in the band)…..yes KISS is a business that Gene and Paul really cared the other 2 just wanted to party and not being responsible…..remember if it wasn’t for Gene and Paul KISS would not have lasted 40 years and more to come…
True, Paul and Gene have kept Kiss going, but they have the power of the Kiss brand behind them. Gene and Paull need Kiss for glory, just like Peter and Ace. If you don’t believe me, check out the sucky solo albums and sales of Paul and Genes solo ventures, in and out of the band.
It isn’t all about musicianship mastery either. Vinnie is probably the most talented guitarist they have ever had, but his overall impact on the band pales in comparison to what Ace brought to the band. It is about chemistry, timing, creativity… Much more than who can play the fastest scale.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Thanks. And as much as it is true that Gene and Paul want to keep this version going strong and there has been bad feelings in the past, they deep down know ACE and peters contributions are monumental….BUT, It’s just got to kill them inside that no matter how long of an absence, every time ACE and Peter come back into the fold, they steal the spotlight. Just like they did way back in ’79 on the Tom Snyder show. That’s what I think this whole mess is going to boil down to.
I think Peter could manage to crank out a few songs that night.
With KISS IN, WHAT will eddie do? US fans, mostly kiss fans, have been supporting Him, TIME To Call cable remove TMS KISS will never be on their, go read eddie remarks on tweeter to pau,l eddie played a hand in this not happening, its a fact.
What on earth are you talking about?? Haha! WOW, see this is where craziness happens, problems and rumors begin, and people go off on a strange trip based on nothing… Unreal, you just have to laugh sometimes!