Been doing press all day for That Metal Show and almost everyone is bringing up the Kiss HOF stuff with me. It is no doubt the story of the week and since it broke on my show last Friday when Ace called in many are discussing it with me. It’s interesting to hear everyone’s take on all of this. It’s also been interesting reading everyone’s comments here on this site and the loads of email about it. I get and understand ALL sides of this. People who actually take the time to fully listen to and read what I say realize there is no agenda here but being a fan and giving MY opinion when asked. I respect yours even if it differs from mine. Just like I respect your decision to go see the current version of Kiss, even if I decided a while ago it’s not for me. There is SO much misinformation out there. Not only about what I say and feel (anything positive doesn’t make a good headline) but about the whole HOF process to begin with. In a nutshell I think this whole thing again comes down to Gene and Paul not wanting to go down reunion road with Ace and Peter at all, and not wanting to open a huge can of worms like the MTV Unplugged. Again, I was there, once Ace and Peter came out for two songs it was a reunion avalanche they could not go away from. When you spend 12 years telling people (believe it or not) it doesn’t matter who is behind the makeup, you can’t bring Ace and Peter out and get a huge reaction and remind everyone it does matter! Eventually Kiss wil be a franchise with no original members in those personas. That is where this is all heading. Going back to the original band hurts selling that concept and is bad for the current Kiss business model. I don’t believe it is any real hate against Ace and Peter, it is just a bad business decision and we all know Kiss knows business! I don’t agree with this decision, but get it from a marketing standpoint.
There has also been a familiar cry from Ace and Peter detractors that “they had their chance, they fucked it up”. True, they will be the first to tell you they are far from innocent in their conduct at times while a member of the band. But what exactly does that have to do with now? NOBODY wants a reunion tour again. I sure don’t! Nobody can go forever. But it seems the past keeps getting thrown out there as a reason for the HOF issue. Why? It has nothing to do with the fact that the original four guys are the ones being inducted and a song or two is all anyone is looking for one night only. Nobody is also mentioning that these guys have been clean and sober for many years now. People change with time. A couple songs would have only damaged one thing, the current Kiss marketing plans. And I GET THAT. If I was trying to sell what was coming and owned the business of Kiss like Gene and Paul do I can’t say I would feel different from a BUSINESS angle. But we were always told the fans were the boss with Kiss. And no denying the MAJORITY of the fans who fought so long and hard to see this day are upset. But I still feel no performance in this instance (because the HOF decided only the original four are going in) is better than a current band performance which you can see any time you want pretty much.
I am curious if they all show up. To me it’s clear if you read the recent interview that Paul is annoyed with the whole process (rightfully so), the fact they were snubbed for 15 years, and the fact the HOF is ignoring other members for induction (again, the case can be made rightfully so). But most artists who complain about it still end up showing up. Axl Rose didn’t. he knew it was all a play for a reunion if even for a photo op and stayed away. I honestly don’t think the HOF cares that much if Kiss plays. Getting them in the same room together is a victory enough for them. Now we wait and see what happens next. Do all four guys show? What does the HOF put on since there is no performance from the band? Is there so much fan pressure that a last minute performance gets pulled together? One more thing; fans did not get Kiss in the HOF through voting. It’s a nice thought and the fans being so vocal about it helped sway voters, but the actual fan vote is minimal and can not alone get a band in. If it did bands like Kiss, Rush and Alice Cooper would not have been snubbed over a decade! If the HOF would have put Kiss in when they were first eligible in 1999 none of this would be happening, because the original band was still together then from the reunion! And we all know the fact that Kiss, like them or not, should have gone in first time eligible, NOT 15 years later! More soon no doubt.. Again, ALL opinions welcome here as always.
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We live in a time of nothing sacred..everything from our Favorite AFI films to childhood classics being constantly remade. Bands with maybe one or two original members in it, still using the original band name to sell tickets. I have been a KISS fan since I was five. I am a Ace fan. Now I have read every book there is about each of them and I’m talking about the ones that bring out the skeletons. I realize I liked the persona put out and did not know them personally or all the baggage,egos, and self destruction that each brought. With all that creative chaos, it did create a incredible band when all cylinders were firing. A band that I feel were overlooked for actually how talented they were because of theatrics. I saw the reunions and actually got to meet the original four during the Pyscho Circus Tour. Ace was really nice for which was a relief depending on who you ask when they met him. I always wished they would go back to a old rehearsal space like the cool footage of them rehearsing in the second coming ( I would have a bought a DVD of just that) and hash it out Metallica style. It would be cool to see all the makeup gone and no hair extensions and etc.. Just the four members remembering their first love and just being about the music at this point…That will not happen…but for us fans that have spent $$$$$$ over the years. Come together for 3 songs whether your fat,skinny bald,blue jeans etc! Just play one last time and show the other bands how the big boys do it as Gene likes to say…(gene) I’m more inclined to spend $$$$ on the new KISS if you will stop telling me Santa clause was never real and my childhood was a lie(metaphor)
I agree 100% Eddie. All bands are a business to sell their music, concert tickets, and other merchandise. I think if Gene and Paul want to continue to upsell the KISS brand they haved to be good to their fans. There is undoubtably going to be fans who after the RRHOF issues won’t want to go see or have much or anything to do with the current version of KISS. How much of a backlash will there be? We don’t know yet. I think if Gene and Paul were to play with Ace and Peter for a couple songs, not many people would expect a reunion and I think. Most KISS fans understand there won’t be a reunion and/or don’t want a reunion. But playing with Ace and Peter for just 2 songs would make fans happy and could help even more to upsell the current version of KISS because of the fact that it would rekindle the fire and passion the fans have for the music. The fans then would want to see the music live and have new music and buy the merchaandise.
I think it irks Gene and Paul to no end that in the eyes of the HOF, Ace and Peter are on equal ground as they are. With the exception of the reunion years, Gene and Paul have made it their mission to discredit the contributions of Ace and Peter to Kiss time and time again. To me this is less about “all members should be inducted” as it is Gene and Paul pissed off that Ace and Peter are considered equal to them. Real petty shit but not surprising.
I also don’t like how the Kiss statement appears friendly to Ace and Peter, but Gene has been retweeting all week negative posts about them. Why does he have to do that? Insecure much?
Finally, I think Ace and Peter will be up there on the stage during the jam at the end smiling and having the time of their lives. Gene and Paul, never big fans of jamming (because they can’t control it) will be long gone on their way back home. Kinda sad when you think about it.
Yes he is 64 years old yet acting like a jealous 12 year old girl. He has retweeted negative Peter and Ace crap all week and should be ashamed of himself.
I think you nailed it Eddie! This is all about Paul and Gene afraid they’ll destroy the current KISS brand (Tommy/Eric) by playing with Peter and Ace. I would also say Paul’s voice has some influence on this decision as Eric sings so much backup vocal and basically carries the choruses, now. Doubt Paul would have that safety net with Ace and Peter. Irony is Gene has been saying “the fans are our bosses and we listen to them” forever…not anymore, I guess. Keep up the good work Eddie!
Can’t believe I’m defending Gene Simmons, but I think this is Paul’s doing. He does seem to get butt hurt easily. KI$$’ highest charting single sang by Peter, not Paul. Best selling and most successful ’78 solo album Ace, not Paul. Not that Ace and Peter didn’t do things to strain the relationship, but come on, this is the last time they are going to get a chance to play together. As four two other guys wearing Gene and Paul’s makeup, I can’t believe even the most diehard fan is going to except that.
By all accounts Paul is running the show these days. And Paul and Gene early interviews had very different tones about how this would all go down..