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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H.O. F. should now stand for Hall of *ucktards. Bunch of overrated pompous douchebags. I’m so done with the committee and such. Who tours the hall- fans. Who buys the music- fans. Who should be heard- fans. Gene and Paul should hook up with Geddy, etc and start/open a real venue that does what this joke was intended to do: acknowledge music/artists/bands for the what… who… FANS! Financial Ascension of Note-players Society!
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, have new music, and buy the merchandise. Especially the new and younger fans who really don’t know a lot about the history of KISS but love the music or those who just care about the music and not really the players. But at this point in the game, a no performance is better than all of this drama which hurts the business of KISS.
this is my opinion and im sticking to it.. Gene Simmons has the biggest ego in rock. ANd i think the HOF is a joke that they put non metal/rock acts in. I mean WTF.. LL COOL J? I agree with Eddie.. ROCK N ROLL HALL OF SHAME!
i hope the original 4 show up but they should induct every member thats been in the band
Eddie thanks for the open and honest reporting. Ive been a KISS fan since I was 8, when the older kids up the street played Destroyer for me. I saw them on the love gun, had the dolls, posters and even the Kiss radio. I remember Peter leaving then Ace and I hated it. It was like your friends getting divorced. I still followed Kiss into the 80s and 90s, but it wasnt the same. I saw the Animalize tour and left feeling cheated. That wasnt a Kiss concert. My last Kiss concert was the reunion tour. Ace and Peter didnt paly the same way when I first saw them but it was still my heroes on stage and a flood of good memories. The fact Gene and Paul think they are all replaceable and Kiss will live on is a F**KING insult to me!!! I lost alot of respect for them when when they put Eric and Tommy in Ace andPeters makeup, thinkng it was ok. There is a reason only the original 4 are being inducted. How many KISS tribute bands do you see for any of the other lineups? Because they became just another hard rock band. And now talking about Kiss being a business model completely ruins any respect I have for Paul or Gene as rock stars or musicians. Its not about the music anymore, just $$$. So sad. Paul and Gene have lost me as a fan of theirs. I agree its best that no one performs.
I’m just totally pissed that Gene and Paul cant have a little more humility and respect the fans who don’t agree with this decision. Instead they block them or say goodbye to them as fans. This to me is totally unacceptable. These guys have forgotten where they came from. Eric has always been a better drummer than Peter but hell never have the soul Peter has and Tommy couldn’t hold Ace’s jockstrap as far as I’m concerned. KISS has become a parity of what they were it’s sad. I like Eddie decided when Tommy put on Ace’s makeup I was done with this crap. These idiots cant see that this is a great moment in their history instead they will throw this away.