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.
280 Responses
First of all KISS should of been inducted in 1999 horrible job by the rrhof.Nothing is better than the original kiss greatest live band of all time.I agree with paul the rrhof is a bunch of crap.All eras of kiss are awesome all eras should be in the hall of fame i like love gun and i also think lick it up or domino are great jams to.When they put vh in dave and sammy were honored or g and r matt sorum was inducted .Why isn’t vinnie vincent or eric carr or eric singer etc inducted. Who makes these rules what a f joke.I have seen all eras of kiss over 20 times and every show was fantastic.As for not playing withe originals nbd.Paul and gene don’t want to mess with there current kiss i do understand.AS for not playing at all i really don’t care and i am the hugest kiss fan see them this summer on there 40 anniversary tour which is a whole show and they still rock by the way.As long as they are being inducted thats cool with me .Who wants to see 3 songs anyway i want a whole show.
Paul and Gene whine about the HOF shunning them for 15 years and they turn around and do the same thing to Ace and Peter who helped the become millionaires again from the reunion tour. Everything you have seen happen money wise for kiss lik football teams and so on is a direct result from the reunion tour. Ace and Peter were good enough for that.. but not the hall of fame. Good example of how money effects the brain and class status. What about the fans where the money came from?
Paul and Gene whine about the HOF shunning them for 15 years and they turn around and do the same thing to Ace and Peter who helped them become millionaires again from the reunion tour. Everything you have seen happen money wise for kiss likethe tv show, football teams and so on is a direct result from the money made from the reunion tour. Ace and Peter were good enough for that.. but not the hall of fame. Good example of how money effects the brain and class status. What about the fans where the money came from?
Oh yeah, poor Ace and Peter played the reunion gigs for free (sarcasm)
I am just bummed about the missed opportunity of watching Jean, Paul, and Cat Stevens (Yousuf Islam) standing hand in hand in song.
The answer to all of this is so simple. Actually its KISS simple. ( Keep It Simple Stupid ) . Gene and Paul don’t want to revisit the Reunion Drama . I get that. Ace and Peter don’t want to appear on the same stage as Tommy and Eric in their makeup. I get that also.
So the solution is this : To my knowledge the original four have never appeared live plugged in without makeup. So have the original four appear that way. This would avoid the awkward makeup issues between Ace and Tommy and Peter and Eric. Get the original four with no makeup, no costumes ( I’m seeing a dressed to Kill kinda look) and let them play a few songs.
If they want to include the other members of Kiss from over the years they can have them come out and play songs from their respective era’s and do a kind of Kisstory event. Taking a song or two from each lineup and really just having fun and giving the fans what they all want.
As for the HOF only allowing the original four to be inducted. I call BS. The way to fix that problem is to put a amendment to their rules in place stating that a member of the band must have been active within the band for a minimum of 10 years. This would allow Gene and Paul to get those members inducted that they really wanted in the first place. Namely Eric Carr and Bruce . Nobody can deny the impact and influence that Eric Carr had on the Kiss world.
This way EVERYONE walks away from the event happy. The fans get to witness a special event in Kisstory and we can finally put all this negative crap to rest. Long live the Kiss Army.