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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I’m from Argentina and in April I will go on holiday to New York and was so excited to be able to see the original members of KISS, I feel disappointed, I hope there is an exchange of views on April 10.
I don’t care if they play or not but I agree with HOF on inducting only the Original Four, No others had a vote on the direction of KISS all the others were contract employees much like a studio musicians. I believe only Hall and Oates are inducted and not the Band. There is no harm in letting all the members play without makeup but I really doubt they would invite Vinnie or if he would come.
I really think Paul holds a grudge against Peter for his remarks in his book. It will be interesting to see what Peter says after the induction is over. I’m guessing he fires back at Paul and Gene.
Eddie, I think you’re spot on for the most part. Gene & Paul certainly *do* realize who helped them get to this point, which is why they are, or at least Paul is, so upset with the Hall. As we know, the Hall says only the originals are being honored, but it definitely SHOULD be everyone who has been a member of of the group. I think you have a great idea, if all members would be there, to start with GAPP, then one by one, Vinnie, then Bruce, Eric S., Tommy, all came out to perform. That would be SO freakin awesome!
I was upset initially when I listened to Ace last week, but then calmed down after reading G&P’s press release. I believe all members, including Vinnie, should be inducted, be there, and perform. KISS has always done things their way, and this joke of an “honor” shouldn’t be any different!
I think gene and Paul should snub the event.
I can’t believe anyone would want to be in the same room
With peter after he wrote that book that makes accusations about
Everyone in the band execpt him. Maybe peter and ace have kept it together after the farewell tour
But that doesn’t mean they can perform ace hasn’t even finished a new cd in years and peter sucks at anything he does except complaining and yet he needs to look in the mirror.
I tip my hat to gene and Paul for staying true to kiss and not getting pushed into a bad place by all these asshole who should of seen them during the reunion tour cause if you saw them from 76. To 81 you would of seen how bad ace and peter were.
And you don’t think Gene had anything to say about those two in his book? And what do you think Paul will write about? Neither of those two are choir boys. Peter didn’t necessarily lob ‘accusations’ at anyone. He simply wrote his story from how he saw and interpreted it. That’s what an autobiography is all about.
There is no doubt that Gene and Paul screwed him and Ace as well.