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 meant no disrespect toward Ace. Anomaly is the best KISS-related album of original material by any current or former band member since the 80s, in my opinion. I’m really looking forward to Ace’s next album and maybe Peter will have one too.
Eddie, what do you think about this? I know KISS could never pull off a full reunion tour. But, what if Ace and Peter joined back up with Gene and Paul and planned one last huge show. They could book a stadium and charge 500$ a ticket and i’m sure people would pay it. They could rehearse for several months to make sure everyone is in good shape to play a 2-3 hour show. They could market this for a dvd, live cd, netflix, direct tv….whatever. They would probably make more from one final show then they have in the last 10 years. After this, KISS should end. One final blowout. Just curious what you think?
Nice thought but don’t see it happening
Bottom line is that Gene and Paul can do what they want, and they will. They have been, and always will be, business people first, musicians/artists second. Regardless of what the fans want, they will do what they believe is best for the KISS brand. Eddie is dead on 100% correct.
If Gene really wants to make a stand, none of them should show up. They should schedule a huge outdoor free concert that same weekend in Cleveland. Tell everyone that they want to thank their fans for the support, but they want to do it on their own terms. Take 5 minutes to make a special acknowledgement of Peter, Ace, Bruce and Eric’s family at the beginning of the concert, but then have the current line up perform.
The only way though that happens is if it makes business sense for Gene & Paul.
The HOF should induct ALL of the members of KISS!!! Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John, Bruce Kulick, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer all made important contributions to the band’s musical history and it would be the classiest way to bring them into the HOF. Eric Carr and Mark St. John are no longer with us but a tribute to them would be nice to see as well. There is absolutely no reason that these other members should be excluded from the induction. We all know what they look like without makeup anyway, so why not a full on jam with all of the living members of KISS??? No Reunion wishes, just a great tribute to a great band and all of its members!!!
I am not a big KISS fan, but I can understand why the fans are upset. First, like it or not the KISS brand is owned by Gene and Paul. Whatever they say goes, and thats all there needs to be said. As far as the hall of fame , that is Jann Wenner’s baby and not really a true hall of fame so who cares who goes in and who doesnt. It seems like the HOF is inducting bands like KISS and Van Halen strictly to generate a buzz. Im sure they will put Pantera in at some point, and that will generate a lot of buzz too.