According to blabbermouth.net, Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian has defended KISS’ Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons for their announcement that no members of KISS will be playing at the April 10th Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in Brooklyn.
Speaking to Rover’s Morning Glory, a syndicated hot-talk/comedy radio show airing weekday mornings on Cleveland rock station WMMS (100.7 FM), Ian joked, “Look, I’ve got Gene Simmons tattooed on my leg, so whatever Gene says is what goes.”
He continued, “I’m a [KISS] fan, just like everyone else, and would I wanna see, if I was going… I’m not going to the Hall Of Fame thing, so would I wanna see the four original dudes back in makeup one more time? Of course I would, as a fan. But bands don’t do things dictated by what the audience wants. A band would last about a year if that’s how you worked. You have to do things the way you wanna do them.
KISS has been around for 40 years and are bigger now than they were in 1977 because Gene and Paul make smart decisions — that’s why. So, as a fan, and if you love them, you have to abide by the decisions that Gene and Paul are making for their brand and their band. So, why people get so upset over these things, I really don’t understand. Like, if they decided they were playing with [current KISS members] Tommy [Thayer, guitar] and Eric [Singer, drums], so fine. That’s what they’re doing. This is their band. This has been the lineup for a long time now.
I get it — those two guys [Tommy and Eric] aren’t the guys who are getting into the Hall Of Fame [with Paul and Gene], it’s Ace and Peter… you know, I get it. So I think they made the right decision now by saying, ‘We’re just not gonna play. You can’t please everybody. We’re just gonna shut it down and just not do it.’ I get it. I understand.”
additional source: blabbermouth.net
103 Responses
This is Scott’s way of telling Gene & Paul Anthrax wants to open for you guys. Total bozo. Hey Scott, take your 5 foot 2 mug to BB Kings and gab for a buck…..nobody cares. Put Paul on your ass, what he says goes, like right next to it coming out.
One thing that is just false and has to stop is the “Kiss is bigger now than ever” stuff. Just NOT true! How can anyone say they are bigger than the 70’s or ’96 reunion? The band CO HEADLINED with Motley! Reunion tour was 3 nights in an arena with no name support! Now it is co-headline or triple bills in the US. Just fact..
I agree Eddie. But they are still selling better than most of their peers, especially overseas. Not meaning to defend them. But they’re not playing Holiday Inns either. Even VH couldn’t sell out arena’s last year. Priest and the Scorps won’t even try anymore. GNR and Crue are heading back to Vegas. Maiden is about one of the few left who can pack a house better than average older bands. I don’t want to make this about the RRHOF and agree they are not ’96 era selling. But I would suggest most bands would kill for KISS’s so called lack of current success right now.
“selling better than their peers”???? Better check the sales on Sonic Boom and Monster before you say that. In fact, I would challenge this to Paul and Gene: on your next tour, use no images of Peter and Ace, in fact, no make-up, and play ONLY the songs that you have done WITHOUT Ace and Peter. See how that goes. If the legacy of Ace and Peter aren’t important to that band, then they should be just fine.
Tell me what peer is selling concert tickets on average globally better than KISS. I didn’t agree with ‘bigger than ever’. But get past your emotions and check out the facts. I didn’t mention album sales, but again tell me what album(s) from 70’s bands are selling right now or have been over the past few years. Hardly any of them have. McCartney can’t even sell an album these days. If KISS can get an average of 9-12K in an arena on the average night, its still better than what most rock or metal bands are doing nowadays. I don’t give a shit what KISS does or doesn’t do or which line up is doing what. I just use facts. You should try that sometime.
Exactly. Their concerts contain, what, 4 or 5 songs from the current lineup? Everything else is Love Gun and before. Play a tour of nothing but Sonic Boom and Monster songs. See how long that lasts
I am so tired of your “co headling” analogy. Its irratating and skewed. Also in the past youve not been accurate about your attendace facts. Very few of our heroes sell well at all anymore. Also, the reunion tour was a novelty itself, thus the high numbers. I saw the farewell tour 12 times and only once was it sold out, that was Chicago. Rock the Nation tour was PACKED in St. Louis and Chicago so was Monster in Kansas City and when they played the Garden you said it was to a half empty house, which was NOT TRUE. Yes, upper level, nosebleed was sparse but NOT a half empty house by any means. Again, there are tons of packages and co-headling tours out there including Santana/Rod stewart just announced. So what?? Why bring it up over and over. In this economy, and 40 years in…they do fine. Not Ac/dc but fine. You’re just pissed about Tommy and Eric. I understand. And I LOVE Peter and Ace, beyond words. And dont fool yourself ALL of the fans want a reunion tour even if its a 20 city run. I suppose Elton and Billy did face to face because the couldnt sell tickets on their own…right?
Simple fact, if Kiss could headline arenas even one night on their own with no name support act or co-headline you think they would? Or do you think they would prefer to split the money with another band 50/50? I am sick of the “bigger than ever” BS. The band can not headline an arena, not even close, and hasn’t for a long time. But I keep hearing “they are bigger than ever”? In what world? Arena headliners are Metallica, AC/DC, Foo Fighters, etc. Yes times are tough for some bands and over touring is an issue. But Kiss is all about business and co-headlines sheds in the Summer because they need the help selling. No other reason to do it! And I am now hearing this Summer they may go to a TRIPLE bill.. And before anyone tries to call me the “Ace guy” I am also well aware that he struggles to sell clubs at times. It is all relative.
Kiss just needs to retire. Paul can’t sing anymore, he’s the frontman. The act is worn out.
Definitely. Kiss (almost) sold out 12,000 seaters over here in Germany the last two tours (the biggest roofed venue in my country holds just 18,000), in 2008 and2010. It was the same (meaning the same kinds of venues) with the Reunion and Psycho Circus tour. when they did pack those but of course did not pack (soccer) arenas of like 40,000 that AC/DC would easily fill here anytime. still, it might be that another touring of Europe maybe 2015 will be successful because they have not yet overtoured our continent like they have the US by now. So far they have also not double-billed at any time. Also, the UK did not get its fair share of gigs over the last few years so they will probaly go there next time and might well expect a good attendance. They can be lucky to play 10,000 venues, still making loads of money only paying T and E a salary, comparatively, and I very much doubt they would be playing anything like 3000+ today if it had not been for the reunion tour. In fact, I am doubtful that Kis would have lastet longer than 2000. You cannot put the real Kiss show in a 3,000 seater, that is not possible, no one wants to see that. So, that at least would be one good and multimillion dollar reason to pay some more respect to Ace and Peter.
I would also like to see KISS perform live without playing any songs from ’74-’79. See how that sells.
Pete!! Ur so full of shit man!! Kiss never played in KC for that piece of Shit Monster record/Tour. They did play in KC in Dec. of 09″ Sucked big time. Arena half full if that. Reunion tour? I went to 3 shows. Packed arena everytime also the Farewell packed when I went. Listen Pete spin it all you want. Kiss doesn’t pack arenas without Ace and Peter. Ne’er have and never will. This band records terrible albums now. I will say tho at least Paul and Gene have some balls putting out some new records. I respect that. But good god write something good!!! Really. It’s pretty bad. I write and record and not to brag but most of the stuff on the last 2 records I would of thrown in the trash. So cheesy and most very 80’s pretty boy metal. No balls to it line Ace’s last record had. It’s just time to retire and give it up. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Kiss has been an amazing band in its day. IT’S WAY PAST ITS DAY!!! Quit bullshitting Pete!!!
I think Monster was a real good KISS album. They aren’t Pink Floyd or Rush as far as writing. They write about girls and good times, thats all they have ever written about, cheesy writing since “74” nothing wrong with that. But I do agree with not selling out places.
Kiss bigger now than in 1977 ? They were’nt playing 3,000 seater casino’s(and not even selling it out) back in 1977 like they are now.
Another thing that needs to stop is the if you were offered a million dollars to play with kiss but had to wear the catman or spaceman you’d do it thing. Ask Bruce Kulick that question i read a interview where he said he would’nt have wore the spaceman makeup. Kudo’s to Bruce for RESPECTING that persona. Gene keeps saying Ace and Peter were not only a cancer but like a bad divorce. in that case why would you want your next spouse to look like your ex?
That part about your spouse looking like your ex made me laugh!
The facts…no Kiss isn’t bigger now than they’ve ever been. That’s ridiculous. But they do continue on in a successful capacity. Do they need a good package now to tour and sell tickets…yes. In fact all but a handful of older bands do…Motley, Aerosmith, Journey, Styx etc… all fall into that category. Even Metallica doesn’t do the numbers they once did. Sheds, arena’s…who cares what the venue most older bands are packaging tours if they wanna do numbers bigger than 10k. Bitterness…I appreciate everything you do Ed, but there does seem to be some bitterness in regards to Gene and Paul. The truth is one thing, please continue to speak it but that also means holding Ace and Peter accountable for their actions as well. The truth is, Kiss…in whatever form they decided to go with wouldn’t be around now with those guys…and they wouldn’t have made it out of the 70’s either. 40 years…just not a lot bands can say they’ve been around that long.
Lee that’s some funny shit bro. I’m laughing my ass off here!!
Anthrax has alot of the same issues as KISS with different lineups and whatnot. Scott probably will do same if Anthrax ever gets in… Yeah I know it won’t happen lol. Just saying
Yes plz Scott shut up! Its about what the band wants to do not the audience, pleeeze….No one would buy your records anymore if your band was a bunch of shit heads and ego maniacs..Give the fans some credit we know what we want and will pay to get it but don’t treat us like we don’t matter…..
Funny. I’ve seen this Scott dude for like 20 something years now get up on stage and TV. To me he seems so weird. He’s always trying to play with former band members and he just seems like a glorified fan up there. Not a true rock star. And Jesus isn’t it time to change ur look dude? Your not I. Ur 20’s or even 30’s anymore. Scott just makes me scratch my head. It just don’t fit!! Sounds like he got his head up Gene and Paul’s ass so bad too. Hey Scott we as fans don’t give a shit about the brand!! Kiss isn’t McDonalds. It’s a fucking rock band. At least I thot
KISS IS MacDonalds at this point.
A video of Gene on you tube says it all. He would never play with the former members again. It’s probably Gene and Paul’s, ‘What’s best for business’, motto. I would safely assume Peter and Ace are probably hurt by this. Even if it’s for one song or all get together and speak and thanking the fans. They are not as big as they were in 1977. The mystique is gone.
I’m a Kiss fan and I agree with Eddie Kiss is not bigger than ever but the only time they were big was with the original lineup including the 96 reunion . Yes I like the 80’s kiss Bruce and Eric Carr were great but to me best kiss is original Kiss. Tommy and Eric in make up is their failed scram to get back to old days without Ace & Peter. If don’t want to play, don’t let all me ambers envoled enjoy the honor. Besides the useless rock n roll hall of shame should induct all members of Kiss!