FRANK GIRARDOT: KISS DOESN’T BELONG IN THE ROCK N’ ROLL HALL OF FAME

kiss-return Frank Girardot of the Pasadena Star-News reports:

I can’t think of a more plain way to say this, so I just will: KISS does not belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Period. End of Story.

I will argue my case, but the facts speak for themselves: KISS does not belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Over Commericalized Garbage Hall of Fame? Sure.

One-hit Wonder Hall of Fame? Right up there with the best of ‘em.

Don’t tell me that Rock and Roll All Nite is the Rock and Roll national anthem. It isn’t. That’s like saying We’re the Monkees is one of the ‘60s enduring classics.

In short, there is nothing that qualifies KISS for entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

And yet, on Thursday, KISS along with the E Street Band, Nirvana, Linda Ronstadt, Peter Gabriel, Cat Stevens — aka Yusef Islam — and Daryl Hall and John Oates, will be inducted into the Cleveland shrine glorifying Rock and Roll.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m attacking KISS here, but I’m not sure Hall and Oates belong in it either. Unless a nomination is akin to a popularity contest.

Explain to me though how KISS beats out Deep Purple? You want an anthem? What the heck is Smoke on the Water?

Machine Head with Highway Star, Smoke on the Water, Lazy and Space Truckin is better than the entire KISS catalog.

For that matter how does KISS get into the winner’s circle ahead of Paul Butterfield? I mean the Butterfield Blues Band played at Monterey with Hendrix and at Woodstock with Hendrix and The Who. I think a better argument can be made for Butterfield as he opened the doors for Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn and played alongside Muddy Waters and Albert King.

Name one artist even slightly influenced by KISS or a style of musicianship influenced by the high-heeled poseurs. You can’t.

So what other bands and artists should be honored before KISS?

I would definitely put The Cure, Chicago, Journey, Bon Jovi, The Cars, Barry White, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jethro Tull, Los Lobos and Willie Nelson in ahead of the make-up boys. How do we really know who is up there playing anyway?

Even Devo and Soundgarden deserve spots in the Cleveland waterfront museum.

To make matters worse, KISS’ guitarist isn’t happy with the induction. But that’s because the HOF has some — albeit limited — standards. CEO Joel Peresman said Thursday’s ceremony will only honor the band’s original members: cat guy, dude with the long tongue, starface and silver eye make-up freak with shoulder pads.

“I don’t need the Hall Of Fame,” Starface told Rolling Stone Magazine. “And if there’s not reciprocity, I’m not interested. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, practically every member was inducted, and virtually all 175 members of the Grateful Dead. Rules need to apply to everybody.”

Probably embarrassed, Peresman nonetheless defended the limited selection.

“…There are certain acts that are nominated and brought in on their entire body of work, up until the day before the nominating committee meets,” Peresman told the Rolling Stone. “They are still evolving bands that are breaking new ground. With KISS, there wasn’t a single person we spoke to that didn’t feel the reason these guys were being inducted was because of the four original members.”

Sadly, even that’s a stretch. But as my friend Dion Lefler points out, “It ain’t the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Quality.”

source: pasadenastarnews.com

89 Responses

  1. Deep Purple…BY FARRRRRRRRRRRRR more than Kiss deserves to be in the RRHoF. But then again, these past few months totally fueled by very poor human behavior by Paul has totally tainted this upcoming RRHoF Ceremoney. In my opinion if the RRHoF knew that all this garbage with Paul & Gene would have happened they probably would gave said, “screw them, they’re not Hall of Fame material just on their attitudes alone”. Joe in The Cuse.

    2. Oh I see your point DR…my point was about Gene & Pauls attitude not just at the Hall…..but at Ace & Peter also. Gene & Pauls relentless shitty attitude has been brutal since…..hmm……1983 . Even Mick Jagger made the comment on the Steel Wheels Tour that “Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons sniping at their former band mates make them look like little brats that can’t forgive their Mums for taking away their toys when it was tine to go to bed”. RS interview when asked about Micks & Keiths feuding 1990. So this isn’t or hasn’t been a recent problem with G&P …..sorry but they both have serious controlling issues and that is just the start. See what I did there??? :)~ Joe in The Cuse. DR, a longevity of control, bad attitudes etc can destroy anything that was legit.

    3. Agreed Joe. But let’s remember this was a four way relationship. Blaming only two wreaks of hypocrisy. Go Orange.

  2. I can see where some would feel this way, lots of bands in there that I don’t think should be but not everyone is going to agree on all the bands, what I don’t get is why it’s called the rock & roll HOF and not the any shit will do HOF

    1. God forbid someone has an opinion different from yours George. Can’t just take it for what it is – you have to attack him with a mob mentality. Why don’t you threaten him while your at it? That says all I need to know about KISS fans.

    2. No attacking here…just had enough of stupidity…and if your opinion is the same, you are an ass as well because it would be based on bullshit, not fact…And you are obviously not a fan, which is fine…but your so called mob mentality by me sending him an email is absurd. You can say anything you want, but when opinions go beyond and this moron is stating things as fact that are not then I will give my two cents… Why comment on Kiss, and this guy even went after Hall and Oates…If someone wants to put stupidity out there, then they can deal with people calling them out…Like I am calling you out, TROLL..

    3. George….lil FYI……and I would F U L L Y think about this for future reference, never use “the mob” in any form for trying to get a opinion out. Uhhh not a bright thing to do…. 😉

    4. Right George, you don’t have too many anger issues. I’m a troll because I think it’s idiotic to mass- email a writer who happens to disagree with my opinion. Yeah, let’s all get into a frenzy because one guy who happens to write for a newspaper doesn’t think KISS is HOF worthy. There are a ton of arguments against KISS going into the R and Roll Hall of Fame. Eddie’s site is obviously KISS Fan Central, so I wouldn’t expect anyone here to have an anti-KISS opinion, but there are a ton of reasons to keep them out. I won’t waste my time or yours, because people that don’t get it, don’t get that they don’t get it. Howard Stern had a funny quote after Eric Carr died. He said the others should’ve jumped in the coffin with him. It’s tasteless, but believe it or not, that’s the way a lot of people feel about KISS.

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