According to Ultimate Guitar, KISS frontman Gene Simmons told Radio.com that if the band is inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame, they will not be re-uniting with original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
Simmons stated, “No. How many chances in life do you get? When you stick your hand in fire, you get burned the first time. Fire and nature doesn’t care if you’re a good guy or a bad guy. Both of those guys had three chances to be in the band. Three times they f–ked it up. They were every bit as important as we were at the formation of the band and they would have been the ruin of the band if they had continued to be in the band. When you have a cancer in your system, it’s best to cut it out as fast as you can. It used to be a part of your body; it turned into cancer. You gotta cut it out.”
Simmons also added that he believes his former bandmates are much happier not being in the band, “I believe that both Ace and Peter are happier now. They’re healthier, they both look fine. When they were in the band, they were both on junk, or crack or alcohol. Clearly not a healthy place for them. They belong home doing autograph shows in clubs. They’re happier.”
See the entire interview below. The comments in question appear at 4:26.
source: ultimate-guitar.com
155 Responses
Gene is just trying to stir up some shit to boost the TV ratings for their induction. Once again he is showing how petty & shallow he is. A night like this is for the fans & they want to see Ace & Peter as much (and in many cases MORE) as he & Paul get inducted. I hope that they take the high road & acknowledge EVERYONE who was a part of a Ki$$ line-up: Eric Carr’s family, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John’s family, and Bruce Kulick should ALL be allowed to get up & say a few words. A great big jam with EVERYONE would be cool, and great closure for everyone. Gene & Paul have an opportunity to do this with dignity & class, I hope they don’t fuck it up.
I can guarantee you one thing. Vinnie Vincent will never be acknowledged by Paul and Gene, nor the majority of the fans. God knows why…
Have been a fan of KISS since 1975 (or whenever Alive 1 was released). I was hoping for them to get in even though I really don’t care about them anymore. Now I hope they get snubbed. IMO, they have made a long, lucrative career off of basically their first 6 studio albums and those first two live albums. All eight of those albums had the original 4 members. I would have hoped that all 4 would get together at the induction ceremony and play. I am fine with them not rejoining the touring band again but they should not be snubbed at the HOF ceremony should KISS be inducted. I am thinking that Gene just meant that they wouldn’t become members of the band again and not that they wouldn’t be invited to play at the ceremony,
They had the original 4 members on the cover art of said albums. They didn’t have said 4 members play on 100% of the same albums you mention. Even Alive 1 has more dubbing on it than The Wall. And to your comment about ‘they have made a long, lucrative career off of basically their first 6 studio albums’……Um Sabbath? Priest? Maiden? Zeppelin? Crue? Deep Purple? Metallica? What classic rock band or 80’s Metal Band hasn’t made a long career out of the 70’s or 80’s? Are you kidding me with that?
The RRHOF continues to be a joke. I implore anyone to take a close look at the list of bands/artists in it.
Neil Diamond is in it. Huh? I know he had a bunch of top singles, but really? Neil effen Diamond? His appearance on the “Last Waltz” was a joke. He had nothing to do with Dylan or the Band or the scene around Woodstock. Even if you want to put in “soft rock” and hip hop and disco, some things don’t make sense. If Neil is in, KISS has to go in. Case closed.
How did John Cougar get in? Farm Aid? He was never best, biggest or most influential at anything.
How is Peter Frampton not in? He was Rolling Stone’s Artist of the Year in 1976, his solo debut was seen as “the best release of 1972” by melody maker. #1 Selling LP of all time for awhile, #1 selling live album of all time period, probably one of, if not the top concert draw from 76 to 77, plus his Humble Pie career. On top of that, he was an influential guitarist. Maybe one of the only guys to write top selling tunes with some jazz chording/lines. He was playing a slower version of Schenker’s style before there was a Schenker! Tesla guys play his licks all the time, and like bands like KISS he influenced a lot of people to pick up the instrument. Plus he wrote the book on “how not to market yourself and how to ruin a great career in two years!” Still a good draw live too.
Gene is a self serving Jerk, not exactly news but a reflection of his character or lack of it.
I am guessing he and Paul are angry about Ace and Peter not participating in the Kiss documentary and this is there way of getting even. Petty but predictable. I would guess Gene and Paul are also mad about Peter’s book talking about Gene’s issues with severe Herpes and Paul’s sexual leanings. OUCH!
Induction without every living band member is incomplete to say the least. Bruce and Vinnie revived and dying band/brand.
I hate it when Gene is correct.