Gary Graff of Billboard spoke with KISS frontman Paul Stanley about his forthcoming autobiography and the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame induction. Excerpts of the interview appear below.
Billboard: You’re the last of the original Kiss members with a book of your own. Just a slacker?
Paul Stanley: It really had nothing to do with the band as far as being first, last, middle. It wasn’t with any of that in mind. The truth of the matter is I had sworn for, literally, decades not to write an autobiography. I always go back to George Orwell, who said the autobiography is the most outrageous form of fiction. And I would say 90-plus, 95 percent of the autobiographies by any of my contemporaries would be better suited on a roll of soft paper, so at least you could use it for something, ’cause they’re nothing more than self-serving fantasies or delusions or love letters to themselves. They serve no purpose. What I finally came to grips with was the idea that my life could be inspiring to other people… and almost more importantly I wanted something that my children could read when they got older to understand what it took for me to succeed and a better understanding of who I am and perhaps what they need in their lives to move forward. So there was a real purpose to this as opposed to just some sort of bragging rights.
Billboard: There is a lot more struggle in your book, especially in your youth, than many would expect — family dysfunction and especially the misshapen right ear and being deaf on that side. That’s something you kept quite for decades. Why?
Paul Stanley: It was too painful. You can only reveal things and you can only deal with things when you’re ready to. My experiences as a child were so debilitating and destructive that the best way for me to deal with my ear was to cover it and to, at least on the surface, ignore what was going on — although that really wasn’t an answer. Luckily, as an adult I found different ways to resolve some of those issues and also to find some surgical relief and modifications.
Billboard: So what actually went down with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and your decision not to play at the ceremony?
Paul Stanley: Oh, it starts decades go. That it’s 14 years on (of eligibility) and we’re getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a clear indication that the people who hide behind that moniker don’t like us, but it reached a point where it was so absurd and ludicrous (to exclude KISS) that they caved. But they’re only going to induct the original four (members), and bringing up the idea of inducting members other than the original four…was shut down as a non-starter. It’s a very valid argument considering that there are people who played on multi-platinum albums and played for millions of people and were very important for the continuation of the band. And clearly when you’ve got a busload of Grateful Dead (members) who have been inducted and guys in the Chili Peppers who nobody knows who they are because they played on the very earliest albums are inducted, and when the original drummer of Rush, John Rutsey, who played on a classic album, isn’t inducted. The list goes on and on of the inconsistencies. Now, I’m not pointing fingers at any of those people, but I’m certainly pointing a finger at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The only consistencies are inconsistencies and the rules clearly are there are no rules because the criteria for how and who gets in is purely based upon a personal like or dislike. And when I feel we’re being treated unfairly, I have issues with that.
Billboard: You could just play with the original four of you, of course.
Paul Stanley: They wanted the original four guys to play, in makeup. But, honestly, I don’t want to roll the dice and possibly negatively impact on what I personally have been involved in building for 40 years. I have too much invested at this point. It really is a can of worms that I feel is better off left closed. So there’s been a lot of issues, and perhaps the best way to deal with them is to celebrate the four original guys and go there and get our award and to look past the differences that will always be there. It doesn’t change the big picture; we have differences and we will continue to have differences. It doesn’t change who I want to play with and who represents KISS. There are a lot of people who are great inspirations to me, and still are, who are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and for that reason and the fact that fans want us in there, I graciously and vigorously will be there to accept the award. We should salute and enjoy an evening that celebrates what the four of us started. But there’s always a lot of cloak and dagger stuff and a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes.
Read more at Billboard.
In related news, the singer also discussed his autobiography and six-date book tour here.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame does not define what Kiss is. Neither do the handful of Paul and Gene haters on this message board. You should all use your time more efficiently.
They can´t. It is so boring down there on their mother´s basement.
Awww, can’t we all play nice in the sandbox?
I understand that people are very passionate about KISS, but the slagging and name calling of other posters, in my opinion, seems a bit unnecessary. I think an opinion holds a lot more weight when it is stated in a mature fashion. But the again, what do I know? I’m just a girl 🙂
Dana from EddieTrunk.com 🙂
So what happened to Paul and Gene being open to playing with Ace and Peter at the Hall Of Fame ceremony. Oh wait…that was a lie.
I believe they were open to playing with them as long as Tommy and Eric were inducted as members of Kiss as well. When the hall said no, then Paul and Gene said no to any performance. The Hall doesn’t have the right to define the band.
This I would agree with…along with the Hall pushing the original 4 to play in makeup…which frankly would have been a train wreck.
Everyone has a right to change their mind. Sometimes we get caught up in the moment. Sometimes we wish we wouldve done things differently. Look at all the idiots who, on a whim, run off in the heat of the moment and get married in Vegas…So they changed their mind. Im not happy either with that. But it doesnt mean “they lied”. Chill out.
I’m not sure what Ace & Peter could possibly do to hurt what Paul has worked on for 40 years any worse than what Paul is doing by continuing to try to sing when it’s been very clear the man has lost what once was one of the greatest rock voices ever. And Ace & Peter certainly can’t do any worse than the two individuals Paul & Gene pay to impersonate them. I am very disappointed in what Kiss has become. And what am I gonna do with this Kiss tattoo on my arm????
I really don’t think anyone is fooled and think that Tommy and Eric are actually Ace and Peter on stage. It would be one thing if Paul said, “Ace Frehley, lead guitar,” during a current line up concert. That would be an impersonation. It’s really getting old reading posts by people who still live in the past. You all remind me of Uncle Rico in Napolean Dynamite who kept talking about how good of a highschool football player he was back in ’82. “Back in 82 I could throw a pigskin a quarter mile.”
It’s time to grow up, people.
Cover it up and make it say DIO
“And what am I gonna do with this Kiss tattoo on my arm”
Yeah, like KISS is guilty for your sad, pathetic life!
Sad pathetic life? Lol
You did not get the irony, did you?!!
I say Enuff already. WHO GIVES A RATS ASS IF KISS PLAYS ANYMORE!!! For me Ace and Peter will get my hard earned money. Gene and Paul will never get another dime from me!!
GEORGE / PETE L. What the hell u idiots!! Are you Gene and Paul’s PR guys? Neither Id you are obviously true KISS fans. Tommy and Eric far better players than Ace and Peter? Hahaha. In your fucking dreams idiots!!! I play guitar and Im better than Scab Thayer. He’s boring. And Im sick and tire of all this Peter can’t play anymore and was never a great drummer. BULL FUCKING SHIT!! Listen to 100,000 years drum solo on Alive. Or DESTROYER!! And speaking of Alive. Peters drumming was the only music that was kept Live. He was so dead on that Kramer kept his drum tracks!! The other 4 had to lay THIER parts down in the studio. Even the vocals. I’ve played many live shows. Paul and Gene must of really sucked to not even keep THIER vocals live. Peters drumming is amazing and he had by far the best singing voice of the 4. Gene even said Peter had the best voice more than once. Im at the point with this whole Hall ceremony that I don’t really want the original Kiss to even play. Just give it up. It’s over stick a fork in it!!! Gene and Paul have killed this band disrespecting Kiss fans on this. You might notice Paul in his interview ne’er mentions the fans wanting them to play the original 4. All he mentions is “OH’s WE’s JUST GOT’S OUR DIFFERENCES” and it doesn’t get my panties wet. I always had respect for Paul but man he showed his true colors on this one. If I were Ace and Peter I wouldn’t mention Gene and Paul anymore just ignore. Let them be a stupid scab band and be above it all. Don’t say a good thing or bad. Gene and Paul will on the other hand continue to put down Ace and Peter. Fuck those guys Im done with them. They write shitty music, can’t sing anymore, and are as old as dirt!! ACE IS BACK AND HE TOLD YOU SO!!! Peter!! Get that rock album done and out man we love you!!!
Youre a joke. Seriously? Ace is back? Where? Did you see him shitfaced on the farewell tour? Or how about how they had to slow the tempo down just so peter could keep up. Youre a loser caught in a time warp.
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Frank!!! I agree man. Paul’s voice is gone. What happened to the Farewell Tour idea of we want to go out on top and people saying “wow why are you quoting” instead of “why won’t you give it up”. As far as Paul have one or rocks greatest voices? I like his voice back in the day but in my opinion far from being one of the greatest. I think when he sang all that cheesy crap in the 80’s that did it for me. It was horrible to hear him sing those terrible songs. This band is dead now. My prediction is the next tour will be a dud in the states. Now over seas they will still kill it. But trust me the Kiss Army is way pissed at Gene and Paul. It’s over in the states.
I didn’t say Thayah & Singah suck. This is the strongest line-up in decades even with Paul’s voice shot. I’m sayin yer typical Kiss fan coming in from Bayside was going to see the Big 4 kick ass for 4 songs and go “the ’14 line-up blows compared to the atomic bomb that just blew the roof off this place”. It would be mayhem after that set, Paul & Gene know it.
I see all this drama between the original 4 as a publicity stunt. Each one of them has their part in this play. Come the evening of the RRHOF induction, when the audience starts chanting KISS, KISS, KISS and all 4 of them look at each like they are dumbfounded. A curtain rises with instruments waiting to be played and they play a couple of songs without makeup. This is a well oiled machine to keep us the fans talking about it until the ceremony. We the KISS Army are playing the pawns in this orchestrated game of chess.
Might be some crazy truth to that. Ace has said recently that he is sworn to secrecy, hmmm.