In speaking with with KNPR News, KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley was asked why he declined to perform with fellow original KISS members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley at the band’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in April. His answer has been transcribed by blabbermouth.net and can be read below.
Stanley said, It’s a tough question to answer, but there’s so much involved in it. Firstly, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame wanted nothing to do with us; they begrudgingly let us in. And my sense was that we were going to be a dog-and-pony show. They wanted to have the original guys play in the band, and all of us in makeup, and, quite honestly, I think it would have done the band a disservice. That lineup has not been together for 14 years, and physically, perhaps, wouldn’t have looked that great, and musically, undoubtedly, probably, would have sounded a bit suspect. So, to have people watch it on television and identify that as KISS because there’s four guys in makeup would not send a great signal to the people who are not following the band in its current permutation, or what it is today.”
He continued, “Look, we just did 42 shows and played to 600,000 people in America, and I would hate for those people to turn on a TV show where we were an unwanted guest in the first place and see us strong-armed into doing something that really does a disservice to something that I worked at for 40 years. I never quit the band twice, once, and to dilute what I’ve worked on all these years just to make a committee happy that really was not all that thrilled that we were there in the first place, it sent the wrong message and it endangered something that I hold very dear to me.”
KISS begins their three week Las Vegas residency, Kiss Rocks Vegas, at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino today (November 5th).
additional source: blabbermouth.net
204 Responses
In other words Ace & Peter can’t hold a flame to Singer & Thayer…the finest Kiss line-up Paul Stanley has worked with onstage. “Bit suspect”….I’d love to hear Eddie reply to that one. The Raspberries reunited a few years back and kicked ass though Eric has Ace problems and imploded any thought of continuance. Kiss and Santa Claus at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, bring the kids, Kiss n Claus.
Lee, you need to listen to the latest videos of KISS. Tommy Thayer is playing like a 3 year old. Just listen to his guitar solos. That’s downright embarrassing… (imo)
Translation: I could not have total control over the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame so I acted like a baby and didn’t give the fans what they wanted.
That about sums it up, Bravo…
They dug up this horse to beat it some more? More excuses, more BS, all so Paul Stanley can sleep at night and feel better about his decision to betray the fans instead of giving them one last chance to see the original four play. Gene said in his book “The fans are our bosses, it’s our job to make sure we never disappoint them.” KISS was inducted based on the impact and success of the original lineup and it’s too bad Paul and Gene were too stuck in the past, raking Ace and Peter over the coals for their substance abuse, to man up and play one last time.
Gene got fired by Donald Trump and now it’s our job as fans to do the same. “Gene, you’re fired!!!”
So much for his new book and his way of presenting himself as Mr Successful!
Congratulations Paul, you finally found the high road! You actually made it through an interview without any jabs at Ace & Peter, would’ve been nice if you just answered that question the same way 8 months ago, instead of bashing the sh*t out of Ace & Peter and slinging mud unnecessarily all over the place. I, like most Kiss fans, can respect a response/answer like that. Hopefully Paul will stay up on the high road now, and once & for all just let bygones be bygones and “live in the now”! That’s from “Wayne’s World” Paul, not TMS, LOL! š
His “I never quit the band twice,” comment was a dig at Ace so I wouldn’t exactly say Paul took the high road on this one.
Yes Doug obviously fell for Mr Stanley’s little linguistic trap here …
guitarslinger, I didn’t fall for anything, of course the comment about “quitting the band twice” was a little dig, but that’s nothing compared to some of Paul’s comments regarding Ace & Peter especially over the last year. Stating the obvious is nothing compared to calling someone a racist, a drug addict, or an alcoholic even though they’ve been sober for many years now. By now, we all know the story/stories, my biggest problem with Paul has been his endless rehashing of these same old stories over & over again. The only thing in the past from Kiss I want to hear anymore, is the music, and that’s it!
You did not get the irony – I am the first one to bash Paul for his lies and attempts at telling us they are still top of the game.
i have to agree with that statement,it does make sense ,now that he has broken it downthat way,i would have been happy id they just all preformed out of makeup,for a few songs then have all the guys jump in,for a few more,but it really doesent matter anymore now anyhow does it.