[Dana’s note: I saw this announcement live, and was pleasantly surprised that a New York rock band, will be honored.]
KISS, Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, and English actor Michael Crawford will receive the Kennedy Center Honors at a President Donald Trump-hosted ceremony in Washington, DC, on December 8th.
This is the first Kennedy Center Honors since President Trump took over as chairman earlier this year. His first action was removing Biden-era appointees from the board.
The President announced the 2025 honorees as well as his plans to host a gala Wednesday at a press conference where he proclaimed, “…we’re restoring the Kennedy Center as the premier venue for performing arts anywhere in the country, anywhere in the world. We have some unbelievable plans…”
…Regarding sone of the honorees, he said, [Stallone] is a very special guy. A real talent. Never been given the credit for the talent. There was nobody else that could have done the roles that he did like he did them. Not even close. They’ve tried, and they didn’t work out too well…”
Regarding Gaynor’s inclusion, the POTUS said, “I will say that I Will Survive is an unbelievable song.” He added that he was “98 percent involved” in the selection process for this year’s honorees…
…As for KISS, if all four original members of Kiss attend the ceremony in December, it’ll be the first time they’ve appeared together since their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2014.
[Dana’s note: The KISS picture, that was on display for the induction announcement, was of all four original members: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. Additionally, those were the only members, President Trump named, when announcing the honorees.]
11 Responses
RE Dana’s note: that’s right, there is only one Kiss…and they didn’t need the makeup or the costumes…if they walked in a room, you would feel something, and know it’s Kiss.
I’m Still Emotional, I love your passion for KI$$. The original KI$$ is my all time favorite band, and KI$$ “Alive!” is my #1 “desert island album’. They were truly the “hottest band in the world” in the 70’s, and they were geniuses at marketing the band and branding products. The way they used The Beatles, The Jackson 5 and The Osmonds as inspiration was brilliant. They were much more than just a great, live stage show.
you saw Randy Rhoads live, and Ozzy must’ve been really nice to him on stage; Ozzy was not the same after losing Randy. At least I got to see Eddie Van Halen in 1982 on the Diver Down tour.
Was the song “Christine Sixteen” the basis for their induction?
when I was 10 years old I used to sleep with this AM radio under my pillow and listen to KFRC all night; it was a Bay Area station broadcasting in Napa, CA…and that song would come on and it was so heavy at the time with those guitars…this was before I could admit I liked Kiss; I thought then that they were a gimmick band and Alice had already done that, but secretly I loved that song.
If I had to venture a real guess, I would imagine, it is because they are a New York band.
Also, whether one likes, dislikes, or agrees with their many questionable business decisions, they certainly have a long legacy, in both music and merchandising. I think many other famous people, took cues from KISS, in regards of trying to market themselves, and make lots of money.
Just one example, off the top of my head, would be Jessica Simpson. She was one of the first pop singers, to not only star in a reality show, with her then husband, Nick Lachey, but have a clothing line, as well. Her clothing line, is reportedly worth, a billion dollars (yes, you read that right).
Today, most actors. singers and even radio, and TV hosts, have other businesses, whether it be clothing, alcohol (Sammy Hagar being one of the first), cosmetics, skin care, hair care, or a combination thereof, KISS seemed to the be at the tip of the spear, when it comes to, mass marketing.
and the Kiss casket, and seriously, there’s a reason for it…when everyone has rejected you: your family, your Church, whatever your social circle is, there is, and always will be, Kiss.
HA! I had to laugh, Rattlehead!
There’s an “Epstein Sixteen” joke in there somewhere, but we’ll just leave it alone. Don’t want to rile anyone up….(laughs)….
Too late, RTunes,
I apologize, but I just have to write this, as I detest fallacious, libelous statements and innuendo.
The POTUS acknowledged, that he had a short lived, acquaintanceship, if you could even call it that, with that disgusting “human being.” Once, he had more information about him, since complaints had been lodged against Epstein, he booted him from Mar-A-Lago. Speaking of which, Mar-A-Lago did not allow, nor accept, blacks nor Jews, as members, before President Trump bought the property.
Secondly, if you think for one minute, that the previous “administration,” would not have hesitated, to release any “credible” information, tying President Trump to Epstein, after bringing impeachment, after impeachment, after impeachment, all on tax payer money, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn. I suppose you believe that liar, E. Jean Carroll, as well (eye roll)?
Also, if we want to go that route, let’s discuss the Clintons connections to Epstein, shall we? What about that dastardly painting of Bill in a blue dress, that resided in Jeffery’s mansion?
Enough of the politics, I am done, NO MORE. This includes jokes, because there are plenty I could make, about Biden (sniffing children, etc.) his disgusting son and the proven-to-be-true, laptop from hell. Oh BTW, if the media hadn’t buried that story, many people polled, said it would have swayed their vote, things that make you go “hmmmmm??”
-Signed a disgusted Journalism major, who finds the days of ethical, unbiased reporting, LOOOOONG gone.
I tried to get that into another direction, but I agree with everything Dana just said …And to the song again: think about how heavy that song was on AM radio back then…that break with those heavy thumps before the snazzy drum fill from Peter Criss…that might as well have been MManson …then you had that totally cool piano part…it was a party hard rock song before the first VH record, and does sound like Jamie’s Cryin’ …Peter Criss played a way cooler part, his part, than what Alex VH could come up with..
I think its great that Kiss is being recognized – much to the dismay of the elites.
The selections have a underdog feel to them…. along with Kiss, Stallone was considered an action star joke…. even though Rocky is one of the best pictures out there.