Rolling Stone has printed KISS’ acceptance speech from their Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame induction on April 10th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Read it below.
Gene Simmons: Lemme hear ya! Tom Morello, we are humbled—all of us—to stand up on this stage and do what we love doing. This is a profound moment for all of us. We are humbled that the fans gave us the chance to do what we love doing. And so I’m hear just to say a few kind words about the four knuckleheads who, 40 years ago, got together and decided to put together the band that you see on stage, critics be damned.
To Ace Frehley: his iconic guitar playing has been imitated, but never duplicated, by generations of guitar players around the world. To Peter Criss, whose drumming and singing…Well, there’s not a guy out there who beats the sticks who sounds just like Peter. Nobody’s got that swing and that style.
Something happened, 40 years ago: I met the partner and the brother I never knew I had—Paul Stanley. You couldn’t ask for someone more awesome to be on the same team. I am humbled.
I was going to say a few kind words about Eric Carr, Rest in Peace. Mark St. John, Rest in Peace. Vinnie Vincent, the great Bruce Kulick, and of course, here we are 40 years later with the great Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer, and we continue on.
However, we wouldn’t be here today without the initial Fantastic Four. God bless you all. May I introduce the powerful and attractive—Peter Criss!
Peter Criss: Thank you. I want to say it’s great to be home in Brooklyn. I’d like to thank the Hall of Fame for this honor; I never thought this could happen in my life. Thank you. I’d like to thank everybody that had to do something with my career and the band’s career. For 50 years, I’ve been doing it; 40 years, we’ve been doing it.
Jesus—from the grips, to the truck drivers, to the great producers, to the great managers, to the great people who were just all there for us through all the years and the hard times. God bless you and thank you so much.
I definitely want to thank our first manager, Bill Aucoin. We would not be here if it wasn’t for Bill. Sean Delaney, the great Joyce Bogart, and the great Neil Bogart—who with Casablanca Records…those were the great days and I thank them all. I’d like to congratulate the band, of course—Mr. Stanley, Mr. Simmons, and the one and only Spaceman, Ace Frehley.
I’d also like to say I’m now seven years male breast cancer-free. Thank you—I’m very proud that I have… my fancy support center, and my doctor, who saved my life in the first place. Thank you so much.
I would like to thank my family—my sister Donna who I know is out there. All my friends who have come…and God, I’d be here all night. I’d like to thank my lovely wife Gigi, who makes my life really, really a lot easier. Lemme tell ya: walking through life with her is a blessing. I love you, baby.
I got my first lesson from my best friend, Jerry Nolan of the New York Dolls. And boy, that’s what started it all off.
I want to say that, even out of makeup, I’ll always be the Catman. God bless each and every one of you—I will remember this the rest of my life. Thank you so much.
Ace Frehley: I have a speech here, but these [glasses] aren’t prescription, so I can’t work it out [laughs]. It’s so great to be here with all these celebrities and other musicians.
I want to thank Paul, Gene, and Peter. Thank you so much, Tom, for that beautiful introduction. I want to thank the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for inducting us; thank you very much.
When I was 13 years old, I picked up my first guitar, and I always sensed that I was going to be in for something big. Little did I know, a few years later, there it was. I experienced the Summer of Love. [laughs] Alright. That was before I met these clowns. Several years later, we got together—you know the story, it’s all KISS-tory.
A few quick names—Bill Aucoin, Joyce Biawitz—who used to manage us in conjunction with Bill, then ended up marrying Neil Bogart. We wouldn’t be here without Neil Bogart and Casablanca Records. Everyone at Casablanca Records, everyone at ATI, Jeff, and Wally. Everyone at the press office; Carol and Al Ross; Carol Kaye; just to name a few. If I named everyone who helped us through our career, I’d be here for another half an hour. It’s great to be here.
I wanted to touch on the fact that I’ve been sober now for seven and a half years. We still need to educate the people in this country about sobriety because some people think it has to do with willpower. But unfortunately, most addicts are born that way and people need to be educated about that. My sponsor, he used to have a good saying, to try and explain what it’s like to be an addict: when people would say to use willpower, he’d say, “Try using willpower when you’re having diarrhea.”
So, only by the grace of God I’m here. I want to thank my first wife Jeanette, my daughter, my current fiancé Rachael Gordon. Life’s been good to me; hopefully I’ve got 10 or 20 more years to go. Thank you very much.
Paul Stanley: I can make this short and sweet because everybody said everything and has been much funnier than I’ll ever be.
So, I got to thank Tom, who’s championed us shamelessly and unapologetically. Took a lot of balls, and God bless you. For us, this is a special night, but it’s really a special night for all of our fans—this is vindication. We couldn’t have done this without you.
To Peter, Ace, Gene—we are the original four, so we could not have done this if we didn’t start this together. Everything we’ve done is built on the past. We’ve got a great, great legacy. We’ve got Bruce here, we’ve got Tommy, we’ve got Eric…
When I first started listening to music, I was lucky: I saw a lot of people I loved. When I was a kid, I saw Solomon Burke, I saw Otis Redding, I got to see the Yardbirds. I got to see Led Zeppelin; Jimi Hendrix; Sly and the Family Stone; the list goes on and on. What I loved about all these musicians is that they had the spirit of Rock and Roll. I believe that the spirit of Rock and Roll means you follow your own path regardless of critics, and regardless of your peers. I think we’ve done that for forty years.
Here we are tonight, basically inducted for the same things that we were kept out for. The people, I believe we’re speaking to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and what they’re saying is, “We want more.” They deserve more. They want to be apart of the induction. They want to be apart of the nomination. They don’t want to be spoon-fed by a handful of people. Choices. The people pay for tickets. The people buy albums. The people who nominate do not. Let’s not forget that these are the people that make it all possible.
So, I look out here and I see all these people. I see faces that over the years inspired me. People who made me what I am. So I am here tonight because of the people who inspired me, but I’m also here because of the people I inspired. So God bless you all; it’s been a wonderful night.
Watch the full speech below.
source: rollingstone.com
129 Responses
Very nice. I actually think they all were gentlemen with the speeches. Peter comes off a little bit bitter when he says I will always be the catman, but it could just be I’m reading into to it too much. Paul and Gene seem to be acknowledging Tommy and Eric S which isnt outrageous. Just a shout out. And Gene! I think I like his speech most of all. He gives respect to ace and Peter specifically as well as acknowledging Carr, Kulick, Vincent St. John.
All in all, imo Gene came off best based on just the speeches alone. He didn’t say anything about aucoin or Bogart but given the time limit, it’s understandable. Paul has an ax to grind lol. Deservedly so but c’mon Paul… Drop the drama. You’re getting recognition. Acknowledge it gracefully. Let go of the baggage.
Paul said what needed to be said. Kiss isn’t getting recognition by the Hall…they won the popular vote so overwhelmingly the RRHOF couldn’t ignore them anymore.
He’s dead on in his remarks when it concerns that. The only recognition Paul’s ever wanted, he’s gotten…by the fans. Paul’s speech was taking the fans side. I respect his remarks for that.
Classic example of the RRHOF’s behavior and thought pattern was on full display last night with Springsteen going way over his time limit to induct a “backup” band and yet Kiss gets 2-3 minutes. Not even a jam at the end because they ran out of time because of Bruce. As a fan of KISS, as a musician, as a fan of music in general I’m very appreciative of what Paul said.
Because Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band hogged the most time, you can see who are the HoF’s favorites.
JB.
Maybe Paul was dead on in his remarks (depending on the ears that hears), but to be perfectly honest, that guy has become the most bitter, angry and hypocritical idiot in the music business. He acts like a spoiled little child, who can’t have it his way.
He’s been trashing Ace, Peter, and even Gene and about everyone in sight – that is disgraceful. He is giving KISS a sad ending. In my opinion.
Have you read Ace’s book? Have you read Peter’s book? Bitter? Angry? Paul? Your post is a tad bit embarrassing for you.
Uhh I read all four books….and to be honest and…hmmmm TRUTHFULL….you can go back to 1983 to present and you can see bitter, anger, hatred and so forth with Paul & Gene. ON A REGULAR BEAT. Truth, you really should change your name to “TruthToLIES”
@ Joe…actually you can’t go back that far in terms of Gene and Paul talking smack. 82-83 the band was still on good terms with Ace…Paul going as far to beg the guy to stay in the band during the COTN era. Not to mention the last thing they were going to do is start a feud with another member when they were trying to reclaim ground and fans they had lost. Lord…talk about a PR nightmare, show a little common sense here. Over the following years they would also join Ace at his clubs shows at various times. Some of you seriously need to get your time frame down right. Pete started crap when his contract ran out along with the $$$ and he blamed Kiss for tanking his solo career…even though Gene actually wrote a song for his 2nd solo album in 82. This stuff with Ace didn’t start till the late 80’s. Again, get your time frame correct.
Your opinion Jimi…sad you feel that way since he basically kept the band alive for 40 years. With Pete’s constant bitching, moaning, drugs, sub par performances, Ace’s alcohol and drugs, Gene’s massive ego and essential abandonment of the band at various times…there’s Paul keeping it all together for us…the fans. And make no mistake I liked them all equally.
Where were you when Peter was blaming everyone and everything involved in Kiss for destroying his “supposed” solo career. Or countless late 80’s and early 90’s Guitar Player, Guitar World, Guitar this or that mags where Ace ripped Gene and Paul endlessly. What about the books where Pete, Gene and Ace ripped into one another…suddenly your holding Paul the only one accountable now. None of this is new. They’ve all thrown rocks for years. And now in your own bitterness you can’t even give Paul a pat on the back for pointing out how ridiculous the RRHOF really is.
At the end of the day…these guys don’t owe us anything. We all decided to participate in Kiss, nobody twisted our arms to buy the albums, the products the concerts. We did that because we’re supposed to be fans of the band. With that comes good and bad. Everyone bitched because the Hall ignored them, everyone bitched because the guys (or Paul) didn’t come together and kiss the Halls ass, everyone’s bitched because the band didn’t give the fans one last warm and fuzzy…well that’s life.
Hell, the last thing I wanted was to see those 4 guys in makeup playing the RRHOF, Kiss is better than that bullshit. At the end of the day, some of you supposed fans are no different than Jan Wenner, Dave Marsh or the Springsteen cronies…you feel like Kiss owe’s you something or needs to conform to the rules. I just feel damn lucky that I had a band that kicked my ass growing up.
You just rocked my world sir!! that is the best response to these 1 sided hypocrites I have ever read. It has always been ok for Ace and Peter to throw stones, but the minute Gene or Paul’s fires back they get crucified. My take is fans like that, are deep down bitter because they have only their idols (Ace and Peter) to blame for all of this. They know from the 2 guys own admission the F’ed up over and over, but it is much easier to blame Paul and Gene.
I love them all, I grew up on 70’s KISS, and accepted every single member…why? Because I LOVE KISS! I love the classic sound, the glam, the hard rock, even the concept album, not so much the grunge effort but I hate grunge. But at the end of my day, Paul’s voice, the stages, the shows, it was always a treat that no other band could touch.
As the end is clearly drawing near for him (cf. his voice, the constant hints at Kiss continuing without G and P) he might do whatever he can now to finally position himself in the public eye as the most important, most improtant (kept the thing going even when Gene was not 100% into it …) and most professional and dedicated member of the band. I know it is sad and lame and hypocritical and so obvious, but that is what this business can make people.
🙂 I accidentally posted “most important” twice, but it is true, nevertheless!
Drama? He’s the only one that actually tried to stick it to the HOF, and did. He deserves much credit for that.
What so crazy is, he’s the only one taking up for the fans…pointing out the absurdity of the RRHOF itself. I truly wonder is some of these people are still being spoon fed by their mom.
Except that it was at the fans insistence that they got into the hall. Remember , even Paul said that it was important to the fans. He’s my bitching so much about the hall because to induct them now ruins his current business model. If he hated it so much he shouldn’t have gone. Oh wait, it’s for the fans. Then shut the fuck up, go, and give the fans what they want. Especially since one of the fans who was beating the drum for you to get in is inducting you.
They gave us what “we” wanted for 40 years. Now your throwing a little hissy fit because Paul didn’t wanna kiss the ass of Wenner, Marsh and the like. Sure, Kiss got in, sure the fans put the hall in a position that they couldn’t say no anymore. What you don’t see is how the Hall tried to control the whole process. How suddenly after 40 freaking years Rolling Stone decided to put them on the cover. What you can’t see is Wenner, Marsh, the Hall…all these fools trying to make a mockery of Kiss. And guess what…with all the bitching by the fans they have. Let’s see here…did Springsteen’s freaking backup band have a time limit? A backup band…understand that? As I said, the last thing in the world I wanted to see is Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter in makeup playing to a bunch of people who have ignored them and disrespected them for 40 years. They wanna see Kiss… the real deal, they shoulda bought a ticket 30+ years ago.
I agree JB. You, and maybe 2 or 3 others on this board are the only ones that have any common sense. Who doesn’t love the original 4. That’s what we all grew up with. But Ace and Peter were total pains in the ass and they blew it for themselves. (after multiple chances). They had no respect for the band or the fans. Paul’s book was a great read. Very eye-opening about Ace and Peter.
That is, if you want to believe everything Paul says… He has in fact said many things that make no sense so I’ll just take a lot of the things he may have written in the book as being his point of view and something that first and foremost is designed to make him look good in the eyes of the public. He seems desperate to be remembered as the most important member of the band and time is running out – so many of us still hold Ace especially in such a high regard, nearly fifteen years after he left the band for good. I’m sure it irks the aging Starchild on some level. The same guy who gave Ace’s ’78 solo album less than three points out of five… Too many fans loved and continue to love the “fuck-up” dammit! It’s like Ace said in an interview recently: “we [Peter and him] are like a rash that won’t go away”
If he really wanted to stick it ot the HOF, he should have stayed home. If you think you’ve been wronged for so many years, then be a man and don’t go. Like others have said, he came off as a whiny, spoiled brat in his speech and his comments leading up to the ceremony.
Rush was ignored by the HOF until last year, when similarly, the fans’ voices were finally heard. THEY were classy about the whole thing, even admitting in Neil Peart’s speech, “We didn’t think this was a big deal. Turns out, it kind of is.”
And yet Alex’s speech consisted of nothing but “blah, blah, blah”…his way of saying piss off.
Great point.
I think more proud than bitter…
Sad to think that in the beginning there was no money, no lawyers, no contracts, no rivalries. It was all about rock and roll, the passion to be the most unique band in the world, the drive, the love for what they were doing. Now its all about contracts, lawyers, and a ceaseless end of nastiness that has no bounds.
I was a fan the first time I started listening to them in late 1976 and was a die hard up until Peter left the band in 1980. I am not going to waste my time slamming, flaming any one person, although all four deserve an equal amount of credit for being knuckleheads at one time or another. It deeply saddens me to think the band I have loved most of my life has been reduced to being a dark and obnoxious shadow of its former splendid self.
What I want to know is… Why is Peter’s award broken? I haven’t hear a word about it yet. Temper tantrum, accident, what happened????
Oh wow I just noticed that after you posted about it…! Wow…my bet is he threw it at Paul lol
Good speaches by all. Too bad they can’t throw down one last time. They are a cool looking band now (no matter age they are) with the new picture above, would love to see them without the makeup rocking out.
Well said by all. Thanks Paul for calling the RRHOF out…that’s needed to be said for years.
The guy on whose website you are currently commenting on has been saying this for years, decades even. Paul just decided to attend the party and shit on the hosts of that party. Mostly because he was incensed that the Hall wouldn’t give him what he wanted. It was a tantrum more than anything… glad the other three kept it classy.
Just as Paul has been saying it for years. But here’s the thing, I don’t need Eddie or Paul or anybody to tell me how full of crap the RRHOF is, maybe you do. I’m glad the bands in it simply because if your going to have something like that…might as well have one of the most influential bands ever in it. However I never needed Kiss to be in it to justify my feelings on the band. Apparently a lot of fans need that justification because they feel Kiss owe’s them something. Whatever.
Another thing…I don’t believe Paul anymore than I believe Gene, Peter or Ace. I take them for what they are…all have their different views on what happened as 4 people always will. Clearly though if you read the books it’s easy to see who is the most bitter unless your blind. However one thing is clear…without Paul, Kiss doesn’t survive for 40 years. That’s not debatable and it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with ego…it’s just fact.
Ahhh yes another cerebral, well-researched post by an Ace/Peter fan. Always so entertaining to read that redundant, overly defensive drivel..
You actually perceived that as a tantrum? Wow, the childhood you must have had! I hope your insurance covers therapy.
What I liked seeing during Ace’s speech was Gene and Paul in the background, guys who have quite frankly crossed the line to a fault with derogatory comments of late that I have found somewhat insulting (if you ask me) to previous members (ie. Mark St. John), allowing themselves a light moment and smiling and laughing to some of the comments and jokes by Ace (ie. the summer of love joke that went over peoples heads, the diarrhea/willpower/addict analogy, etc) – letting their guard down and being human….for a (refreshing) change. That is what will stick in my mind. These guys love Ace and Peter deep down when dollars and cents aren’t in the equation; there just alpha dogs whose competitiveness becomes a little absurd at times and buries some of the more positive emotions that do in fact exist. It’s good to know there is more good will between the 4 of them than we sometimes might think or realize.
Rich, It’s funny because what I saw, was four people being uncomfortable in each others company. It seemed like an act…
I did absolutely not see any kind of love for Peter and Ace from Paul – at all. That guy is about as hateful as they come. I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes, and why Paul is acting like a jerk, but something is going on…
I tip my hat to Gene (who I find a repulsive jerk), for mentioning Eric Carr, Mark St. John and Vinnie Vincent though.
Hi Jimi, I wasn’t commenting on what was going on between them during the speeches on stage. I just meant in general – away from each other. From what I could see during the speeches, they were facing each other on numerous occasions and bantering between each other from time to time. Of course, in light of all the comments, it had to be a little awkward but I think for the most part everyone was in the moment and paying attention to what each other was saying at the podium.
A lot of talking behind backs and the need to put others down to reinforce there own ego’s. SAD, Pathetic and embarrassing that they were the only ones not performing. One chance at this and they blew it. I have heard so many people say what the hell, these guys never learn? I shrug my shoulders and say these are the same guys who gave us Hello Kitty KISS dolls…UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have to disagree. I watched it, maybe i missed something, but when Ace and Peter were talking, not once did I see Paul clap for anything. I know that sounds petty but his lack of enthusiasm speaks volumes to me.
I noticed that too. Paul is a diva, and it’s sad.
Yes, it is petty and sad.
You, pointing that out is petty and sad.
Paul acts like a woman sometimes…the silent treatment, being a diva, etc
I agree. It is like going to the Oscars or whatever, people put up a ashow, those who get the prize and those who don’t, it#s got its own rules, nothing is ever real, they will not behave naturally, in this case, the anger is and was still there, but they would not let the HOF they – especially Paul – wanted to criticize to have something to laugh about, so they made it look alright, not like an easy target for mockery.
This was cool and rock & roll forever baby!