The boss of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has hit back at Paul Stanley, describing the KISS frontman as a “borderline racist.”
CEO Joel Peresman had come under fire from Stanley over the handling of his band’s induction at this year’s ceremony. He and bandmate Gene Simmons wanted the current lineup to play at last month’s gala night while organizers only wanted the original members to perform. The argument ended in a stalemate, with the band not performing at the ceremony.
Stanley – who took a pot shot at judges from their own stage – this week reignited the argument by calling the Rock Hall “elitist” and claiming it lacked credibility.
Now Peresman has broken his silence, hailing Simmons’ acceptance speech, but slamming his bandmate. He tells Radio.com, “It was a lovely speech; it was actually kind of classy – as opposed to Paul’s. He’s been almost borderline racist. Not in that speech, but in other interviews talking about how hip-hop artists shouldn’t be inducted because they don’t play instruments. It’s like, ‘what are you, kidding?’
And he talks about the nominating committee, and how those guys don’t buy records. Those guys buy records. They’re fucking fans. Those guys are writers and critics and musicians. Those are the people who buy records and got into the business because they love music.”
But Peresman may have gotten his facts wrong. In a recent interview it was Simmons, not Stanley, who slated hip-hop. The bassist said in March: “A few people decide what’s in and what’s not and the masses just scratch their heads. You’ve got Grandmaster Flash in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Run DMC in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? You’re killing me! That doesn’t mean those aren’t good artists. But they don’t play guitar. They sample and they talk – not even sing.”
Stanley made his own race-hate allegations when he referred to former bandmates Ace Frehly and Peter Criss as people who resented being “unfairly manipulated by money-grubbing Jews.” In March he said he stood by his allegations.
At the ceremony in Brooklyn on April 10, KISS were inducted alongside Nirvana, Peter Gabriel, The E Street Band and others.
source: metalhammer.teamrock.com
85 Responses
I am siding with Paul on this one 100%! This Hall chief is clueless. I can see why the Rock Hall is such a joke, now! We need a REAL rock and roll/metal Hall of Fame. Maybe a Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall with a different name other than “Hall”.
The Valhalla of Metal
Paul is right. It is the ROCK and ROLL hall of fame. Let rappers and DJs form their own. However, KISS has been a punch line for a joke for 30 years now. Their albums are a joke (“how many anthems about raising our fists and glasses for the love of RnR can we try and write on THIS album, boys?”). Their set lists are a complete joke and embarrassingly predictable. Hey Paul and Gene, can we just please omit Shout it out Loud, Rock and Roll All Nite, Love Gun, and all the other songs that you’ve played every night, every show, ad nauseum for 40 years and put some deep cuts in the set list that the REAL KISS fans – the ones stopped coming to your shows because it’s turned into a joke – want to hear?!? How about Watchin’ You or Exciter? Or Magic Touch or I’ll Fight Hell to Hold You? Stop being so boring and predictable, and reward the TRUE fans for once! #tarnishingYOURlegacy
Lardzy, quite honestly, if they changed the set list, you still wouldn’t be able to hear the difference, because of Paul butchering the songs with his “Great” vocals.
But you’re right, they’re a joke, especially this incarnation of the band.
I agree. Hip hop is rap . It is a genre of its on but the rnrhof should have been called something else if they knew rap artist n other pop artist were to be considered . Clearly the CEO and others are placing these artist in based on an art format and whats popular because we all know theirs nothing about rock r rill In artist like abba . Ll cooj and madonna. They should have made an addition. To the whole process and I think most people would have respected it more in terms of its validity. As far as paul stanley all I can say is as a longtime very huge kiss fan since I was 6 now 42 I have never questioned his direction of music or take on kiss . Up until what he and I state he had done to kiss .in last 13yrs. I have been seeing a difference in paul and as I read his new book I think its clear why he makes the kind of decisions he does especially in last 12 yrs . With this whole new kiss lineup which I am 100% not supportive of.I think its shame and disrespectful to the history of kiss to the fans and to ace and peter . I think its more of a selfish person like paul thats its always about what he wants more then maybe whats more wrong then right
Slash said the exact same thing about hip hop artists in the RRHOF on the Stern show, doubt Peresman would call him “boderline racist” or anything close to that. Haven’t been a fan of Stanley running his mouth, but this Peresman guy is reaching here just because his feelings were hurt by Stanley’s speech. Truthfully, the only thing out of Paul’s mouth in a while that is refreshing was his RRHOF speech.
I believe when Paul called Ace & Peter out on that idiotic Jewish statement that gad ALOT to do with Pressman calling Paul a “borderline racist”. A very bad & unfortunate statement on Paul’s part for making a statement clearly out of anger that wasn’t true BUT even a bigger blunder by Pressman……clearly both men have some issues going on within themselves in regards to this topic…..Joe in The Cuse
Oh wow, I have fucking had it with the race card already, ENOUGH!! Just because you speak out against rap & say you don’t like hip-hop, DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE OR MAKE YOU A RACIST! My respect for Paul & Gene just went way back UP! Most opinions are of the truth, rappers are NOT musicians, they don’t play instruments, they don’t sing, and they are NOT creative! What makes an “artist” today? sampling? stealing other peoples music? yeah, real creative. Before the bullshit stars let me say I like ALOT of R&B, funk, and even some jazz FROM the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s. I’m a rocker first & foremost, but I can admit I do like bands like Kool & the gang, Earth wind & fire, because they SING & PLAY instruments, that’s what you call musicians & artist. Why is it when somebody says they don’t like rock ‘n’ roll or heavy metal, they’re not called a “racist”?? but say you don’t like rap and right away you get labeled with bullshit. I’ve heard in a lot of interviews a lot of black people themselves say they don’t like rap/hip-hop, so what would you call them? I don’t care if it was Ozzy, Springsteen, Nugent, Hagar, even Halford, if any of them just to name a few “rapped” I would not listen to it. Paul & Gene are 100% right as far as this goes, if you don’t SING, PLAY instruments, or at least write your own music/lyrics, something, you should NOT be in the R&R HOF!
I would totally listen to Rob Halford rapping.
That would have all the luls.