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
We all take the name “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” too literally. It is clearly just the Pop Music Hall. We all know who the bands in OUR Hall are. When they pull their collective heads from their asses and put in a Rush or KISS, that’s great. When they don’t, I don’t sweat it, as it has absolutely no impact good or bad. KISS won’t sell any better now than before, unless they manage to write some good songs again. Highly unlikely.
someone should ask this idiot, “so is hip hop rock and roll?”
Another dumbass playing the race card
All music has merit excerpt deliberately vulgar stuff. I want to share a story of hope with everybody. I have a friend who is African-American named Nelson. He was very depressed years ago and I needed to help him out. He was a Miles Davis fan but I asked him to listen to something. That something helped him get it back together. That something allowed for him to marry a lovely African-American girl and now they have 4 beautiful children together and Nelson is very happy. That something is of course CRAZY NIGHTS by KISS. The song: REASON TO LIVE gave Nelson a reason to live. It was Paul Stanley and his message that gave my friend a new lease on life. Does that sound racist? God bless you Paul Stanley and your beautiful message.
Love, the RICHMAN (rich in spirit not money ’cause I’m doing the overnight shift on Saturday/Sunday).
Everybody’s got a reason to live. Everybody’s got a dream and a hunger inside.
Bottom line, if it was Rock n Roll it wouldn’t be called Hip Hop. Put ’em in the Hip Hop Hall of Fame if there is such a thing. Oh, and the last I check there are white hip hop artists. There are also African-American rock and roll artists such as Chuck Berry that ARE in the RRHOF and deserve to be. This guy is just a plain dick.
Exactly, every “white” person I know including myself loves B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Vic Johnson, just to name a few. But I guess that don’t matter to some people because to them if you don’t like rap/hip-hop, you’re a “racist”. It’s people like Pressman that keep dividing this country, hey Joel, I don’t like grunge or country music either, so now what do you want to call me?