Gary Graff of Billboard reports:
With the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony looming closer, neither KISS nor the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation seem ready to relax the entrenched positions that led to the group’s decision not to perform April 10th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
KISS, according to frontman Paul Stanley, is upset that the Rock Hall plans to induct only the group’s founding lineup and tells Billboard that discussions about subsequent members “was shut down as a non-starter.”
Nevertheless, Stanley says KISS feels that honoring the other six musicians who have played in the band is “a very valid argument considering that there are people who played on multi-platinum albums and played for millions of people and were very important for the continuation of the band. And clearly when you’ve got a busload of Grateful Dead (members) who have been inducted and guys in the Chili Peppers who nobody knows who they are because they played on the very earliest albums are inducted…The list goes on and on of the inconsistencies. Now, I’m not pointing fingers at any of those people, but I’m certainly pointing a finger at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The only consistencies are inconsistencies and the rules clearly are there are no rules because the criteria for how and who gets in is purely based upon a personal like or dislike. And when I feel we’re being treated unfairly, I have issues with that.”
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation CEO Joel Peresman says that the decision about who to induct from any band is made by the Rock Hall’s nominating committee as well as an adjunct group of “scholars and historians” familiar with specific inductees and genres. “This isn’t chemistry or physics; it’s not an exact science,” Peresman acknowledges. “Sometimes there’s an entire body of work up until (the artists) are inducted, other times it’s a specific period of time that established the band as who they are. With KISS there wasn’t one person here who didn’t agree that the reason Kiss was nominated and is being inducted was because of what was established in the ’70s with Ace (Frehley), with Peter (Criss), with Paul and Gene (Simmons). That’s what put them on that map.”
Peresman adds that KISS “is a unique situation where you have artists who wear makeup as part of what the band’s about,” but the Rock Hall felt that the later members — including current guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, who are wearing Frehley and Criss’ makeup, respectively — “are fine musicians who…basically have the same makeup and are the same characters that Ace and Peter started. It’s not like they created these other characters with different makeup and playing different songs. They took the persona of characters that were created by Ace and Peter.” Persman notes that last year Heart was in a similar position, where the Rock Hall chose to induct the original ’70s sextet and not later musicians that played in the band.
But Stanley feels the situation with KISS is a bit more personal. “That it’s 14 years on (of eligibility) and we’re getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a clear indication that the people who hide behind that moniker don’t like us, but it reached a point where it was so absurd and ludicrous (to exclude Kiss) that they caved,” he says. “It’s like them swallowing a teaspoon of medicine they don’t want. It’s a bitter pill for them to swallow, so they’re making it as small as possible.”
Stanley says that the Rock Hall asked KISS to perform as the original quartet, in make-up, but he and Simmons — who have been playing with three-time KISS member Singer again since 2002 and Thayer since 2004 — were not confident the performance would be up to standard. “Honestly, I don’t want to roll the dice and possibly negatively impact on what I personally have been involved in building for 40 years,” he explains. “I have too much invested at this point. It really is a can of worms that I feel is better off left closed.” Peresman, meanwhile, says the Rock Hall has no plans for a performance stand-in for Kiss at the ceremony. “We have other artists, other inductees showing up and performing when they can,” Peresman says. “We’re very hopeful that Ace and Peter and Paul and Gene come and accept their award. We’re obviously honored to have them inducted.”
Read more at Billboard.
source: billboard.com
208 Responses
This is my opinion that it had just posted on my Facebook a few days ago
Some of you were not around when kiss ruled the world in the 70’s . There was nothing bigger than KISS . without the original 4 there would probably be no kiss today . First . Ace , Paul Peter and gene created kiss. The ICONIC characters they talk about were created by ace and Peter . Tommy and Eric are just portraying those characters. They have not added or created in anyway to kiss or THEMSELVES . Just being paid to play a role . Yes that we would all do , but they have not made a impact or changed the face of kiss, never mind the world . Ace and Peter did, that is why Paul and gene are trying to protect the brand ! I agree Eric Carr should be mentioned. Cause he was his own person and did contributed a lot to the band to keep them going for a bit longer . The late 80 and 90’s in no way matched the success they had in the 70’s . Until the reunion tour were they able to sell out areas again . On there own!
Anyway now kiss is a brand. Not a rock band anymore . Gene and Paul both admit that . So if the CEO of coke a cola receives an award are they expected to bring all their factory payed employes up there to receive the award with them also ? Come on . If they were to ever get in the RRHOF it should only be as ..gene Paul Peter ace and the catman and spaceman like they are known for merchandise . No one cares about them ..if they had two other guys take their place no one would care and it would be business as usual . People Would still go see them still only cause of what Paul and Gene and Peter and ace created …… No one cares about tommy and Eric .. They are just playing a role . As far as other bands that all members are included in the RRHOF, Maybe they contributed to the success of the band or wrote hits as members of that band After the start of the band . I don’t know ? But I bet it was not for dressing up and pretending to be Jerry Garcea ? .
The real story is kiss can’t stand the point that fans will always want and love ace and Peter and they can’t and won’t have the success that they have or would have without those 2 guys still! So now with the backlash for not playing with them. The PR TEAM made up this induct everyone story so to look as if that is why they won’t play .!
I just had another thought as I was telling my wife about the giant article I wrote…lol
Cause these 80’s and 90’s baby’s have no clue . Here is another point
Eric singer was hired to play on a few Alice cooper tours . Alice got inducted , no one said Eric should of been inducted too. Then think about how many bands Eric has been hired to play with say they all got inducted , should Eric been inducted with them also? Come on now . Then Eric could be in the RRHOF 5 times and a guy like Paul Stanley only once ? New bee kiss fan wake up !
There was always only one way to do this, from the beginning; all members inducted and all available surviving members performing, together, without makeup. As a fan of 37 years, this is what I wanted to see. I wanted it to be all about the music, for one night. However, the RRHOF, after neglecting, arguably, the most famous band of all-time, for 15 years, is only willing to do it their way.
They are ruining this, intentionally and I agree with what Paul is saying 100%. But, the ballsiest thing KISS could have done, would have been to say, “no, thanks”, as soon as it was announced they were going to be inducted and booked a show, nearby, on the same night and done whatever they wanted with it. That would have been a great story.
I think KISS is doing the best they can, though, given the circumstances. To real, hardcore fans, KISS is a way bigger thing, than any four guys in a band. It’s a lifestyle filled with music, art and all kinds of creativity. It’s a community. The RRHOF don’t get that. They don’t want to and they don’t have to. But, they have succeeded in dividing past and present members of the band, many fans and are using the press to do it. The RRHOF represents the industry not the art and as usual, the industry is ruining the art.
I can see many ways to include TheOriginal6 or 8 even all 9/10. Its not a real thing. Its RollingStones club! Priest Maiden even DuranDuran and DepecheMode have beefs… BUT how did Hagar get in and not GaryCherrone in these ALL OR NOTHING examples… Just saying… NomeSayin?
BTW I would put in the Original6.
Anyone ask Gene if the new guys are ‘in the band’ or ’employees’ — his answer probably ends this public squabble…
Hahahahaha. As if Robert Trujillo, John Frusciante, Vince Welnick, the E Street Band, et. al. are not “employees”?
I have nothing against Eric & Tommy… But to put Peter & Aces Make up on and be who they created is very disrespectful… I will not buy or support anything with there face in that make up on. Take the make up off and tour as Kiss that way and I have no issues at all with that… Don’t Tour as a Kiss 70’s tribute band in make up.