Andy Greene of Rolling Stone reports:
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s President and CEO Joel Peresman had to deal with the wrath of KISS frontman Paul Stanley, who has gone very public with his anger over the Hall of Fame’s decision to only induct the band’s original lineup. “I don’t need the Hall of Fame,” Stanley told Rolling Stone. “And if there’s not reciprocity, I’m not interested. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, practically every member was inducted, and virtually all 175 members of the Grateful Dead. Rules need to apply to everybody.”
“I don’t like all the sniping back and forth, though mostly it’s been forth,” says Peresman. “And I totally understand his point of view. What he’s failing to understand is that there are certain acts that are nominated and brought in on their entire body of work, up until the day before the nominating committee meets. They are still evolving bands that are breaking new ground. With KISS, there wasn’t a single person we spoke to that didn’t feel the reason these guys were being inducted was because of the four original members. It’s an incredibly unique situation. I can’t think of another band, outside of Gwar, that has members that are dressed up in costumes. You basically have these new members that are replicating exactly and playing the music that was created by the two other members that are being inducted.”
KISS has invited current members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer to sit at their table, along with former guitarist Bruce Kulick. “I appreciate how Tommy and Eric have filled in and the way they do things,” says Peresman. “They are fine musicians and I’m sure they’re lovely guys, but they are basically replicating the two members that are getting inducted. How could we have asked Ace and Peter to accept the award and then have other people in their guise playing their music? They probably wouldn’t have even come. They were very clear about that. . .Frankly, I’m really, really happy that KISS are being inducted. It should have happened a while ago. The four of them will get up, accept their award, say what they want to say and then we’ll move on.”
Read more at Rolling Stone.
source: rollingstone.com
121 Responses
I think the new kiss would be a better band if they took off the makeup ,let tommy and eric play their own style ,not try to be somthing their not ,make good grooving rock and roll not try to make a hit ,just play from their soul I think they would be a good band and gain some respect back the make up thing is destroyed beyond repair.
Would we go see Kiss with Tommy and Eric without the make up? I think sales would finally plummet altogether. The same thing like in the 80s would happen, only faster.
I am a fan of old and new KISS. People are making too big of a deal of the makeup–Catman and Spaceman makeup. Yes, Peter and Ace developed those characters, but the point is the music, not the makeup. Sonic Boom was a really good album. Monster is one of the best I’ve heard from any band. It is for the 40 years of KISS music, not the makeup, that KISS should be inducted into the RRHOF. I have always been into KISS for their music more than the makeup. Get over it and support KISS for where they are now. The makeup represents a character, not the person. It may have started that way, but the point was to entertain people while playing great music. All members of KISS–past and present–deserve to be in the hall. Actually, they deserve to be in a REAL hall of fame that truly honors great rock bands. Ace and Peter should move on with their projects and continue on as solo artists. Tommy and Eric deserve to be in KISS–and WEAARRING THE MAKEUP!! It really seems that Eddie presses this issue because he is friends with Ace and alienated from Paul. This ceremony could turn ugly and that may be what the RRH snobs hope to see–so they can sit back and laugh at the whole spectacle. KISS fans have been a force to reckon with and the RRHOF have been forced to acknowledge one of the greatest and underrated bands on Earth. Congrats to all the KISS members: ACE, Peter, Paul, Gene, Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer, Bruce Kulick, Eric Carr, and to everyone who have preserved and supported KISS over the years. I say congrats not for being inducted in the so called RRHOF, but because they have made 40 years worth of great music. I wish all the guys could just makeup and be family again, but I understand the emotional scars are deep. Nevertheless, they care about each other and should support each other like brothers.
First The Make up always mattered!
Second IMO Sonic and Monster were not very good and I have never heard a non-KISS fan say otherwise.
Third they will never make up with ACE and Peter as long as they slam them at every opportunity they will be lucky if Ace does not punch them after the awards show.
The only point you’ve made so far that I can agree with is that they all need to stop bad mouthing each other in the press or on talk shows. Without giving each other a chance to save face, it only serves to further alienate one another. I am a fan of all the original members, but I am also a fan of the new lineup. Monster is one of the best KISS albums. Sonic Boom was very good but IMO not better than the classic albums. Monster is possibly better than the first six studio albums–and I never expected that! I hope they can all hug and make up before this ceremony, but…If Ace punches anyone, he is only causing more problems for himself, and the RRHOF wins. I don’t think he would do that, it was just a one time thing in the past with Tommy Thayer, and I think he apologized.
There’s never a dull moment when it comes to the original KISS lineup, good or bad.
Mike!! Right on brother…yes I agree 100%. I have been a kiss fan since 1976 and love the old lineup and all the other ones. Eric Singer is the real deal and I don’t care if God created the makeup he wears After loving and watching live all 3 Kiss drummers Eric Singer is simply the most gifted and my favorite. The music everyone keeps saying Gene and Paul keep sticking to live was composed, written and sang 95% by them people. Waaay too much credit to the others for music sang and written by Gene and Paul. Now while Tommy buries Kulick, my favorite Kiss guitarist is Ace. What is vastly overlooked however is that almost every single Kiss classic guitar chords and parts were banged out by Paul on an acoustic andAce later added the most amazing solos but many guitar parts on our favorites Paul came up with. Sonic Boom was an instant Kiss classic and Mike you are spot on about Monster being one of the best from any band recently. And my son dresses up as Eric every year since catching his drumstick and meeting him in a meet and greet. He now plays drums in my garage with Eric posters on wall and current kiss posters. That’s Kiss 2014 still relevant as the 1976 version was to me. Be tolerant of the fact the for me and my son Kiss today is fun, exciting,and still successful.
Eric Singer is a perfect gentleman. My wife and I met him at LAX as he was catching a flight to San Jose for a gig with Montrose. Coolest guy ever, down to earth, shook both our hands and chatted with us for about 20 minutes before it was time to catch our flight. I also think he is an excellent drummer, and a good singer too–and I told him so.
Tommy buries Kulick? You are deaf and know nothing of guitar playing, Listen to Tommy trying to copy Bruce’s solo when playing song from that era (especially on an acoustic which is always a lot harder), he cannot do it.
With all due respect to Ace, Bob Kulick, St. John, Vincent, and Thayer – Bruce Kulick was the best player the band ever had. Vinnie was my favorite to listen too, and St. John was a pure shredder. But note for note, none of them can touch BK.
Can’t argue with Joel Peresman, he’s wright. Hall of fame is a Clown Show though! What about the Late Great Eric Carr – The Fox and Vinnie Vincent The Ankh Warrior that were totally different characters. they got Kiss out of the dumper in 81, and then Bruce Kulick who is a Great Guitarist.
What about them?
P. S. Tommy Thayer Stinks.
I will say this – out of all the KISS members Tommy Thayer is not getting the respect at all, especially after being a road manager.
Eric and Vinnie were contract employees, and you could argue nothing except MAYBE Creatures is very memorable after ACE and Peter left. If I ask average music fans to name a KISS song after 1980 I doubt if they could. Maybe Lick It Up or Lets Put the X in SEX but I doubt it.
And how many people could name a Grateful Dead song?
Agreed, I have always confused with the Dead.
Robert, I agree with your 1st, 2nd and last points. maybe if the non-original members were on highly successful albums that had lasting impact on par with the original lineup’s albums, they would be inducted. I will admit that all the non-original kiss members are very good musicians (except I’ve only heard Thayer copying ace’s licks and style). however, that and their # of years in kiss doesn’t mean a lot if their era in kiss hasn’t produced a substantial amount of influential, successful albums in kisstory. THIS is the valid issue, NOT the sniping between g/p and a/p (even though its “funnier than hell” to read, along with reading and posting comments about it….that reminds me….
I agree wholeheartedly with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s decision to induct the original four members. The original band is what made people love Kiss. Almost all of their major hits were recorded by the original four. Kiss was almost dying out in the nineties until the reunion. The reunion made people interested in Kiss again. Nowadays, Kiss has become a laughingstock, to say the least. Tommy and Eric are hired hands who haven’t contributed anything noteworthy. Has any of Kiss’ newer material been a hit? Didn’t think so. Long story short, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are the greediest duo in the music industry. Do not trust or believe them. They could care less about their fans, all they want is your money. In fact, I’ve been boycotting Kiss since this whole fake Ace and fake Peter scam began after the Farewell Tour. You should too.
Miles Davis , run DMC. That’s not rock an roll!!! The RRHOF is a joke!!!