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
Gene Simmons created me!
Ive never heard of this person before just now and I have already forgotten his name. Who the fuck cares what he has to say?
Kiss was never just about the original 4 to me or to anyone I’ve been going to Kiss concerts with for the last 30 years. Bruce Kulick/Eric Carr/Gene/Paul was the lineup that made me a fan.
Well said. It simply states what kiss fans have known all along (OG fans) tommy and Eric for most of their time in the band have been imitating ace and Pete. Not saying that they are less musicians for it, the bands last 2 releases were pretty good. But as far as the hall goes I agree with their take on the situation. Because of the nature of the band it is a more complicated situation, as usual gene and Paul are trying to use this as a way to market and sell the current line up in an attempt to help falling concert attendance. It’s falling, I saw them on their last 3 tours. That’s why recently they went out with Crüe and now with def leopard. Kiss is always about money first, has been since Pete and ace left. Sadly music comes in at maybe 3 or 4 and all us peasants? I’d be surprised if we broke the top 10! Ace and Pete are both working on new releases that’s where I’m throwing my loyalty and money, they are the true heros here against all odds they have survived, endured, and still make great music.
i’m no fan of rnrhof, but the guy is exactly right , people and gene and paul can say what they want but paul and gene want everybody too buy into their bull**** and its not selling …rnrhof president was dead on when he stated they were replicating both ace and peter and lets be clear that’s all their doing, by the way has anyone even thought that if the rnrhof did accept all the lineups over the years , then what would happen’s when gene and paul retire, i guess people would be wanting the new guys to be accepted too. and that my friends are getting a little stupid.. i truly believe the original kiss should be inducted and i think gene and paul are just full of themselves .even to the point were you got all these other guy’s sitting at their table , well why not invite vinnie vincent to , their just picking who they want .being the selfish pricks they have come to be..it’s a shame what’s happened to such a great band..
The only reason KISS is back in makeup and quite frankly became relevant again was because Ace and Peter returned to the band. The original four re-lit the fuse of KISS. Nobody besides Ace and Peter in THEIR makeup could have done that. KISS has always been more than the music. Their stage shows and personas were legendary. EVERYBODY recognizes those four faces as the original KISS.
KISS is not the blue man group. The makeup was unique and personal for each member. If Gene and Paul have their way, KISS will be performing in multiple cities at the same time with different lineups after they retire. To the original fans, the original four meant something. They were larger than life. That was, is and always will be KISS.
All you have to really do is ask yourself:
If KISS started with Paul, Gene, Eric and Vinny in the 80’s, would we be having this discussion? Would the collective body of work from that point on be worthy of the HOF? Would KISS even be a band today?
your exactly right jaluciani,