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KISS Talks R&R Hall Of Fame
Wearing wigs and face paint at 50-something and 60-something years old, it seems like the guys in KISS couldn’t care less what other people think about them. But The Demon, The Starchild and the rest of the gang have feelings too – especially when it comes to being left out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Rolling Stone talked to Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley about the Hall of Fame’s snub earlier this week at KISS’ press conference announcing the band’s co-headline tour with Mötley Crüe.
The rockers and their fans have been waiting for KISS’ induction ever since they became eligible to join the Hall in 1999. In early December the list of 2012 inductees was unveiled and KISS learned they would have to wait at least another year to be honored for their impact on rock ’n’ roll.
“It’s become a joke,” Simmons told Rolling Stone. “We’ve been thinking about it and the answer is simply, ‘We’ll just buy it and fire everybody.’”
Photo: Scott Legato / RockStarProPhotography.com
DTE Energy Center, Clarkston, Mich.
To KISS, what may be even more offensive than being dissed by the Hall is the acts that have been – in their eyes – undeservingly inducted over the years.
“In all seriousness for the fans, for something to be called Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is such an insult to Madonna, Blondie and Tone Loc,” Simmons said. “Who the fuck knows what other disco act is in there? It’s an insult to them because they don’t get to be in the ‘Dance Hall of Fame,’ because that’s what they do. They’re legitimate dance, disco artists. They don’t belong in rock and roll.”
Stanley thinks the Hall is running out of legitimate acts to honor.
“The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has reached a point where they’re really scrounging and scratching to find someone left that they consider viable. With all due respect, when you get to Patti Smith you’re about two steps away from Pete Seeger.”
Rolling Stone noted that Tone Loc is not a member of the Hall of Fame. Blondie, Madonna and Pete Seeger have all been inducted. Patti Smith was inducted in 2007.
The 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are: Guns N’ Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Donovan, Laura Nyro, The Small Faces/Faces, Beastie Boys, The Crickets, The Famous Flames, The Midnighters, The Comets, The Blue Caps and The Miracles. Freddie King is being honored as an early influence, and Don Kirshner, Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns are being inducted as sidemen. The 27th annual induction ceremony is set for April 14 in Cleveland.
Back in December Pollstar.com asked readers who they thought deserved to finally be inducted if they had to choose between KISS or Rush. If you haven’t already left a comment voicing your opinion, let us know which act you think has been unfairly looked over. Or let us know which already inducted act doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame.
Click here for Rolling Stone’s story.