Following the induction of the original lineup of KISS into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at a ceremony in New York on Thursday, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons vented their frustration about the band’s alleged treatment at the event in a series of tweets slamming Rock Hall co-founder and Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner.
“Our treatment at the RRHOF confirmed my worst suspicions,” tweeted Stanley on Friday. “Wenner and the rest are spineless weasels.”
The singer continued his rant on twitter Saturday, writing, “@JannWenner & his RRHOF made sure to treat us as uninvited guests. No passes. No schedule and on. We were great and he remains a small man.”
Simmons joined in on Saturday, posting a link to Rolling Stone magazine’s 1969 review slamming the debut album by Led Zeppelin, adding, “ROLLING STONE. IDIOTS THEN. IDIOTS NOW.”
The bassist also tweeted a link to a video by the critic who wrote the Zeppelin review, saying “HERE IS THE ROLLING STONE WRITER WHO PANNED ZEP'S 1ST ALBUM. HIS BAND..MORON...”
The pair have maintained a fractured relationship with the music industry insiders who run both Rolling Stone and the Rock Hall, and have always questioned the validity of both brands.
“Oh, it starts decades ago. 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,” Stanley told Billboard last month. “Well, 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. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is kind of like a distortion of a bar mitzvah. Just 'cause I'm getting inducted doesn't mean this has turned into a love fest.”
During KISS’ induction speeches at New York’s Barclays Center last week, Stanley said music fans deserve more from Rock Hall organizers.
"The people, I believe, are speaking to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and what they're saying is, 'We want more.',” he said. “They deserve more. They want to be a part of the induction. They want to be a part of the nomination. They don't want to be spoon-fed by a handful of people. Choices. The people pay for tickets. The people buy albums. The people who nominate ... do not. Let's not forget that these (points to fans) are the people that make it all possible. We just benefit from it."
To date, there’s been no response from the Rock Hall or Wenner and, interestingly, no mention of KISS’ online comments on Rolling Stone’s website.
@RollingStone Our treatment at the RRHOF confirmed my worst suspicions. Wenner and the rest are spineless weasels. pic.twitter.com/8Y9nTJluSF
— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) April 13, 2014@JannWenner & his RRHOF made sure to treat us as uninvited guests. No passes. No schedule and on. We were great and he remains a small man.
— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) April 12, 2014ROLLING STONE. IDIOTS THEN. IDIOTS NOW....http://t.co/y5x0mxs6Wh
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) April 13, 2014HERE IS THE ROLLING STONE WRITER WHO PANNED ZEP'S 1ST ALBUM. HIS BAND..MORON...https://t.co/419kBWCVWg
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) April 13, 2014See also:
Ace Frehley left KISS because of The Elder concept album
VIDEO: Tom Morello inducts KISS into Rock Hall
VIDEO: KISS perform classic tracks on The Tonight Show
VIDEO: KISS inducted into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
Search KISS at hennemusic
