In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation CEO Joel Peresman addresses the Hall's decision to induct only KISS' founding lineup, despite the group’s request to include other band members at next week’s ceremony in New York.
Pereseman was asked to respond to comments made by Paul Stanley protesting the Hall’s exclusion of all of the KISS members throughout their 40 year history, while pointing out that complete lineups from other bands have been inducted.
“I totally understand his point of view,” explains Pereseman. “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 the Rock Hall CEO. "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 [Frehley] and Peter [Criss] 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."
The April 10th event at New York’s Barclays Center will see KISS inducted by Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello; other honorees include Nirvana, Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oates, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, and The E Street Band.
The induction ceremony is being recorded for broadcast on HBO on Saturday, May 31 at 9pm ET/PT.
See also:
KISS perform rare acoustic show
KISS: Pearl Jam guitarist weighs in on Rock Hall controversy
KISS featured on In The Studio
KISS to be inducted into Rock Hall by Tom Morello
Search KISS at hennemusic
