Gene Simmons says the original KISS lineup will never reunite, despite their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame this past spring.
“Not a chance,” Simmons tells the Tampa Tribune. “We've already danced that dance three different times. No way will we reunite. It wouldn't be fair to Tommy [Thayer] and Eric [Singer]. It wouldn't be right.”
The April 10 ceremony at New York’s Barclays Center saw the original lineup of KISS inducted alongside Nirvana, Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oates, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, and The E Street Band.
“We have no reason to complain,” explains the bassist. “We're the luckiest sons of bitches to walk the face of the Earth. If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame added us or didn't, it didn't matter to us. We only did the induction with Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss] because the fans wanted it. But it was a slap in the face that they didn't acknowledge Tommy and Eric. They've been in the band longer than Ace and Peter. If the Grateful Dead can have 10 members in and out of the band and a lyricist, who was never in the band in the Hall, how can you explain that? Or how can the E Street Band get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? The E Street Band? Well, then why not the Silver Bullet Band or the Heartbreakers. I don't get it.”
Asked how he might change the Rock Hall if given the chance, Simmons says, “The first thing I would do is move the bodies buried in the wrong place. I would bury them in the right place. I would put Run-D.M.C., who I believe are very good, and the rest of hip-hop into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame. I would take Madonna and Donna Summer, who was a dear friend, and put them in the Disco or Dance Hall of Fame. I would put Deep Purple in the Hall. The fact that Blondie got in before Humble Pie is crazy.”
Read the full Simmons interview at the Tampa Tribune here.
KISS recently launched a summer tour of North America with Def Leppard; shows wrap up in Houston, Texas on August 31.
KISS will follow Guns N’ Roses’ and Motley Crue’s lead and play their first Las Vegas residency this fall.
“KISS Rocks Vegas” will see the band perform 9 shows at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino between November 5th and 23rd.
See also:
KISS announce first Las Vegas residency
PHOTOS: Def Leppard guitarist wears Gene Simmons KISS gear
KISS members featured in new AMC series 4th And Loud
VIDEO: KISS launch summer tour with Def Leppard
Search KISS at hennemusic
