This week, KISS rocker Paul Stanley had some not-so-kind words for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when KISS appeared on The Howard Stern Show.
Stanley, the enduring 71-year-old singer and guitarist, also threw shade at ex-KISS members who were inducted alongside him and fellow founding member Gene Simmons when KISS received the honor from the Cleveland rock museum in 2014.
The four performers inducted as KISS were Stanley, Simmons, original lead guitarist Ace Frehley and original drummer Peter Criss. The Rock Hall did not include the ex-members’ contemporary KISS replacements, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer.
Paul Stanley Digs Into the Rock Hall
So, when Stanley was asked on Wednesday’s (March 1) Stern why KISS didn’t perform at their Rock Hall induction, the musician replied, “Because we had too much pride in this [current] lineup, which is KISS, and has been KISS for 20 years. It’s not newcomers — this is the band.” (via Blabbermouth)
READ MORE: KISS Debunk Long-Rumored Satanic Acronym Stands for Their Band Name
The Starchild continued, pointing to KISS’ final “End of the Road” shows, “We’ll be back in the stadiums of South America next month. We were there five months ago. We were in Japan. This is the band that has carried the flag and taken it, really, to another level. This is the band I always dreamed it would be.”
Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley
KISS at the Rock Hall in 2014. (Larry Busacca, Getty Images)
He added, before insulting the former KISS members’ musicianship, “And for us to go onstage — they were demanding, quite honestly, that we play with the two original guys, Peter and Ace.”
But he said that “would be demeaning to the band, and also would give some people confusion. Because if you saw people on stage who looked like KISS but sounded like that, maybe we should be called PISS.”
Simmons chimed in, saying, “We’ve been all over the world, through decades, with this present lineup. It bears noting I’ve never seen a single banner or sign that mentions any other lineup.”
Is the Rock Hall Hypocritical?
Stanley argued the Rock Hall’s “hypocrisy is that we’re not a band they like. They purposely kept us out for 15 years. And other bands that they embrace, they induct people’s moms and songwriters and all these people. And with us, it truly was unfair.”
Early this year, the Rock Hall revised its mission statement to be more interpretive of the concept of rock music. Past backlash against the institution has included singer Corey Taylor claiming his band Slipknot would reject a nomination. Simmons once called it “disgusting” Iron Maiden aren’t inducted.
KISS’ End of the Road World Tour picks back up next month. First announced in 2018, it was at one point scheduled to end in 2021. See the 2023 dates under the videos. Get tickets here.
Why KISS Said No to Performing at Their Rock Hall of Fame Ceremony
Watch: KISS Rock Hall Induction (2014)
KISS 2023 Tour Dates
April 12 – Manaus, Brazil @ Arena Amazonia
April 15 – Bogota, Columbia @ Estadio Campin
April 18 – Brasilia, Brazil @ Mane Garrincha
April 20 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil @ Mineirao
April 22 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Allianz Parque
April 25 – Florianopolis, Brazil @ Hard Rock
April 30 – Santiago, Chile @ Santa Lauro
May 27 – Columbus, Ohio @ Sonic Temple
June 3 – Plymouth, England @ Argyle Stadium
June 5 – Birmingham, England @ Home Park
June 6 – Newcastle, England @ Resorts World
June 10 – Prague, Czech Republic @ O2 Arena
June 12 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
June 13 – Belgium, Brussels @ Palais 12
June 15 – Clisson, France @ Hellfest
June 17 – Munchen, Germany @ Konigsplatz
June 19 – Krakow, Poland @ Arena Krakow
June 21 – Dresden, Germany @ Halle 1
June 22 – Berlin, Germany @ Schmeling Halle
June 25 – Cartagena, Spain @ Rock Imperium
June 27 – Lyon, France @ Halle Garnier
June 29 – Tuscany, Italy @ Lucca Festival
July 1 – Mannheim, Germany @ SAP Arena
July 2 – Cologne, Germany @ Laxness Arena
July 5 – London, England @ O2 Arena
July 7 – Manchester, England @ AO Arena
July 8 – Glasgow, Scotland @ OVO Hydro
July 12 – Rattvik, Sweden @ Dalhalla Amp.
July 13 – Rattvik, Sweden @ Dalhalla Amp.
July 15 – Tonsberg, Norway @ Kaldnes
Oct. 29 – Austin, Texas @ Moody Center
Nov. 1 – Palm Springs, Calif. @ Acrisure Arena
Nov. 3 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Hollywood Bowl
Nov. 6 – Seattle, Wash. @ Climate Pledge Arena
Nov. 8 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Rogers Arena
Nov. 10 – Edmonton, Alberta @ Rogers Place
Nov. 12 – Calgary, Alberta @ Saddledome
Nov. 13 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan @ SaskTel Ctr
Nov. 15 – Winnipeg, Manitoba @ Canada Life Ctr
Nov. 18 – Montreal, Quebec @ Centre Bell
Nov. 19 – Quebec, Quebec @ Videotron Ctr
Nov. 21 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Canadian Tire Ctr
Nov. 22 – Toronto, Ontario @ Scotiabank Arena
Nov. 24 – Knoxville, Tenn. @ Thompson-Boling Arena
Nov. 25 – Indianapolis. Ind. @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Nov. 27 – Rosemont, Ill. @ Allstate Arena
Nov. 29 – Baltimore, Md. @ CFG Arena
Dec. 1 – New York, N.Y. @ MSG
Dec. 2 – New York, N.Y. @ MSG
31 Hard Rock + Metal Acts Who Deserve to Be in the Rock Hall of Fame
Here are 31 rock and metal artists who we feel should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Note: This list was composed in 2018.)