KISS once again snubbed by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

[TBird1958]

Seems odd to me that Kiss aren't in the RRHOF, but as has been stated, that isn't really an artist's measure of sucess. On the personal influential level I can say that their early material up to say, Destroyer was part of my musical upbringing. I like Glam, the showy, cool english bands of the '70s ( Slade, T-Rex, Mott, Bowie and of course Alice Cooper!) are still amongst my faves. The first time I saw Kiss was on ABC's "In Concert", they probably played "Strutter" as a young sexually confused teenager I was absolutely mesmerized by them - I loved the makeup, boots and clothes (still do!) but I loved the music too, I had already started playing the bass by then but Gene Simmons sure let me know it was a very cool thing to do, and inspired me to keep playing.   

I love Kiss! 

[OldManC]

A few other points, and not to argue that anyone should like the band. Obviously that's a subjective thing though I was obsessed with them as a kid. I was one of those fans that would never give up on them right through to the end of the original make up years.

The first Spector bass most people ever saw was Gene's, which he used from 1977 right through to the mid 90's before retiring it. Larry Dimarzio got a pretty big boost from Gene's using his products early on.

Many bands and artists bands can thank KISS for exposing them to their first (or early career) touring audiences as the opening band on a KISS tour, including Cheap Trick, Rush, Ted Nugent, Judas Priest, Bob Seger, Uriah Heep, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, W.A.S.P., AC/DC, Sammy Hagar, Styx, John Cougar, Loverboy, Night Ranger, Accept, Great White, Bon Jovi, Krokus, Queensryche, Dokken, Black n Blue, White Lion, Anthrax, Faster Pussycat, Winger, Vixen, and even Flo and Eddie.

As much as I like to bag on Gene and Paul for what they've done with the band over the years I can't discount the fact that they've kept that band a viable enterprise for 37 years, including many, many successful ones. Jann Wenner hated KISS from the very beginning so it's not a surprise to see them left out of a now meaningless RRHOF. I still like the the Alice Cooper band was nominated this year but if they don't get in it won't mean anything to me.

[lowend1]

The RRHOF is basically Jan Wenner's plaything. Ahmet Ertegun was the only person who could hold him in check, and he's fertilizer now. Back in January, this nipplehead decided that he needed to change the rules because they had run out of candidates. Apparently he felt it was necessary to reduce the "years since first album" requirement from 25 years to 20. If the RRHOF is supposed to be about American popular music, in addition to Kiss, they should induct Chicago, Three Dog Night, Boston and Grand Funk. Expanding the scope internationally, you can count Deep Purple, Bad Company/Free and Badfinger in as well. All the above acts had a major impact on rock music for one reason or another. And where the hell is Foghat?!

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

Dear Kiss Army Draft Dodgers,

Ask yourself, how many bands do you know that
- Have a bass player who discovered Van Halen?

...& the lovely & talented DORO!

[jumbodbassman]

RRHOF is a joke.  They won't let Prog bands in but have decided that jazz and motown is ok.  They clearly have inconsistencies in what they do.  IMHO Yes Elp etc belong there as much if not more.

[lowend1]

...& the lovely & talented DORO!

What about The Great Kat?

[Dave W]

What about The Great Kat?

The building isn't big enough for her ego. Hell, Cleveland isn't big enough.

Is it enough to be considered influential? I though a hall of fame is about achieving fame. Never been a KISS fan but they're certainly famous.

[ramone57]

Kiss army draft dodgers!    I'm more of a conscientious objecter    I just never liked the style, including most of the bands cited in the thread.   maybe a song or two here and there but overall it leaves me cold.  but that's ok, there's something for everybody and it doesn't matter to me what music people like.  I like plenty of stuff that's considered unconventional at the very least or weird by most people's standards.  it doesn't matter to me how many people like it because I do.  so I don't disparage the venerated Kiss Army; I salute them for their resilience!  

[uwe]

Deep Purple had the offer to be inducted to the RRHOF years ago, but Blackmore - despising the RRHOF and any events of similar ilk unless they are Renaissance fairs - wouldn't go. As they had the rule that all living members of an honored band must show up, that was that and the Bee Gees were inducted instead of DP that year. It broke Roger Glover's heart who would have liked to have been there and it is one of the few things he can't forgive Blackmore for stonewalling. Blackmore was at that point already not a member of DP anymore. He didn't mind the others going, but had no interest in appearing himself.

So for the non-inclusion of Deep Purple, the RRHoF can for once not be faulted.

[drbassman]

Well, I've been there and I have to say, there are so many artists who have such a thin link to R&R it makes my head spin.  I wouldn't mind if KISS got in, it makes more sense than rap, disco and other non-R&R folks.  Next thin you know they'll be inducting Carol Channing for her rendition of "Hello Dolly."

[fur85]

"Next thin you know they'll be inducting Carol Channing for her rendition of "Hello Dolly."  I think that sums up RRHOF.

This video captures what I like about Kiss

[TBird1958]

Wow!

I knew nothing of that, so very cool!

Thanks for posting it! 

[Denis]

Holy crap, that is fantastic! No matter what you think of KISS, you have to hand it to them for warming up to the city and high school that way. Nobody that was there will ever forget that!

[lowend1]

I remember the Cadillac High thing well. It was just after I got into Kiss' music and it was covered in NYC's Rock Scene magazine (I think I still have the issue). Being a sophomore at the time I was thrilled that they would do something like that. Kiss has always been the quintessential American band - big, brash, loud and proud - and love them or hate them, they always delivered live. In the early days, they would get booked into 3,000 seat theaters supporting the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (or whoever), and would ultimately get a standing ovation because the effort and energy that they put into their performance could not be denied. That's not Gene being a master marketer, that's just giving people that bought the tickets their money's worth.

[Chaser001]

I've listened to Gene Simmons play bass and find nothing wrong with the way he plays or sounds at all.  It's KISS's music itself.  It just doesn't do anything for me at all.