Protesting for KISS
The complete story is here from CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/05/kiss.ap/index.html
It's about a group of 200 people who showed up outside the Rock and roll hall of fame to protest because they think Kiss should be in the hall of fame. Well, that's great that the band has such loyal fans, but I think the Rock and roll hall of fame is a joke. Rock music isn't about awards, honors and some display in a museum. To me having a hall of fame for rock music makes it seem very stale and it shouldn't be that way. Rock music at it's best is a very vibrant, living art form and to me the hall is just a money making scheme. If you want to honor a rock band then you play their music and you spread the word to others. That's how their legacy lives on, not through getting an induction ceremony and having people have to pay to see a plaque or whatever.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/05/kiss.ap/index.html
It's about a group of 200 people who showed up outside the Rock and roll hall of fame to protest because they think Kiss should be in the hall of fame. Well, that's great that the band has such loyal fans, but I think the Rock and roll hall of fame is a joke. Rock music isn't about awards, honors and some display in a museum. To me having a hall of fame for rock music makes it seem very stale and it shouldn't be that way. Rock music at it's best is a very vibrant, living art form and to me the hall is just a money making scheme. If you want to honor a rock band then you play their music and you spread the word to others. That's how their legacy lives on, not through getting an induction ceremony and having people have to pay to see a plaque or whatever.
posted by Metal Mark at
10:02 AM
13 Comments:
I agree with everything you said, but it still would be nice to see KISS get what they deserve.
Gene Simmons was quoted YEARS ago (before they were even eligible for induction) that, basically, he doesn't give a crap about the Hall and whether or not KISS ever gets inducted; it only matters what the fans think and not the "aging hippies" that make up the board who chooses the inductees.
Although KISS should have been inducted year one, KISS's legion of fans that will keep on going is all the tribute that they need.
IMO, the only HOFs that matter are in Cooperstown and the one 50 miles down the road from Cleveland, in Canton.
Kiss have carved their niche and and they have gotten the respect from the fans which is what truly matters. I don't agree with everything Kiss have done. However they have done some great albums, survived line-up changes, survived disco, blended into the '80's metal scene, survived grunge and been popular with, without and then with make-up again. They still have a huge following and it's not just people that got into themin 70's or 80's either. I still see teenagers wearing Kiss shirts. The rock media and rock snobs will still be turning their backs Kiss years from now, but there will still be plenty of fans wearing Kiss shirts and cranking up Detroit Rock City, Strutter and the like.
Bruce-I agree.
On another note... 25-30 years ago, could any of us have envisioned anyone in KISS doing a reality tv show, like Gene is? OK, there was that awful movie, but you get my drift..
I'm with Strutter here: I agree with you on the silliness of the rnr hall of fame, but based on its own criteria KISS should be in.
-- david
I'm with you about the RnR HoF, but that's exactly why I think Kiss should have been the first band inducted. They were the first and best example of commercialism over substance. They're a half-assed band musically, but they've parlayed their minimal musical talents into a tremendous money-making enterprise. Their success is measurable in just the way they like it to be measured, in dollars. While there's nothing really rock n roll about the hall of fame, there's also not a lot that's rock n roll about Kiss. But if the hall of fame is really just about money, then Kiss are the kings.
The only real validation of the RNRHOF is the artifacts it houses. That alone is the reason I would like to see it, just like there is an entire floor dedicated strictly to the Velvet Underground in the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. Kinda different since Warhol essentially organized it, but I'm a sucker for seeing pictures, posters, props, guitars, instruments, all that jazz in a structured environment because it honors music.
On the other hand, quantifying one band over another as justification to celebrate purported feats and accomplishments in music is quite unfounded. If the Bad Brains aren't included, or Voivod aren't included or Tommy Bolin posthumously, then there's something wrong. The whole voting process about warranting a band's "inclusion" in the hall of fame is crap, it's political, it's a sham for what rock 'n roll actually stands for to its listeners. I don't think I'm going to ensure I have Crosby, Stills and Nash in my collection because they're hall of famers; I'm going to put them in my collection because they're great songwriters and they created important music of their time and age.
That's where I support the opinions against the RNRHOF. As for Kiss, they were my favorite band from childhood until the Hot in the Shade album came out when I began to see what else was going on in the world of music. I'm particularly angry with Gene and Paul for being such obvious whores, but it's their prerogative, I suppose...if you cash in on yourself, do it if you can live with yourself. Obviously, those dudes can...
If Destroyer, Rock 'n Roll Over and Dressed to Kill are measures as to why Kiss ought to be in the RNRHOF, perhaps that's more legit than to point out that they commercially ruled the world at one time, so much even Scooby Doo and The Incredible Hulk had villains wearing Gene Simmons facepaint, notwithstanding that awful POS Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. If you want to reward a band that has more than a handful of pretty good albums and a overflowing egocentrism and capitalistic venture, then as Bobvinyl alluded to, they win hands-down...
Bob-Kiss were and are about commercialism over substance. However they were also fun which is why kids liked them. It was a like a comic book and a horror movie come to life. There will always be bands with minimal talent who have success because a lot of people like music just because it's fun. In their defense I don't think they have tried to hide that they are out for money. Unlike someone like Metallica who try to pretend they are attempting some big musical projects. Sure I am not thrilled that the Kiss logo is stuck on almost anything that can possibly be sold. Yet the influence of Kiss is strong and no one can deny that.
Steve-I like sports hall of fames because it allows individuals to get their recognition. Music is different, it's not competitive like a sport. It's not about statistics and breaking records (or at least it shouldn't be to the band), it's about creating. You don't call an art musuem an art hall of fame and have artists elected in and music is an art form not a sport.
Ray-I understand the draw of exhibits and that's one thing and they could have that and call it a musuem and that's not so bad. I am turned off by the electing bands to hall part. Like you said, you just can't compare bands and pick one in the manner that they are doing. Music is so subjective and it's silly to try to organize this thing and pretend that it can be done, be fair and be meaningful.
I've read numorous articles where Gene and Paul mentioned that they didn't care about the R&R Hall of Fame. Paul equated it to a "private club".
Kiss always like to have that tag as a "peoples band" anyway. Like they are on the outskirts when it comes to critic and parents and the establishment.
The Rock and Roll hall of fame is about a bunch of old Record company owners and TV suits getting together and having a jolly good booze up.
I agree that R&R doesn't need a HOF, but since on is there, are you going to tell me that Blondie deserves to be in and KISS doesn't?
Something is a-miss at the Circle K.
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