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Gene Simmons of KISS Calls Out Rock Hall For Not Rocking

03/25/2014
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With the long delayed induction of KISS into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame there has been a stream of controversy surrounding their upcoming induction and the band refusing to perform with original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley.

Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have both been long critics of the Rock Hall and Rolling Stone Magazine and that hasn't changed with the band finally being inducted after fans gave them a victory in the fan ballot this year.

Simmons recently spoke with Radio.com about the induction and he called out the Rock Hall for their inclusion of non-rock artists including disco, pop and rap stars. Here is an excerpt:

Radio.com: At last year's ceremony, Neil Peart of Rush said, "We've been saying for years that this isn't a big deal. Turns out: it kind of is!" Do you feel any sense that this is a big deal, after being overlooked for so long?

Gene: Yes and no: it's not a big deal, except that it's a big deal to the fans, especially to the older fans. I have no beef with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You go on with your bad self and get more disco artists. Get the Boston Pops Orchestra to be inducted! A long time ago it was diluted. It's really back room politics, like Boss Tweed. A few people decide what's in and what's not. And the masses just scratch their heads. You've got Grandmaster Flash in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Run-D.M.C. in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? You're killing me! That doesn't mean those aren't good artists. But they don't play guitar. They sample and they talk. Not even sing!

Radio.com: Last year, Donna Summer was inducted, were you happy to see that finally happen?

Gene: What do you mean 'finally?' Donna was my next door neighbor for many years, I knew and liked her, she was on my [1978] solo record. But if you asked Donna, 'What kind of artist are you?' do you think she would say 'rock?' If you asked Madonna, 'What kind of artist are you?' do you think she would say, 'Oh, rock!' So what they hell are they doing in the Hall of Fame? They can run their organization any way they'd like, but it ain't rock! It just isn't! If you don't play guitar and you don't write your own songs, you don't belong there.

Gene talks about a lot of other topics including the possibility of a new KISS album, his recent appearance on CSI and more. Read the full interview here.

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