ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME CEO Defends Decision To Only Induct KISS' Original Lineup

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation CEO Joel Peresman has once again defended the organization's decision to only induct KISS' original lineup, thereby angering the band's leader, Paul Stanley. "I don't need the Hall Of Fame," Stanley told Rolling Stone. "And if there's not reciprocity, I'm not interested. The RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, practically every member was inducted, and virtually all 175 members of the GRATEFUL DEAD. Rules need to apply to everybody."

"I don't like all the sniping back and forth, though mostly it's been forth," Peresman told Rolling Stone. "And I totally understand his point of view. What he's failing to understand is that there are certain acts that are nominated and brought in on their entire body of work, up until the day before the nominating committee meets. They are still evolving bands that are breaking new ground. With KISS, there wasn't a single person we spoke to that didn't feel the reason these guys were being inducted was because of the four original members. It's an incredibly unique situation. I can't think of another band, outside of GWAR, that has members that are dressed up in costumes. You basically have these new members that are replicating exactly and playing the music that was created by the two other members that are being inducted."

Peresman continued: "I appreciate how [current KISS members] Tommy [Thayer, guitar] and Eric [Singer, drums] have filled in and the way they do things. They are fine musicians and I'm sure they're lovely guys, but they are basically replicating the two members that are getting inducted.

"How could we have asked [original KISS members] Ace [Frehley, guitar] and Peter [Criss, drums] to accept the award and then have other people in their guise playing their music? They probably wouldn't have even come. They were very clear about that.

"Frankly, I'm really, really happy that KISS are being inducted. It should have happened a while ago. The four of them will get up, accept their award, say what they want to say and then we'll move on."

Stanley recently posted an open message on KissOnline.com to counter Peresman's explanation to Billboard, as to why the Rock Hall is inducting KISS' classic ‘70s lineup — and only that lineup.

Paul Stanley's response to Peresman's statement as posted on KissOnline.com:

"The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame continues to attempt to restore its questionable credibility and glimpses behind the facade with nonsense and half truths.

"The truth is Joel Peresman and the rest of the decision makers refused to consider the induction of ANY former KISS members and specifically the late Eric Carr and Bruce Kulick who were both in the band through multi-platinum albums and worldwide tours and DIDN'T wear makeup.

"There is no getting around the reality that the Hall Of Fame's favoritism and preferential treatment towards artists they like goes as far as ASKING the GRATEFUL DEAD how many members THEY wanted the hall to induct and following their directive while also including a songwriter who was never in the actual band.

"Let's just accept the truth as it is and move on."

Paul Stanley told The Pulse Of Radio that for the April 10 induction ceremonies in Brooklyn, the Rock Hall was unbending in its decision to ignore the other members of KISS that joined following Peter Criss and Ace Frehley's respective departures.

"Bringing up the idea of inducting other members other than the original four, which is a very valid argument considering that there are people that played on multi-platinum albums and played for millions of people and were very important to the continuation of this band," he said. "The fact that when this was brought up, it was shut down as a non-starter. I don't appreciate that as somebody who is a self-appointed expert."