About 200 Kiss fans protested Saturday in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to demand that the band be inducted into the hall.

Fans, some from as far away as California, carried signs and had painted their faces in black-and-white to resemble Kiss band members.

Those participating in the half-hour demonstration were upset that the band, formed more than 30 years ago, has not been admitted, even though it has been eligible since the late 1990s.

Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record, according to the museum's Web site.

"Criteria include the influence and significance of the artist's contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll," the site says.

A museum spokesman said it was the first demonstration by fans seeking to have a group inducted.

The foundation that selects inductees is based in New York City, not at the museum.

http://music.yahoo.com/re...s/34981250

Lots of other artists didn't get in right away either. From my understanding, it's fairly rare to be inducted right off the bat anyway.

I don't get Kiss...never did!

They where never famous here!

They're more famous for their merchandise than they are for their music.

I think i only know 2 songs by them.

They deserve being inducted in the Rock Hall of Fame. KISS is still on my list.

Probably by the time Ace, Gene, Paul, and Peter are using canes and walkers

Kiss IS a great band, they're not just about the makeup or merchandise, they put on a hell of a show and made classic albums. I don't follow these nominations much but I'm really suprised they haven't been put in the RRHOF yet. I mean, for crying out loud, they have groups like ZZTop in the RRHOF, which have only had a fraction of the impact of Kiss.

I loved KISS as a kid. I still think they're a fun band.

KISS is the American rock band of the 70s and 80s. I enjoyed listened to then growing up and seeing them in concert. They SHOULD be inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame.

Tom said:

Good point about ZZ Top, but they didn't make it right away, did they? In fact the year Prince was inducted, wasn't he the only one to make it the first year he was eligible? Jackson Browne, Bob Seger, ZZ Top, George Harrison...

I think Kiss are victims of their own gimmick. Everyone knows who they are, but not that many people know their music. Similar to Marilyn Manson. Not that they aren't musicians, people just think of them more as characters.

People might not know Jackson Browne & Bob Seger as much by face or name, but they are probably more familiar with their songs.

great gimmick but lousy musicians

Tom said:

Tell em' Tom. I'm digging your "Rock and Roll Over" pic too. Anyway, I've been championing KISS on this site damn near all by myself. Except for Spyz and Natise and Rip, I thought I was the only one on here that truly dug KISS. I got to see KISS once as a kid when they ruled the world and that was in 77. I've seen them once in the 80's without makeup and then again on the reunion tour. Have every single album by KISS, have tons of old vintage stuff, including my KISS lunchbox. Their impact was huge and it's cuz of Ace that I switched from playing left-handed to right. They've sold tons of albums, and were probably the single most popular band from the mid 70's into 1980. It's clearly obvious they deserve to be inducted. Anyone over 25 has heard and seen KISS, if u dig them or not, their impact on pop culture cannot be overlooked.

pkidwell said:

I gotta disagree. Ace was a very good lead guitarist with many tasteful licks. He has influenced many guitarists that rose to fame in the 80's and early 90'. Many. Paul is a very good player as well. Gene is no John Paul Jones but he held it down and played quite funky when any other rock bassist would have just stayed paralyzed on the root note.

I'm kinda torn on this issue. I was once a huge Kiss fan. But I've never viewed them in terms of their musical importance. Mainly, because I don't think their music is particularly important. As has been said, they were definitely a fun group but I'm not sure they would be Rock Hall worthy.

Hey, they did get a VH1 Rock Honors award...
[Edited 8/7/06 16:03pm]

violator said:

I think you've stated it well. They're obviously cultural icons, and good enough to pull off being a band even without the makeup, but have they really contributed anything important musically to rock & roll?

watch some of the documentaries on Kiss, their early performances. They were nobodies when they formed, they built the whole Kiss phenomena out of next to nothing. People slept on their first few albums and blew them off, till they released Kiss Alive.

These two legends are in the Hall Of Fame.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...kwmGgRjOVs

only one thing to say... KISS ARMY UNITE!!! woohoo!!




Kiss Army soldier till the end

Tom said:

I LOVE your avie Tom!!

Those protesters should relax and get jobs. KISS will get into the RRHF. Seriously though, motherfuckers came from CALIFORNIA to protest THIS!?!?!?

Damn, Kiss isn't already in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? I would have thought they would have been inducted as soon as they were eligible.

Krytonite said:

I've been complaining about THIS for the longest. How the hell can you have a building called The R&R HOF and NOT have one of the great live rock bands of all time like KISS in there?!?

Granted, it's documented that Gene & Paul aren't going to lose any sleep over this. But don't be surprise if their die-hard fans (The KISS Army) made this their own personal fight to help get this band in the HOF.

vainandy said:

Hell, even Prince made it in the HOF before KISS!!!

Seriously, KISS isn't just a legendary rock band. They're a great rock & roll brand! The make-up alone is a great reason to put them in the HOF.

Tom said:

....which set the stage for THIS great rock album:

TonyVanDam said:

carlcranshaw said:

It's strange but when some artists are respected by the serious or
alternative -music scene,then they can do no wrong!
There is a rock station in my country wich I like very much,I've been listening 2 it since the late 80's,but they have the same problem.

Nirvana,REM,Pearl Jam,Radiohead and off course U2...those bands get a lot off airplay but when Van Halen had succes with the 91-album F.U.C.K. they just ignored it.Motley Crue who sold millions...never heard them.

I don't want 2 bring this station down,because they play a lot off good music
from every genre;Prince and Outkast and also Metallica and Living Colour.

It's a fact that Hard-Rock bands often don't get the respect they deserve!!
I'm not 13 anymore,I'm not that Kiss-crazy as I used 2 be,
but it's clear that bands as Kiss and Van Halen
made some great,groundbreaking music...they just have the wrong image!!

Van Halen has one thing that nobody can't denie:Eddie is always in
the top 100 of some greatest-gitarist list..if they like it or not,
he's in it!!!
[Edited 8/9/06 14:36pm]