Kiss Frontman Paul Stanley Hails Rock Hall 'Victory,' Talks Ace Frehley and Peter Criss

By Gary Graff, Detroit | December 17, 2013 4:56 PM EST

Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Gene Simmons of the rock and roll band Kiss pose for a portrait session in 1975 in Los Angeles, California.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Kiss is letting bygones be bygones with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

After years of some charged rhetoric from the band members over Kiss' exclusion, Paul Stanley tells Billboard that news the group will be inducted as part of the class of 2014 is "terrific" and indicates "a changing of the guard and a different point of view" in the institution.

"The same criteria that kept us out has now gotten us in, and that's terrific," Stanley says. "It's great to know that we didn't change or apologize for who we are, and we're being inducted for what made us what we are. For whatever got us bent out of shape before, it's clearly not the case now. Certainly from the fact that fans get to vote to the fact that some of the past inductees are vehement and rabid Kiss fans, things have worked out just fine. My issues over the years didn't change; what changed was the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So it's a victory for everybody. It's very, very gratifying, and I don't take it lightly. There are a lot of people today who are very happy that Kiss will be inducted, and I'm certainly one of them."

Stanley says it's "way too early" to know how Kiss will handle the induction ceremony on April 10 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but he promises that "it will be unapologetically and proudly Kiss."

Co-founder Gene Simmons recently commented that he would not be willing to perform that night with founding members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, which Stanley says "I'm sure was heartfelt and off the cuff, and I can't take it beyond that. We'll see where we go from here. Peter and Ace are undeniably at the beginning of the band, and we built a foundation which has stood the test of time and has allowed us to build a monument for 40 years, so today I wholeheartedly embrace and acknowledge Peter and Ace and, likewise, a lot of people who have been in the band and also standing by the band -- and that includes the fans. But the idea of misleading or giving anybody a sense that we would ever go back to that (original lineup) situation is totally off the table. We've done that and, with all respect, it crashed for very similar reasons both times and things have moved on. I say without any animosity and with all respect that we wouldn't be here without what Peter and Ace contributed, and we wouldn't be here with them today."

As for the rest of the class of 2014, Stanley noted that, "I'm more than well aware and have the utmost respect for all of the inductees. It's a diverse group, but nobody who I really scratch my head about and say, 'How did that person get in?' There's no disco people or rap people, and with nothing negative to say about any of them, that's not my idea of rock or rock 'n' roll."

The new year will also bring a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Kiss' first two albums, and Stanley says the group will be up to "more of the same" -- which includes touring as well as the publication of his autobiography (listed as "Face The Music: A Life Exposed" with an April 22 publication date, according to Amazon.com) and the launch of the L.A. Kiss Arena Football League team. A Las Vegas residency is also being considered, according to Stanley. However, he adds, "It hasn't changed for 40 years. This is what we do. This is in my blood. This is what I breathe. So the idea of a special celebration for 40 years, I celebrate every day as an anniversary of getting this far."

GeorgieAto said:

Gunsnhalen said:

So glad Peter, nirvana, and hall got in. It's hilarious! Kiss fans are posses cause nirvana got in first go round. Well, duh! You didn't expect that? Gah... I used to be a huge kiss fan. But there music is silly! It's fun times, nothing more. They put on makeup and out on a huge show. Alice cooper, Frank Zappa, and Bowie did big shows too before that. They didn't invent shit!

[Bait snip - luv4u]

No I have the worst taste of music on this board.

[Edited 12/20/13 8:59am]

Maybe, Ugliest dudes to ever get laid so much awards from Skanky Hall of Shame. lol

What's interesting is just how poppy most of their songs are.

oh, and isn't it extreme ironic that Kiss AND Nirvana are being inducted the very same year???

two opposite bands, in every possible aspect

lol, the ironies of the RNRHoF staff

GeorgieAto said:

Gunsnhalen said:

So glad Peter, nirvana, and hall got in. It's hilarious! Kiss fans are posses cause nirvana got in first go round. Well, duh! You didn't expect that? Gah... I used to be a huge kiss fan. But there music is silly! It's fun times, nothing more. They put on makeup and out on a huge show. Alice cooper, Frank Zappa, and Bowie did big shows too before that. They didn't invent shit!

[Bait snip - luv4u]

What did dude say? a pressed Kiss fan? the mystery will never be known

missfee said:

Hall & Oates and Peter Gabriel! I'm definitely tuning in when they broadcast it.

RodeoSchro said:

JoeTyler said:

We, the fans of Kiss, are not going to shut up because Kiss should have been included already in 1999...

Actually, KISS did make it into the RRHOF in 2007. You know - when Van Halen was inducted.

(If you are old like me, you will get that joke.)

I didn't get the joke!

I'm still young!

yet another op for gene to exhibit his foot in mouth disease

KISS is one of those bands where I can only name a few of their songs.They're known more for their wild costumes and excessive make-up,than they are for their music

As a big Kiss fan this news sort of saddens me. It was kind of neat that they weren't in that silly little club.

I'm more interested to see who will be getting in over the next ten years once the nineties bands start being eligible. Pearl Jam and Radiohead seem like obvious inductions but what about Soundgarden? Alice in Chains? Smashing Pumpkins? Will any of the Britpop bands get in? Seems unlikely given their limited impact in America. Who does that leave? Green Day?

I don't see many "new" rock bands getting in, the next ten years could see some interesting, left field inductions.

^Smashing Pumpkins will get in first nod as will Radiohead. The lesser grunge bands will probably take awhile. Nirvana makes the statement. As for Britpop the RNRHF would find worldwide approval of honoring the Pet Shop Boys. I know they aren't much in america, but they are pretty huge elsewhere.

All of the bands/artists getting indicuted definitely deserve it, but there are still many many artists out there who also deserve it and have yet to be nominated.

1. Concerning KISS, if it was up to me, only Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Eric Carr, & Vinnie Vincent should be in the R&RHOF. Motherf*** you to everyone else that became bandmembers after Eric & Vinnie!

2. Congrats to Daryl Hall & John Oates, THE most successful living duo in American music history ever. Yes, I said it!

TonyVanDam said:

1. Concerning KISS, if it was up to me, only Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Eric Carr, & Vinnie Vincent should be in the R&RHOF. Motherf*** you to everyone else that became bandmembers after Eric & Vinnie!

2. Congrats to Daryl Hall & John Oates, THE most successful living duo in American music history ever. Yes, I said it!

Most successful living duo? What about Gene Simmons' testicles?

Obviously the RnR HallofFame is running out of inductees

when they honor a novelty band like Kiss.

Next year The Archies!!!

thedoorkeeper said:

Obviously the RnR HallofFame is running out of inductees

when they honor a novelty band like Kiss.

Next year The Archies!!!

next year wil be NIN ....and deep purple

thedoorkeeper said:

Obviously the RnR HallofFame is running out of inductees

when they honor a novelty band like Kiss.

Next year The Archies!!!

I've said this before, but it's called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and it's about being famous and/or influential, and this "novelty band" (like them or not) is BOTH! Several millions of albums, concert tickets and merchandise sold worldwide and a huge influence in the hard rock/metal scene over the years.

BTW--If The Archies get in, then Gorillaz should definitely get in, too!