News Archive September 2009
From: Eddie Trunk
by Eddie Trunk
Posted: September 24, 2009
Never thought I would see the day but KISS has been nominated for the R&R Hall Of Fame. I am shocked! Now I stress nominated, they are still not voted in! Now it would seem pretty impossible with the other candidates that KISS would not be voted in, but lets' remember, this is the same group that had not even considered KISS for the Hall and they have been eligible for 10 YEARS! To me, even if they go in, it is beyond offensive that they were not even on the ballot for 10 years, much like they did not put VH or Sabbath in first year eligible. Can you imagine these bands had to wait years to even be considered!?!?! No matter what you think of KISS past, present or current, you simply can not argue the influence and impact they have had. How on earth are they just now showing up after being eligible since 1999? Just total disrespect for hard rock. How is Metallica in, but Priest ignored? The list goes on and on. Rush and coutnless others still being ignored. But without question the most glaring omission, KISS, is now in the running. If they don't get in against some of the others up this year it will be the biggest joke of all. Funny how Red Hot Chili Peppers are on the ballot first year, and KISS waited 10. Total fucking joke! Very interesting to see what happens here, and even more interesting to see who gets put in from KISS and how that will all work. There have been many lineups of the band over the years but clearly the original four are what is key here. Needless to say getting them all out there together will be a challenge. Keep in mind KISS did VH1 Rock Honors a few years ago with Tommy as Ace and Ace in the tribute band. What happens for the Hall? And what about Peter, who has expressed his feelings loudly about KISS and it's current version? Do any of the members besides the originals get in? Does it turn into a debacle like the VH induction? Going to be real interesting to watch and I'll ask Ace his thoughts tomorrow night when he's on the air with me (listen live at http://www.q1043.com). At the end of the day it will finally be a great victory for all KISS fans to see this happen, but it will be tainted if not done the right way. And it will never sit right with me they made them, and so many other legends sit on the sideline to be considered.
Speaking of Ace, he was on the Fox show Red Eye last night. The interviewer called him Space Man and spent a lot of time talking about KISS. As they spoke they cut away to live footage of KISS and "spaceman" in action. One problem. The footage they showed was with Tommy Thayer as "spaceman", not Ace. Another of the many reasons why Tommy and Eric should have their own identity. Not fair to Ace, Tommy or the fans in my view. Also saw a photo of Taylor Swift dressed as Ace in Rolling Stone. The caption said 'Taylor dresses as Ace Frehley'. Really? Maybe she was Tommy? Just makes no sense to me and is simply not right to me as a fan.
Finally, another hugely overlooked artist not ever considered for the Hall is Alice Cooper. The case could easily be made that Alice should go in before KISS, but he is not even considered and has been eligiblle for well over ten years! Spent yesterday afternoon with Alice in NJ. Jim and I shot something with him for the upcoming season of TMS. I have met Alice a few times. He is just the nicest guy you could ever meet and is still great live. Alice told me he is now 65, but he looks great. I told him he made a smart move making himself up to look 65 when he was 20. He looks like he never aged! Alice was great and he gave Jim and I a tour of his new stage props and set. You will see it all in the new TMS shows kicking off 10/3. Was also cool to see some of Alice's band members like Chuck Garric, Jimmy DeGrasso and Damon Johnson. Good guys and players. Also saw Richie Scarlett who opened the show and said he really liked the new Ace album. Thanks to Alice and his crew for the hospitality. A true legend that is also just a really great guy. Also thanks to the Bergen PAC. A nice venue in Englewood NJ. I'll be presenting Queensryche and Lita there next month.
Ace Frehley in studio this Friday night for the Q104 live show. Ace will sit in live with me and preview tracks from the new CD and more. Ace has called in frequently the last few months but now that he's back on the E Coast he will hang in studio with me. Always fun to have my good friend Ace in studio and remember you can meet him Saturday at Vintage Vinyl in NJ and Looney Tunes Sunday on LI. The poll on the home page for reaction to new KISS and Ace songs will stay up for a few more days. I noticed now over 2000 people have voted and Ace has puilled ahead in the head to head. Still a little time to make your opinion heard. I am now doing press being interviewed about the upcoming new season of TMS. Amazing how many people are asking me to talk about Ace or KISS. I can not comment on the KISS album because I simply have not heard anything but the single yet. Listen to the Ace interview live this Friday on Q104.3 NYC starting at 11PM EST or live online at www.q1043.com. All affiliate stations that carry my show get it the next weekend at the usual time.
