Chad Childers | Loudwire

KISS are now members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but the night did not include a performance onstage featuring original members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley as some might have hoped. According to Stanley, that’s something that was never going to happen.

In a new interview with News.com.au, Stanley says, “I enjoyed the Hall of Fame in a twisted way. It was a terrific night but there was no way I was going to play with them. Frankly I have too much pride in what I do than to create a moment of nostalgia for someone else. To get onstage with Ace and Peter [during the induction speech] was an interesting, surreal moment but nothing I wanted to prolong. It’s like if you ever went back to an old girlfriend because you doubted your choice to leave, it only takes five minutes before you want to get back in your car and leave.”

Though the past and current members of KISS made nice on the big night, there’s still a bit of snipping on occasion about the original lineup’s reunion. But Stanley says that ship has sailed. He explains, “It was a sin to be given this amazing opportunity to pick up where we left off and go forward. Instead we picked up and just dropped it again. People can point fingers all they want, but in the end what you accomplish is the only thing that can be your alibi. I’m here today, and someone else isn’t.”

He adds, “It’s funny when a former member says, ‘Can you imagine the former tour manager [Tommy Thayer] is in the band?’ And I’d say, ‘Can you imagine a guy who made millions of dollars twice and lost it all?’ You pick the story you prefer.”

While Stanley has issues with the Rock Hall’s voting, he was happy that Tom Morello was chosen to induct the group. He recalls, “Tom went to bat like a crusader. That was his mission to get KISS in the Hall of Fame. Because they respect Tom they kind of went along with it. He plays with Bruce [Springsteen], he’s in Rage Against the Machine and he’s political so he must know something. The more Tom Morellos and Dave Grohls, the better.”