I Would Never Be A Member Of A Club That Would Have Me As A Member

Daryl Hall and, parenthetically, his pal John Oates will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. Perhaps because of their delicious and eponymous breakfast cereal. Not a lot of controversy there, right? What about Nirvana? They belong in the museum simply for putting a stake through the heart of Hair Metal back in the late eighties. Besides bringing about a new and less-than-commercial sound that proved to sell millions of records, they probably helped save our ozone layer. The gentlemen from Seattle got in on their very first opportunity.
This was not the case for Detroit's favorite Kabuki Band, KISS. They have been hoping to get a call from the Hall long enough that they have become bitter and disgusted. At least that's the way Paul Stanley sounded back in May: "Look, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is marketing," he said. "You've got a bunch of faceless people in a back room who trademark a name that sounds very official. Well, if you had thought of it first, you would have been the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame." As well as "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has reached a point where they're really scrounging and scratching to find someone left that they consider viable. With all due respect, when you get to Patti Smith, you're about two steps away from Pete Seeger." This is coming from a guy who is pretty well-versed in the art of marketing. Think "KISS Koffins." Think "KISS Kondoms." And now, seven months removed from that last tirade and an invitation to join Madonna Patti Smith and Blondie in Cleveland, Paul had this to say: “As much as we stomp our feet and question the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame over the years, clearly they’ve come to see things our way, and we respect it,” he laughed. “It’s very cool. There were some people there who were working hard and championing us…and we’re certainly proud for all the people who have fought for us and believe in us, so thank you everybody.” Except maybe Pete Seeger.