Paul Stanley talked about KISS' Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and why they opted not to perform with its original lineup.
In 2014, KISS' four founding members - Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss - were officially welcomed into the institution after years of waiting. However, what was supposed to be a pure celebration led the members to slam Rock Hall instead.
Years after the induction, KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons appeared on the new episode of SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" alongside its current drummer Eric Singer and guitarist Tommy Thayer.
Stanley blasted the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the ex-KISS members - Frehley and Criss - who stood beside him and Simmons to receive the honor. The Rock Hall did not honor KISS replacements at that time.
As for the reason why KISS did not perform at the induction, Stanley took his time to reveal his explanation while digging into the Rock Hall.
"The hypocrisy is that we're not a band they like," Stanley said, per BlabberMouth. "They purposely kept us out for 15 years. And other bands that they embrace, they induct people's moms and songwriters and all these people. And with us, it truly was unfair."
The 71-year-old singer added that they had too much pride in the current lineup and that Singer and Thayer should not be referred to as "newcomers." Instead, the current lineup should be seen as the band itself.
Stanley and Simmons are the only remaining founding members of KISS. Frehley left KISS in 1982, two years after Criss departed. The two former members, however, returned to the band in 1996 but left again in the early 2000s.
Paul Stanley Says Performing With Original Members Would Be "Demeaning" to KISS
Stanley continued to explain why KISS did not perform at Rock Hall, saying that playing with Criss and Frehley would be demeaning.
For the guitarist, playing as the original KISS would also give their fans and viewers confusion. Instead of KISS, Stanley said they should be called PISS if that happened.
His recent comment resonated with what he told Associated Press a few weeks after the induction. Per Stanley, he did not think the organization was being fair with its rules.
Stanley is staying true to his words as he and Simmons gear up with their current bandmates in their End of the Road World Tour. The band will have a 19-date North American tour, which will start in October.
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