Gene Simmons has never been known for keeping his opinions to himself, and he recently went on a tear regarding the presence of hip-hop acts in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"I have no beef with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," he said. "You go on with your bad self and get more Disco artists...A long time ago it was diluted. It's really backroom politics, like Boss Tweed. A few people decide what's in and what's not. And the masses just scratch their heads. You've got Grandmaster Flash in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Run-DMC in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? You're killing me! That doesn't mean those aren't good artists. But they don't play guitar. They sample and they talk. Not even sing!"
Simmons is particularly riled up about the Hall because his band KISS was kept out for so long, while the hip-hop acts he mentioned were in first. Many have argued the legitimacy of inducting hip-hop acts into the Hall, and whether the institution should honor strictly rock musicians or anyone who has had a significant impact on music in general.
Emcee Ice Cube's influential hip-hop group N.W.A. was rejected for induction this year, but the rapper somewhat understood what Simmons was saying.
"It sucks. But it's understandable," he said. "We really only had one album together... But this just lets you know how much we need a hip-hop hall of fame of our own."
The Hip Hop Hall of Fame is working on developing a museum in New York City, somewhat ironically in the borough of Manhattan. The Facebook page for the foundation claims the facility would be ready for unveiling during 2013, which hasn't happened. The Hip Hop Hall of Fame organizers did open a pop-up location in Harlem to celebrate Black History Month during February however.
