# Should KISS be in the Rock Hall of Fame? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015 "2006-10-26T19:46:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/1 "2006-10-26T19:46:07Z")
The other day Eddie Trunk on VH1 Classic was going on and on about how much of a joke the rock HOF is for not having inducted KISS yet. He listed a couple of other omissions I agree with (Deep Purple for one), but even though I am former KISS Army member, I just don’t believe they were that good of a band. Do they have massive popularity over a long period? Sure, but so will Clay Aiken in ten years. Do they have rabid fans who dress like them and purchase anything with KISS on it- including coffins and toilets? Yes, but so does Insane Clown Posse. Massive concert sales? Yep, same as John Tesh. Aside from one or two “classics” (Detroit Rock City, Rock and Roll all Nite) do they have any really good songs, with really good musicianship? No. Any really deep meaningful lyrics with good rhymes? No. The bulk of their songs are pretty simplistic junior high poetry class type rhymes (I like the way you talk/I like the way you walk). Any studio albums that “hold up” well? Not even close. Compare them to about the only one of their peers in the theatrical rock/make-up/scare the parents genre, Alice Cooper, and they really look bad. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/2 "2006-10-26T19:57:48Z")
They absolutely should be in the HOF. Sure, they might have made more of an impact with style and theatricality than with pure musical chops, but if that’s a problem you’re probably taking rock and roll too seriously. It isn’t just about the music. They’re the one rock band your grandmother can probably identify by sight. They’re emblematic of the sort of excess that ruled live rock until Kurt Cobain came along and rock stars started staring at the floor. And, aside from all that, they wrote and performed a metric shitload of catchy songs. So yeah, they’re a pretty ridiculous omission. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/3 "2006-10-26T20:03:50Z")
I meant to add- other than the gimmick of the make-up, would they have succeded? In other words, compare them to some of their long forgotten contemporaries: Play a KISS album followed by a Starz album followed by Angel album- would KISS stand out? I say no. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/4 "2006-10-26T21:22:44Z")
They can be inducted right after The Monkees. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/5 "2006-10-26T21:27:55Z")
The difference between Kiss and the Monkees is that I bet a lot more people remember a lot more of the Monkees’ songs. I honestly can’t hum a single Kiss _tune_ from memory – I don’t think the chorus to “God Made Rock’n’Roll” counts as a tune. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/6 "2006-10-26T21:31:28Z")
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a joke. Put KISS in, don’t put KISS in, it doesn’t particularly matter. The primary criteria appears to be “did critics suck up to you when you were a relevant band?” ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/7 "2006-10-26T21:33:19Z")
Pretend I didn’t just use “criteria” for a singular item there. I should really do my editing somewhere besides the reply box. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/8 "2006-10-26T21:46:52Z")
Let’s assume the criteria for the Rock HOF is quality artists who put out quality music- like the football HOF is for for great football players with great careers. Politics aside, would they be worthy of this hypothetical HOF? ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/9 "2006-10-26T21:49:32Z")
To me, KISS is when R&R jumped the shark. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/10 "2006-10-26T22:01:19Z")
Absolutly they should be in. Simply because they were so HUGE and had so much influence on pop culture at the time. Unfortunatly, that would mean we would have to let Gene Simmons open his mouth and speak. :rolleyes: I heard Truck give his schtick about the band and had to agree with most of it, even though I can no longer stand these guys anymore. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/11 "2006-10-26T22:16:24Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] The difference between Kiss and the Monkees is that I bet a lot more people remember a lot more of the Monkees’ songs. I honestly can’t hum a single Kiss _tune_ from memory – I don’t think the chorus to “God Made Rock’n’Roll” counts as a tune. [/QUOTE] “Beth, I hear you calling…” It’s on my iPod. Lisa, hanging her head in shame To answer the question: yes. They changed the culture of r&r. And I say this very reluctantly because, I, too, cannot stand Gene Simmons. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/12 "2006-10-26T22:24:21Z")
No, they should not. That was easy. Next? ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/13 "2006-10-26T22:28:25Z")
The [url=http://encarta.msn.com/media\_461551014/table\_of\_inductees.html]list of inductees [/quote] seems to me, overall, to be of a bit higher caliber than Kiss. Then again, who really cares? ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/14 "2006-10-26T22:29:33Z")
Try previewing. The [list of inductees](http://encarta.msn.com/media_461551014/table_of_inductees.html) seems to me, overall, to be of a bit higher caliber than Kiss. Then again, who really cares? ---
**Author:** ![Logan\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Logan\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Logan_5)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/15 "2006-10-26T22:59:31Z")
I was never a Kiss fan, but I think they should be inducted. Just for cultural impact. ---
**Author:** ![YellowTail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5ac83/32.png) [@YellowTail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YellowTail)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/16 "2006-10-27T00:41:38Z")
Wee Bairn, the criteria you list could probably knock half the acts out of the HOF. And comparing the Rock HOF with the Football HOF is apples and oranges. There are few equivalents for rock stars when it comes to breaking records or winning a big game. KISS was an act that lasted more than one hit, they made multi-platinum selling records, and sold out shows all over the world. I think that trumps whether they were “good” or not. ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/17 "2006-10-27T01:36:11Z")
“Lick 'em Up” gets far more radio air play that deserved on the rock radio stations that I’m familiar with. I hate that song. When I was a teenager my hometown public library had **KISS** _Alive!_ on LP. I checked it out as a joke. I got together with some friends and dusted off one of our parents’ record players. I never expected that the music would actually rock. There is hardly a weak spot on the entire double-live record. I don’t find it hard to say that it’s one of my favorite records. I later found out that the studio albums the music was culled from were of far lesser quality. I found that true with the majority of the rest of their already extensive library. There is a good song here and there but not a single solidly well-done recording. Some are absolute garbage (_Music from the Elder_ anyone?). I think they should be in the hall of fame for the strength of _Alive!_, their longevity, overall showmanship, and cultural impact ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/18 "2006-10-27T01:58:51Z")
Kiss was almost the consensus winner of my thread about “The biggest coaster in rock”, meaning that they made the most money off albums for suckers and pointless tours. I saw a Kiss concert on VH1 that had Gene banging on his bass in a way that implied he’d owned it for a total of 3 days. What a hack, and I say that as a band, or certainly as songwriters. > **[The biggest coasters in rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=391435)** > > I’ve posted this some years before, but I’m interested in a current answer. Who are the biggest coasters in rock music? The formula is money earned / years since a significant album. My personal winner is the Rolling Stones. Except for a blip in... ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/19 "2006-10-27T02:29:42Z")
It’s not terribly clear to me just what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s standards are, so it’s impossible to tell whether or not any given band should be in. A Hall of Fame seems antithetical to the very concept of rock and roll. Rock and roll is supposed to challenge the establishment. This would seem to be the creation of an establishment. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015/20 "2006-10-27T02:34:30Z")
I saw the _Destroyer_ tour. One of the best concerts I’ve ever been to (and I’ve seen a few). They should definitely be in the Hall. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-kiss-be-in-the-rock-hall-of-fame/378015.md?page=2)