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Tag: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

  • Lou Reed Inducted Into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Sister Sets the Record Straight

    Lou Reed was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony this weekend and the singer’s younger sister, Merrill Reed Weiner, set the record straight about the famous rocker and their family.

    In an essay published in Medium magazine, Reed Weiner shared a plethora of family secrets with the hopes of providing “clarity and context” about her brother’s upbringing, which included allegations that her parents approved of him having electroshock therapy for purported psychological problems.

    Wiener told Billboard in an interview during Friday’s induction eve VIP party at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum that she wrote the essay not long after Lou Reed died in Oct. 2013.

    She told the magazine she “gave it to certain biographers and said, ‘Look, don’t misquote me now.’ I felt that depicting something as complicated as what actually happened in a cartoonish way, a sensationalized way, from lyrics and interpreting them as truth had reached a point with so many biographers circling around that I needed to make a statement. I was so enraged. There’s a book that came out by a guy named Jeremy Reed (Waiting For The Man: The Life and Career of Lou Reed) that says that my father beat my mother and a host of other things. It’s just so ludicrous, and for someone to be that facile in interpreting lyrics as truth is… I mean, do we take D.H. Lawrence and assume everything is authentic?”

    Reed Wiener said her intentions for penning the essay about Lou Reed was to get the truth out.

    “So I wrote it and then my son, the media savvy guy, said, ‘Mom, we can put it on the Internet.’ So I said, ‘Why not? Let’s set the record straight,’ and that’s what I endeavored to do and I feel like I did it. And I knew Lou always wanted me to do that.”

    Weiner said the honor of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would have meant a great deal to brother Lou Reed.

    “For him to be honored by his peers in this kind of way, I know how much it would have meant to him — not that he would have let you know it,” said Weiner. “He wouldn’t be smiling quite the way I am, for sure. I think he would be amused. I think he would be sardonic and I think he’d be secretly delighted, really, really delighted. [Music] meant the world to him, and I wish he were here to see it. It’s amazing for him to be recognized in this way.”

    Patti Smith inducted Lou Reed into the Hall of Fame in a poignant speech.

  • Lynyrd Skynyrd Original Drummer Bob Burns Dies in Car Crash

    Lynyrd Skynyrd Original Drummer Bob Burns Dies in Car Crash

    Lynyrd Skynyrd is mourning one of their own. The band’s original drummer, Bob Burns, died Friday in a car crash in Cartersville, Georgia. He was 64.

    Robert Lewis Burns Jr.always loved music. He formed a band with his teenage friends in the 1960s in Jacksonville, Florida.

    Originally called My Backyard, then The Noble Five, and then One Percent, the band members eventually settled on the name Lynyrd Skynyrd in a mockery-turned-tribute to their physical education teacher, Leonard Skinner. Mr. Skinner wouldn’t allow his male students to wear their hair long.

    Bob Burns lent his percussion talents to the first two Lynyrd Skynyrd albums, on which hits like ‘Free Bird’ and ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ appeared. He left the band in 1974, after deciding he wasn’t quite cut out for life on the road. Burns was subsequently replaced by Artimus Pyle. When Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, however, Bob Burns performed with the band for the special event.

    Artimus Pyle paid tribute to Burns on his band’s Facebook page.

    Fans we are absolutely devastated this morning after learning that our dear friend, band mate and original Lynyrd…

    Posted by Artimus Pyle Band on Saturday, April 4, 2015

    Gary Rossington, who was also a founding member of the band, paid tribute to Bob Burns on the Lynyrd Skynyrd Facebook page.

    Well, today I'm at a loss for words, but I just remember Bob being a funny guy. He was just so funny, he used to do…

    Posted by Lynyrd Skynyrd on Saturday, April 4, 2015

    How sad that the music world has lost such a talented drummer. Bob Burns will forever be remembered for his time with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

  • Joan Jett Talks Rock Hall Induction

    Joan Jett Talks Rock Hall Induction

    Joan Jett and her band The Black Hearts will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This past April, she and her band played on stage during Nirvana’s induction at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

    “Maybe it reminded people I’m out there,” Jett said on Tuesday about the fact that she received her nomination shortly thereafter.

    “It’s a roiling pot of emotions,” Jett said during a recent interview with Billboard. “I’m amazed. I’m happy. I’m honored. I’m flabbergasted. It feels so surreal. It’s kind of still sinking in. When I think about all the musicians in the history of music that have been out there making records and touring, that I get chosen into this elite group of musicians is pretty incredible.”

    Joan Jett and her band have been on the ballot for nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before, but this year they were finally voted in.

    “I think you don’t think about those things–at least I don’t,” she explains. “You just go out and do your job and make your records, and if something like those accolades get put onto you, then that’s an extra bonus. But I don’t know that you can set out to achieve that; I think it’s a gift, and I don’t think you can sort of expect it. So, no, when I was nominated before and didn’t get voted in, I took it with a grain of salt because that’s the way it is. I did not expect to have it handed to me on a golden platter.”

    It was back in 1980 when Joan Jett landed at the top of the record charts with her huge hit ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.’ She sees her impending induction as ‘a total career achievement and her impact in breaking down barriers for women in rock.’

    “Certainly I will take that with me to that ceremony,” she says. “I’ll take the view that it’s encompassing my early work with the Runaways, all the various incarnations of the Blackhearts…everything.”

    Joan Jett will officially become an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on April 18, 2015. In addition to Joan and her band, the other inductees include Green Day, Bill Withers Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Lou Reed, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

  • Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders: New Album

    Chrissie Hynde, best known for her years as the front woman of The Pretenders, is back on tour and has a new album to boot. Recently appearing in Akron, Ohio–the city that she says ‘spit her out,’ Hynde performed a 22-song set that featured many of The Pretenders’ classics. Fans loved hearing “Don’t Lose Faith in Me,” “Biker,” “Talk of the Town,” “Kid,” “Night in My Veins,” and more. Earlier shows have found her in Nashville and Charlotte as she introduces her new album all around the U.S.

    Diehard fans know this, but so-so fans might not: Chrissie Hynde, who has been part of the music scene since 1975, has never released a solo album–until now. The 63-year-old is back on tour to promote Stockholm, and she doesn’t disappoint whatsoever. In the tradition of her Pretenders material, Hynde’s songs in this new album speak to the depths of listener’s souls. Big on reform, her lyrics address a number of important issues. Tracks from Stockholm, including “In a Miracle,” “Live in the Movies,” “You or No One,” as well as others, aren’t that different from songs by The Pretenders. Since Hynde was their front woman, that shouldn’t shock anyone–and will no doubt help boost record sales.

    “Adding the Blue” is destined to be a fan favorite.

    From Akron, Hynde headed to Chicago. On Wednesday night, November 19th, she will debut Stockholm in Austin, Texas. During a recent interview with the Austin Chronicle, she admitted that seeing her name solo on the marquee makes her a bit uncomfortable.

    “I have to admit the first couple of times I saw my name on the marquee it made me very uncomfortable. But then I think, “Don’t take it so personally.” It just is what it is,” she said.

    She mentioned, too, that the only living member of The Pretenders–besides her–is Martin Chambers. Has she ruled out a reunion of sorts?

    “The only living Pretender is Martin Chambers, who would be happy to come out, and I love working with him. That’s a possibility, I guess,” she said.

    Chrissie Hynde was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2005, and is certainly deserving of the accolade. Is it possible that at 63 she will have a brand new hit album under her belt? Check out Stockholm and see for yourself whether you prefer The Pretenders crooner solo, or think she should contact Chambers and do some collaborative work. It’s likely you’ll simply love her–and won’t find a huge difference between the old and the new.

  • Vince Gill to Bring Phil Everly to Life at Concert

    Vince Gill wants to bring the late Phil Everly to life at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s tribute concert for the 2014 Music Masters recipients. This year’s recipients are the Everly Brothers. In a collaboration with music director Rodney Crowell and country singer Emmylou Harris, Gill plans to take the stage to sing as Phil Everly sang.

    Phil Everly died in January of COPD.

    “[The Everlys] are equally deep in my history,” Vince Gill said in a recent interview. “I spent most of my life trying to be Phil, trying to sing high.”

    Gill isn’t positive exactly what part he will play in bringing Phil Everly to life, but is willing to do whatever the show’s music director says. He expects, however, that he will get to fulfill a dream–and to sing Phil’s part in an Everly Brothers’ hit, along with Don Everly–would be Vince Gill’s ultimate dream come true.

    “Rodney will point, and I will go in that direction!” Gill says.

    Vince learned how to sing the Everly Brothers’ songs from a pro.

    “I got to sing with Phil,” he said. “One of the last sessions he ever did was on a record of mine called ‘Sweet Little Corrina.’

    “What was cool about their voices was that they sounded really youthful even as they became old men,” he adds. “Their voices were sweet, tender and youthful.”

    Vince Gill has an incredibly crazy schedule right now, so for him to take time off to attend this concert honoring the Everly Brothers required some finagling, and a bit of sacrifice, too. Presently at work on a new Tim Jumpers album and producing a record for a member of the Pistol Annies, in addition to being about halfway through a new album of his own–Gill is a busy man. Taking time away to fulfill a dream, however, is worth a sacrifice.

    Hopefully Vince Gill bringing Phil Everly and his amazing, harmonious vocals back to life–even for a very short time–will be recorded for all fans–both Phil’s and Vince’s–to experience. Just imagine the cheers and tears that will emanate from that audience.

  • Stevie Ray Vaughan Lands List Of Nominees For 2015 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

    Guitar god Stevie Ray Vaughan is among the list of artists up for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On October 9, Thursday, the list of nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 was released, which included Vaughan and artists such as Lou Reed, Sting, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Bill Withers.

    According to Rolling Stone, the public will again be allowed to vote alongside the artists, historians and music industry insiders in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to choose among the list of nominees such as Vaughan whom they’d like to see inducted. Music fans can cast their votes until December 9, and the top five acts will be comprising a “fan’s ballot” that will serve as one of the 700 required to determine the Class of 2015.

    Vaughan is a blues guitarist from Dallas, Texas who made his name in Austin and is credited as important to the revival of blues music in the 1980s. Vaughan earned six Grammy Award and 10 Austin Music Awards in his lifetime, and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Musicians Hall of Fame earlier this year.

    Vaughan was reportedly admired by other legendary rock musicians. “SRV completely floored me. I probably hadn’t been so gung-ho about a guitar player since seeing Jeff Beck in the early 60s,” said David Bowie after a 1982 performance of Vaughan’s in Montreal.

    Artists eligible this year for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame must have released their first album or single in 1989. Although Vaughan has been eligible for induction for six years, this is the first time the guitarist has been nominated. Vaughan is reportedly doing well in the pubic poll as he is leading it with 17.69% of votes. The influential electric guitarist is followed by new nominees Nine Inch Nails, with 16.12%, and Green Day, with 13.45%.

  • Linda Ronstadt Awarded National Medal Of Arts

    Female rock and roll legend Linda Ronstadt was unable to make her induction ceremony into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last April due to Parkinson’s disease. However, with the assistance of a military aide who brought Ronstadt into the East Room of the White House by wheelchair, she was able to personally receive the highest US arts prize, the National Medal of Arts.

    Ronstadt, who is often referred to as “The First Lady of Rock,” was able to walk to the stage to receive her award from President Barack Obama on Monday. The 68-year-old is considered a pioneer for female rock musicians. Obama spoke of the importance of the ceremony, “The arts and humanities aren’t just there to be consumed when we have a moment … we need them.” He also admitted to having a little crush on Ronstadt when he was younger.

    The White House stated that Ronstadt “defied expectations to conquer American radio waves and help pave the way for generations of women artists.”

    Ronstadt is an 11-time Grammy Award winner. She also spanned many different music genres, some of her songs were considered country, some were thought to be standard rock, while others were geared towards a folk sound. A few of her greatest hits include: It’s So Easy, Different Drum, You’re No Good, Blue Bayou, and When Will I Be Loved. The singer-songwriter has also worked with several brand name rock and roll stars including James Taylor, Neil Young, Glenn Fry, Don Henley, and Emmylou Harris.

    Eleven others were honored with the National Medal of Arts on Monday: novelist, poet and playwright Julia Alvarez; the Brooklyn Academy of Music; Joan Harris, an arts patron; the dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones; the music theater composer John Kander; Jeffrey Katzenberg, the director and CEO of DreamWorks; the novelist Maxine Hong Kingston; the documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles; the architects Billie Tsien and Tod Williams and the visual artist James Turrell.

    What’s your favorite Linda Ronstadt song?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Chubby Checker Has Fighting Words For RRHOF

    Think about it like this. Who hasn’t done The Twist? The legendary dance move defies age and social status. If you’ve been to a wedding, bar mitzvah, or sweet-16 party in the past 50 years, let’s face it, you’ve most likely done The Twist.

    So then why isn’t Chubby Checker, singer of The Twist, which is the only single to top the Billboard Hot 100 two separate times, not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? That’s a question Checker himself would like answered, immediately.

    The Rock and Roll pioneer wants in, and he wants in before it’s too late. “I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old. I’ll tell them to drop dead, so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling,” Checker said while on the red carpet for the annual Songwriters Hall of Fame gala in New York.

    The 72-year-old performed Let’s Twist Again at the gala. The hit single won a Grammy in 1962.

    Checker sees his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snub as a hindrance to making money. “If you put me in when I’m too old to make a living, then it’s no good for me to be in there,” Checker said. “The Rolling Stones, they’re in there. The Beastie Boys are in there, they’re young. Hall and Oates were just in there and they’re still making money.”

    Several artists have come out in defense of Checker, including Daryl Hall who was inducted this year alongside his music partner John Oates. Hall wondered aloud during his speech, “why isn’t he in?” when Checker’s name was mentioned.

    So far the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has not commented on Checker’s plea.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Courtney Love, Nirvana Members Reunited

    Courtney Love, Nirvana Members Reunited

    Courtney Love and the remaining members of Nirvana reunited this week to celebrate the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and it looks like they’ve put their differences aside after several years of hard feelings.

    Love and Dave Grohl have had a hard time of it over the years, even getting into it over Twitter at times. But the big night for the band was enough to bring the two of them together again, along with bassist Krist Novoselic. The trio stood together on stage while accepting the honor along with members of Kurt Cobain’s family, and later Love tweeted back and forth with the guys.

    The ceremony included a four-song performance of some of the band’s most popular songs: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Joan Jett, “Aneurysm” by Kim Gordon (of Sonic Youth), “Lithium” by St. Vincent, and “All Apologies” by Lorde.

    “Those guys were feminists in the early ’90s, when it wasn’t hip to be, and they were rad and forward-thinking. If you’re going to play these songs again, do it from a little bit of a different angle,” said St. Vincent’s Annie Clarke.

  • Paul Stanley, KISS Frontman, Rips Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

    Legendary hard rock band KISS has been stirring controversy over the drama that surrounds their recent induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Outspoken guitarist and vocalist Paul Stanley has been candid about his sentiments toward the long-standing induction.

    After being passed over for 14 years, the iconic glam rockers are finally being inducted by the Rock Hall. Stanley has been very vocal about his views on the way the celebratory performance ought to be handled – his bandmates, bassist and reality TV star Gene Simmons, lead guitarist Ace Frehley, and drummer Peter Criss, all feel the same way he does.

    In an interview with Billboard magazine, Stanley talked about the rumors surrounding the band’s induction, which he dubbed as the Foundation’s “worst nightmare”. He went on to declare that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is really an exclusive group of people “who decide who they want in their little club and who don’t”, as opposed to being “a hall of fame of the people”.

    Stanley added that the only reason for his attendance is the fans for whom the induction means something.

    The 62-year-old rhythm guitarist co-founded KISS along with Simmons 40 years ago. The band’s four original members are attending the ceremony, which will be held at Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center on April 10th. Former guitarist Bruce Kulick and current guitarist Tommy Thayer as well as drummer Eric Singer will also be in attendance. Stanley and Simmons had originally wanted the band to perform together, but the Rock Hall reportedly told them that the performance was a “non-starter”.

    Apart from the Rock Hall’s disinterest in a possible KISS performance in the ceremony, Stanley complained about the Foundation’s alleged efforts to fight the band’s entrance into the elite organization since their eligibility 15 years ago. February marks the 40th anniversary of KISS’ self-titled debut album.

    KISS Reunite For Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame


    Image via YouTube

  • Dave Grohl Talks Nirvana’s Hall of Fame Induction

    Although Courtney Love, wife of the now-deceased singer Kurt Cobain, is sick of hearing about former Nirvana drummer (now Foo Fighters front-man) Dave Grohl, it’s undeniable that the 45-year old is all over the rock and roll world nowadays.

    Grohl and Krist Novoselic, both of Nirvana fame, appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last night to share stories about Cobain and talk about Nirvana’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later tonight.

    Novoselic, who knew Cobain since high school, talked to Fallon about how both he and Cobain were “weird kids” who thought “the world was weird” so they “gravitated toward each other.”

    Grohl went on to speak about the beginning of Nirvana’s fame in the 1990s.

    “That first tour that we did, we were booked into these places – and some of then held, like, 90 people. Some of them were 150 people,” Grohl said. “And we would pull up in our van and because [Nevermind] had come out and the video was on MTV, we’d pull up and there’d be so many people trying to get in to the show. Even when we had a gold record we were still in a van with a U-haul trailer … but it happened really quickly.”

    The biggest gig they played, said Novoselic, was in Brazil where they rocked out in from of 350,000 people. “We just plug in and let ‘er rip,” he joked when Fallon asked what it’s like to play in front of a crowd that large.

    The two went on to speak of Nirvana’s performance on SNL, Weird Al Yankovik’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” parody, and playing with the legendary Paul McCartney.

    “Not only is he, like, a Beatle,” Dave said, “but he’s an incredible musician.”

    Although it was not mentioned on The Tonight Show, speculation has been rampart as to if members of Nirvana will be performing at the induction ceremony tonight – and, if so, who with?

    A recent post on Foo Fighters’ Instagram account shows a photo that includes Grohl’s drums, Novoselic’s bass, Pat Smear’s guitar, and Joan Jett’s recognizable stickered Gibson Melody Maker axe.

    On April 1, Novoselic also tweeted that he had been practicing his bass.

    Nirvana’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction will take place tonight at Brooklyn’s Barclays Centre and will be announced by REM’s Michael Stipe.

    Image via YouTube

  • Cat Stevens AKA Yusuf Islam Performs On “The Tonight Show” [Video]

    Fans got a special treat while watching The Tonight Show on Tuesday when Cat Stevens showed up to perform a couple of his classic songs. Following his conversion to Islam, Stevens changed his name to Yusuf Islam, and has released albums under that name since.

    The singer is set to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on Thursday, and showed why with his performance on the show this week. He was responsible for many hits throughout the 1970s, and has several songs that continue to get people to sing along.

    Cat Stevens’ music was the basis for the soundtrack of the classic film Harold and Maude, and has also insipired a number of cover versions of his songs, including “The First Cut Is The Deepest,” which was made even more famous by both Sheryl Crow, and Rod Stewart.

    “The First Cut Is The Deepest” is one of the two songs that he played while on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, along with his classic “Wild World.” He also perfromed a verison of the poetic song “The Wind,” which only the studio audience was able to see at the time, and was later posted online.

    Cat Stevens’ big week will be continuing on Thursday, as he is finally being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, where he will be performing again. Yusuf may be accepting his past career a bit more with the songs he chose to sing, but he still hasn’t had an official concert in New York despite the 2006 private show at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

    It was a special night on The Tonight Show to feature a veteran musician such as Cat Stevens, and he played a memorable performance days before his Hall Of Fame introduction. It seems that he still has it in him to play his classics, and is still one of the greatest songwriters around.

    Post by Yusuf / Cat Stevens.

    In addition to Cat Stevens, Fallon featured the musical talents of Academy-Award winner Anne Hathaway, and the two of them performed their own versions of hip hop songs including Snoop Dogg’s “Gin N Juice” and 50 Cent’s “In Da Club.”

    Image via Facebook

  • Joan Jett May Front Nirvana at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    A photograph of three guitars posted by Foo Fighters on Instagram on Tuesday sparked rumors that Joan Jett may perform with the remaining members of Nirvana at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gala in New York City Thursday night.

    Drummer Dave Grohl incited speculation when a photo was posted on his band’s Instagram page featuring Grohl’s drumkit, Pat Smear’s Stratocaster guitar, Krist Novoselic’s bass, and Jett’s iconic Melody Maker electric guitar.

    Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees typically perform at the gala, and the announcement of Nirvana’s induction begged the question of whether or not a tribute to late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain would also take place. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Cobain’s death.

    There was speculation as to whether or not Courtney Love would sing Nirvana songs in place of her late husband, as well as rumors that former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe might perform at the ceremony with Nirvana bandmembers. The photo put those rumors to rest, but Stipe, a friend of Cobain, will be present to induct the group.

    Jett, who is 55 years old and best known for her 1981 hit I Love Rock and Roll, was nominated twice, but has never been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jett has played with Grohl in the past, when she performed with the Foo Fighters several times in 2011, and when working with Grohl on her 2013 album Unvarnished.

    The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gala takes place tonight at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where the careers of Nirvana and nominees Peter Gabriel, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, KISS, and Hall and Oates will be celebrated.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ace Frehley Has Dirt on Paul Stanley

    Ace Frehley Has Dirt on Paul Stanley

    Kiss guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley’s new memoir, Face the Music: A Life Exposed, is a tell-all tome that dishes some unflattering mud on his Kiss bandmates. Stanley has been promoting the book tirelessly, including in a well-received Reddit AMA where he was asked questions like:

    Q: Did you ever want to punch Gene Simmons in the face?
    A: I’m really not a violent guy. But like all great relationships, we have had some moments where I was very angry or frustrated.

    Q: What did you think about the portrayals of KISS in the few Family Guy episodes?
    A: I’m a fan of the show. And if you take yourself too seriously, you miss out on a few laughs.

    Q: Will we ever see a sequel to Detroit Rock City?
    A: I have no idea.
    Q: How about a sequel to Phantom of the Park?
    A: [No response.]

    But it was Stanley’s accusations within his book that former bandmates Ace Frehely (guitar) and Peter Criss (drums) were anti-Semites that has raised some eyebrows. Paul Stanley, born Stanley Bert Eisen, and Gene Simmons, born Chaim Witz, are both Jewish.

    According to the New York Post, Stanley says Ace Frehley owned a collection of Nazi memorabilia. But he also says Frehley and Criss saw Stanley and Simmons as “money-grubbing Jews.”

    “Ace and particularly Peter felt powerless and impotent when faced with the tireless focus, drive and ambition of me and Gene,” Stanley writes. “As a result, the two of them tried to sabotage the band — which, as they saw it, was unfairly manipulated by [us] money-grubbing Jews.”

    When asked about Stanley’s statements, Ace Frehley laughed them off as just selling books.

    “We say good things about each other and we say bad things about each other [in our memoirs], but it is what it is,” he shrugged. “It’s rock and roll. I mean, if all we did was pat each other on the back for every book, people would say, ‘That’s a boring book.’ They want to hear the dirt. I’ve got plenty of dirt.”

    Kiss is, at long last, set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Members of the band don’t seem much to care about that either, other than the fact that it will sell albums. Ace says he expects the members to be civil with each other for the ceremonies.

    “Believe it or not, every time the four of us get together, even though it’s been a long span of time, we’re still brothers in rock and roll,” explained Frehley. “At least that’s the way I feel. If it’s not going to be that way, I’d be surprised.”

    Stanley had some choice words in his AMA about the Rock Hall.

    “The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is finally being exposed for what it is. A private club of a few people misrepresenting themselves as the public.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Kiss Member Upset At Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    As you may have heard by now, the famed rock band Kiss will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April, but not all of the members are thrilled about it.

    Paul Stanley, the band’s guitarist, says all of Kiss’ members should be inducted, not just the original lineup, and he said the voting committee isn’t being consistent with their selection process.

    “We have continuing issues with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” said Stanley. “Starting with the fact that they chose to only induct the original lineup when that’s hardly the case with other bands.”

    The 62 year old also pointed to the Grateful Dead’s induction and said for some reason they were allowed to include other people that worked with the band, so why can’t Kiss?

    And Stanley doesn’t believe rap music should be included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame either.

    “In the Grateful Dead’s case, [the voting committee] also inducted a writer who never played an instrument,” he said. “Or they’ve inducted rap artists, or they’ve inducted people who have been in the band for seven years as opposed to 25 years or 20 years–whatever their criteria of this week is.”

    If you think about it, both parties are right, because Stanley feels the current lineup of the band should get inducted, because that’s who makes up Kiss these days, but the voting committee and probably many of the band’s fans want to see the original members reunite, which Stanley says is selfish.

    “Their craving of nostalgia or for wanting to have us play by their rules in many ways jeopardizes what we have spent 40 years building,” he said. “I’ve been there since the beginning, and when I put on my Kiss gear, I do it with great pride, and anything that may jeopardize that by going out with a lineup that I might question is a nonstarter for me.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Kiss’ Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Performance Cancelled

    Kiss announced that they won’t be playing during their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which will be held in New York City on April 10. The decision is the result of a disagreement the band has been having over who will be playing with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.

    Kiss was formed in 1973 in New York City with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. The members were also known as The Demon, Starchild, Space Ace, and Catman. The band rose to fame with their flamboyant rock and roll performances with rockets, levitating drums, smoking guitars, and fire breathing acts. The wild rock band always performed with complete face makeup and costumes that were mostly in black.

    Since then, the band’s lineup has changed with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer replacing original members Criss and Frehley.

    According to Kiss’ official website, the band has decided to cancel the performance, as they are in an emotional situation where none of the members can be pleased. The message further states that the intention was to celebrate the history of the band with all its members. They failed to mention other members of the band including Mark St. John who died in 2007, and Vinnie Vincent who was a member of the band for a brief period in the 80’s.

    During Eddie Trunk’s radio show, Frehley said that both Simmons and Stanley rejected the idea of having the original four members perform during the induction. This statement was later refuted by the band saying that they never refused the idea.

    Criss also said that he wanted to let fans to know that the original four wouldn’t be playing, before they get the chance to purchase tickets, which are being sold for $120 to over $500. Both Frehley and Criss are not sure if they are going to attend the induction ceremony.

    Kiss’ original members played together until 1980 and then played together again from 1996 to 2000. Since then, Thayer and Singer have been wearing the costumes and makeup of former members Criss and Frehley.

    Gene Simmons Blasts Ace Frehley and Peter Criss

    http://youtu.be/xZ9IPzMvyLU

    Image via Facebook

  • Nirvana Among Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

    The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officially announced its 2014 inductees today, with upcoming members including Nirvana, Kiss, Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oates, Cat Stevens and Linda Ronstadt.

    Beatles manager Brian Epstein and original Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham will both receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performers, and The E Street Band will be given the Award for Musical Excellence.

    Musicians are eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single. The induction ceremony will be held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 10th, 2014. The general public will be able to attend the event for the first time in New York City, and tickets go on sale in January. HBO will broadcast the ceremony in May.

    Below is Nirvana’s video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Ah, middle school:

    Commenting on Nirvana’s swift induction, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO Joel Peresman said, “People see the relevancy of that band (Nirvana). We’re just getting into the creative of the show, so I don’t know what’s going to happen with that performance. They have to figure it out.”

    Kiss, being very serious:

    Some have wondered why Kiss, who has been eligible for induction for 15 years now, were finally selected. Peresman commented, “The Kiss Army has descended on Cleveland in recent years. And we’ve gotten thousands of letters. They also did extremely well in the public vote.”

    Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer:”

    Gabriel was previously inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010, but was unable to attend the ceremony “This time I will definitely go,” the singer told Rolling Stone. “I’m very grateful to have gotten in again. It’s a huge honor since it’s for your whole body of work and not just a specific project.”

    Image via YouTube.

  • Hall & Oates to be Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame

    In surprising news to Daryl Hall and John Oates, their band Hall & Oates will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn next April.

    A band becomes eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years following their first music release, whether it be an album or a single. Following this metric, Hall & Oates would have been eligible for induction in 1997. However, this is the first year the group has appeared on the ballot.

    In an interview with Rolling Stone, Daryl Hall commented on why he believed it has taken so long for his band to receive the recognition it deserves: “I didn’t think it would happen as long as the people who were in power stayed in power. I’ve always been sort of on the other side of the fence with the old guard and the powers-that-be. So it was a bit of a surprise to me… It’s probably because they had their own opinions about what constituted exceptional music in that period of time and it was based on a lot of things that I wasn’t really interested in. I have slightly different roots than most of the writers.”

    His band-mate, John Oates, shared Hall’s sentiments: “I felt that the Rock Hall, the powers that be, had a point of view and that we didn’t fit into that point of view and it didn’t bother me because if that’s how it is, that’s how it is. I kept saying, ‘If it happens it happens, and if it does it’s going to be great.’ ”

    That being said, both Hall and Oates are extremely grateful to be receiving the award, with Oates stating, “I will be there with bells on. I’m dusting off my suit, man… So I’m really going to enjoy it and I think it’s a great class, so to speak. I think the artists are really cool and I’m honored to be in this particular class and with all the other prior inductees.”

    Other inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 include Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, Linda Ronstadt, KISS, and Nirvana. This was Nirvana’s first year to be eligible for induction, yet it is no surprise the band made the list on their first attempt: “For once … I’m speechless. From the basements, to the dingy clubs, to the broken down vans, to … the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I’d like to thank the committee not only for this induction, but also for recognizing Nirvana for what we were: pure rock and roll,” stated Dave Grohl, former drummer for Nirvana and current front-man for the Foo Fighters.

    Voting for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is conducted in two stages, with voting from 700 Rock Hall members and also from fans. This year, fans cast nearly 1.4 million votes to determine who would be inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame. The top fan nominees to not be inducted were Yes and Deep Purple, each receiving approximately 150,000 votes and besting all the inductees besides KISS and Nirvana. Fortunately for the other 4 new members, fan results only count for one vote.

    The 29th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on April 10, 2014 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Tickets will go on sale next month, and the induction will be aired live on HBO.

    Image via RockHall.com

  • Linda Ronstadt, Nirvana To Be Inducted Into R&R Hall Of Fame

    Linda Ronstadt and Nirvana are among the artists chosen to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year, it was announced on Tuesday morning.

    The list of inductees also includes Kiss, Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, and Hall & Oates. Among those nominated who didn’t make the cut are Yes, N.W.A, Chic, the Meters, Deep Purple, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, LL Cool J, the Replacements, Link Wray and the Zombies.

    Ronstadt spoke candidly about her nomination recently, saying, “It’s not anything I’ve ever given a second thought to.” The 67-year old is battling Parkinson’s Disease and has said she is completely unable to sing anymore, but she’s never been one to pay much attention to accolades. One of the reasons she never aspired to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is that her music has never really had any boundaries, crossing genres to defy what is considered “rock and roll”.

    “I never thought of myself as a rock ‘n’ roll singer — I’ve thought of myself as a singer who sang rock ‘n’ roll, who sang this, who sang that,” she said.

    The ceremony will be bittersweet for Nirvana fans, as only two members of the band will be there to accept the award; singer Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994 after years of battling depression and drug abuse.

    The ceremony will take place in New York on April 10, 2014.

    Image: Wikimedia Commons

  • Nirvana Recognized As Nominee For Hall Of Fame

    The masters and originators of grunge rock, Nirvana, whose frontman Kurt Cobain famously said “It’s better to burn out than to fade away” have been announced as nominees for the 2014 Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. It’s been a long time coming for the world-renown band that brought the Seattle grunge scene to the rest of the world. The momentous nod to the rock n’ roll legends proves as the first year of Nirvana’s eligibility.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJGl0FQK9Ew

    Known the world over for such hits as Smells Like Teen Spirit, All Apologies, Heart Shaped Box, and Come As You Are, the Seattle-based band became as equally known for recognizable album covers such as the one from Nevermind as for making head-cranking hits. Many popular albums were released during the band’s active years including: Bleach in 1989, Nevermind in 1991, In Utero in 1993, and MTV Unplugged in New York during 1994.

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    Nirvana members included: Krist Novoselic, Kurt Cobain, and Dave Grohl from 1990 onward while Aaron Burckhard had been part of the band during the original formation. The band may have continued making amazing hits; however, unfortunate news about the untimely death of one beloved member changed this.

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    On April 8, 1994, tragedy struck when an electrician found Kurt Cobain’s body at his Lake Washington home with a bullet through his head. The following excerpt is from the letter that was found resting next to Kurt Cobain when he was discovered.

    I have a goddess of a wife who sweats ambition and empathy and a daughter who reminds me too much of what i used to be, full of love and joy, kissing every person she meets because everyone is good and will do her no harm. And that terrifies me to the point to where I can barely function. I can’t stand the thought of Frances becoming the miserable, self-destructive, death rocker that I’ve become.

    I have it good, very good, and I’m grateful, but since the age of seven, I’ve become hateful towards all humans in general. Only because it seems so easy for people to get along that have empathy. Only because I love and feel sorry for people too much I guess.

    Thank you all from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach for your letters and concern during the past years. I’m too much of an erratic, moody baby! I don’t have the passion anymore, and so remember, it’s better to burn out than to fade away.

    Peace, love, empathy.
    Kurt Cobain

    Though the world lost the talented Kobain before his time, Dave Krohl went on to provide great music through the Foo Fighters. For many fans the world over who still hold a torch for this band, the recognition is met with devoted enthusiasm.

    [Images Via Wikimedia Commons and Youtube]

  • Hall & Oates Among Rock Hall Of Fame Nominees

    Hall and Oates are among 16 nominees for the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Well, I Can’t Go For That, or in this case I can go for that. The band known for such popular hits as Out of Touch, Kiss on My List, and Man Eater have been vocal through Twitter with their fans about the upcoming nomination process.

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    Hall and Oates are in good company as several other popular iconic artists have been nominated as well. Peter Gabriel, KISS, Chic, The Zombies, The Replacements, Linda Ronstadt, The Meters, N.W.A., Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Deep Purple, LL Cool J, Yes, Cat Stevens, Link Wray, and the legendary Nirvana.

    The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame will officially release the selected winners from the impressive group of talented musicians sometime within the next few weeks; however, a specific date has not been released. In typical rock ‘n roll style, the inductees will be released when those powers feel good and ready to release them.

    [Images And Videos Via YouTube]