PAUL STANLEY On Refusal To Perform With Original KISS Lineup: It Is A Can Of Worms Better Off Left Closed

KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley has commented further on the band's controversial announcement that no members of KISS will be playing at the April 10 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in Brooklyn. The group's statement came on the heels of Ace Frehley explaining to fans that neither he nor Peter Criss are invited to play with Stanley and Gene Simmons.

Speaking to the Billboard.com, Stanley said about KISS' decision not to play at the ceremony: "Oh, it starts decades go. That it's 14 years on (of eligibility) and we're getting into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is a clear indication that the people who hide behind that moniker don't like us, but it reached a point where it was so absurd and ludicrous (to exclude KISS) that they caved. But they're only going to induct the original four (members),and bringing up the idea of inducting members other than the original four...was shut down as a non-starter. It's a very valid argument considering that there are people who played on multi-platinum albums and played for millions of people and were very important for the continuation of the band. And clearly when you've got a busload of GRATEFUL DEAD (members) who have been inducted and guys in the [RED HOT] CHILI PEPPERS who nobody knows who they are because they played on the very earliest albums are inducted, and when the original drummer of RUSH, John Rutsey, who played on a classic album, isn't inducted. The list goes on and on of the inconsistencies. Now, I'm not pointing fingers at any of those people, but I'm certainly pointing a finger at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The only consistencies are inconsistencies and the rules clearly are there are no rules because the criteria for how and who gets in is purely based upon a personal like or dislike. And when I feel we're being treated unfairly, I have issues with that."

Asked if he has any idea why the people behind the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame are drawing such a hard line with KISS, Stanley said: "Well, it's like them swallowing a teaspoon of medicine they don't want. It's a bitter pill for them to swallow, so they're making it as small as possible.

"The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is kind of like a distortion of a bar mitzvah. Just 'cause I'm getting inducted doesn't mean this has turned into a love fest."

He continued: "They wanted the original four guys to play, in makeup. But, honestly, I don't want to roll the dice and possibly negatively impact on what I personally have been involved in building for 40 years. I have too much invested at this point. It really is a can of worms that I feel is better off left closed. So there's been a lot of issues, and perhaps the best way to deal with them is to celebrate the four original guys and go there and get our award and to look past the differences that will always be there. It doesn't change the big picture; we have differences and we will continue to have differences. It doesn't change who i want to play with and who represents KISS.

"There are a lot of people who are great inspirations to me, and still are, who are in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and for that reason and the fact that fans want us in there, I graciously and vigorously will be there to accept the award. We should salute and enjoy an evening that celebrates what the four of us started. But there's always a lot of cloak and dagger stuff and a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes."

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have chosen to have the rest of the current KISS lineup — guitarist Tommy Thayer and longtime drummer Eric Singer — dress up as Criss' and Frehley's respective "Spaceman" and "Catman" personas (designs owned by Simmons and Stanley).

Frehley left KISS after the band's 2002 "Farewell" dates, saying afterwards that he took the word "farewell" seriously.

Criss claimed that his contract with KISS wasn't renewed in March 2004.

Both charges have been disputed by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.

The 29th annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 10 at Barclays Center.

The television broadcast will premiere on HBO on May 31.