"Rappers do not belong in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"-Gene Simmons

[That 70s Guy]

canoe.ca

KISS star Gene Simmons has taken aim at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bosses for inducting rappers into their Ohio museum.

The bass player and his band will be added to the Hall of Fame in April after a series of near misses in recent years, but the rockers aren't exactly thrilled about the honour.

Simmons and bandmate Paul Stanley feel they should have been inducted years ago - and they're annoyed that rap acts like Run-DMC, Grandmaster Flash and Public Enemy got in before them.

Speaking to Radio.com, Simmons says, "A long time ago it was diluted. It's really backroom politics... 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 & Roll Hall of Fame? Run-DMC in the Rock & 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!

"If you asked Madonna, 'What kind of artist are you?' do you think she would say, 'Oh, rock!' So what they hell are they doing in the Hall of Fame? They can run their organisation any way they'd like, but it ain't rock! It just isn't! If you don't play guitar and you don't write your own songs, you don't belong there."

Earlier this month, singer Stanley revealed KISS would not be performing at the induction ceremony.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

For once, the guy has a good point.

They named it the Rock & Roll HOF. Should've called it the Music HOF.

But the inclusion of rap artists is hardly the only thing wrong with the damn thing.

 

[LG]

I've said the same thing more than once, and agree with Gene about this completely.

They should make an Urban music HOF and put all the rappers/hip-hop/dub-step artists in it.

 

[Khor1255]

Then burn it to the ground.

 

[LG]

Then burn it to the ground.

As long as nobody is inside Khor.

 

[Sharp Dressed Man]

I don't always agree with Gene, in fact, more than often we disagree, but in this case he is spot on. I have no personal problem with Run DMC, although I am not a fan, but I do not understand why they are so highly regarded in rock circles. I remember Kerrang Magazine once included them on a list of rock/metal albums you had to hear. That makes absolutely no sense, they have nothing to do with rock/metal, except the fact that they did a song with Aerosmith

 

[METALPRIEST]

I'm a fan of the Beastie Boys...and there is a hard one to consider. Beastie Boys had rock songs and started off as a rock/punk band in the early days. But their first REAL album had rock tunes. All in all I agree though......rap is cool by me but does NOT belong in the rock and roll hall of fame. Soul Music had it's own show in the 70's.

But then again American Bandstand had soul music included on it's show. That's just the way it's gonna be.

 

[Khor1255]

I have no problem with soul or funk being included. Some rock borrows heavily from both of these and it can be argued both are forms of rock in their own right.

 

[METALPRIEST]

I have no problem with soul or funk being included. Some rock borrows heavily from both of these and it can be argued both are forms of rock in their own right.

 

[foreverblue]

as much as i despise this sleazy, money hungry bigot... he's right on this one