Pencil Storm is not a political website. But, when KISS appeared alongside Donald Trump at the “Trump/Kennedy Honors” it unleashed a tidal wave of opinions on social media. Since we’ve written approximately 14,000 KISS-related stories in our history, including an excellent review of both the new Dressed To Kill and KISS Alive box sets just last Saturday, we’re gonna allow some of our writers to vent. Please try to not get bent out of shape. It’s not like we are suggesting Hot in the Shade is better than Destroyer or KISS Symphony is the best KISS Live record. Anyway here goes. Nothin’.
Nothing to Lose.
David Martin (contributor, Pencil Storm, KISS Fan)
First, KISS is not Kennedy Center Honors material, and I say this as someone who has been to nine KISS concerts. Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was sufficient. A Kennedy Center Honor is for people like John Fogerty and R.E.M, to name two acts that fit the criteria (artistic excellence, being alive).
Of course, Donald Trump looms over everything. The correct path would have been to reject the honor. Trump began meddling in Kennedy Center affairs shortly after taking office (one of several dumb priorities of his). He made himself chairman and began referring to the place as the “Trump Kennedy Center.” It would be one thing to politely submit to one of those photo-ops where guests to the Oval Office stand behind Trump while he grins like a man who just completed a challenge to eat a 96-ounce steak. But Trump's need to exert control over the Honors has tainted them for as long as he's in office. Those medals are damaged goods.
That being said, I can't get too outraged about it. Paul and Gene have always been cringy about their patriotism. (Paul led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance on one tour, for heaven's sake.) Gene, to his credit, soured on Trump during his first term. At the same time, I can understand why the son of a Holocaust survivor who has called America "the promised land" would put those feelings aside to be celebrated in the nation's capital. I could have done without Paul calling Trump "our President" in a tweet. He was probably just trying to project a spirit of national unity, but for me it struck a wrong chord.
I'm sure Gene, Paul, Peter and their families had a nice time. But doesn't everyone in the photo down at the end of the blog look kind of small?
Trump has that effect on people.
Colin Gawel (Musician solo and with Watershed, Pencilstorm Founder)
I was very disappointed when I saw the picture of KISS with DJT. As Tom Morello said in his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech, “KISS are the people’s band.” So to see them cozying up to President whose words - and even more importantly - policies, target anyone who looks or acts differently than what the establishment desires crossed a line to me.
I will never feel the same. I always hoped for the best with the KISS Army “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy but I can see the true colors now. I took a lot of shit proudly wearing my KISS gear through their darkest days. I always had their back. It is obvious now they don’t have mine.
I have been thoughtful about my response. And it saddens me to say I will no longer wear any KISS gear. I don’t want it implied that I am on the side of an intolerant and ignorant bully like DJT. I will not be engaging in any KISS-related social media content. Sure, I’ll watch the videos and think stuff like “This is awesome, why don’t people realize how awesome this is?” but no likes or comments coming from me. I will not go on the record defending them anymore.
And I’m not spending any more money on KISS. Sure, I’ve said that a million times but this is for real. A line has been crossed.
And Paul, I’m most disappointed in you. What do your artsy friends think? What does Tom Morello think? I bought a solo album t-shirt during Covid out of respect to your thoughtful and hopeful posts. And because “Wouldn’t You Like To Know Me” is the best track on the best of the KISS solo records. I’m throwing that shirt in the trash. And the KISS poster that has hung in the Watershed rehearsal room since….1983…years before we could drive.
I’ll always love ya. I’ll still enjoy “100,000 Years” 100,000 times more than “Wang Tang Sweet Poontang” but you guys joined Terrible Ted and his three friends. You joined the bullies. You are no longer the people’s band. You sold us out to the establishment. And for what? Seriously, for what? You have always claimed you never cared about accolades or critical acclaim. Well, you did one time with The Elder and how did that turnout? Well this is The Elder part two. And this time it seems highly unlikely Vinnie Vincent is going to show up and save your credibility.
Enjoy your stupid medals. If this was 1974, President Donald Trump would drop a derogatory slur on Stanley Eisen and have ICE deport Chaim Witz and his mother. You boys have forgotten where you came from and who helped get you there.
Okay, that’s all I’ve got to say. Time to call out the firehouse. I’m hotter than hell.
Jeremy Porter (co-editor, Pencil Storm)
Ok, well here's my take. I’m honestly surprised at the backlash. I didn’t even blink an eye when I saw them posing with Trump. They’ve been talking about what an honor this was, and Ace was especially excited about it. I never heard a single word of trepidation.
It’s always disappointing to see our rock and roll heroes sucking up to assholes that wouldn’t know a Flying V from a teleprompter, but it shouldn’t have been a surprise. At this point, KISS is a product, a money making machine, a shell of the four hungry losers who busted ass and worked their way out of Queens and onto the biggest stages in the world, despite the establishment telling them they couldn’t play, couldn’t write, and wouldn’t last a year. Unlike Trump, they weren’t handed anything. Unlike Trump, they had an amazing legacy and trajectory to protect. Unlike Trump, they welcomed anyone and everyone to the party. Unlike Trump, they proved everyone wrong.
In more recent times, however, that rebellion and determination has shifted from a gang of brothers playing rock and roll to a corporate machine that is not entirely misaligned with the current administration. Marketing and branding has taken priority over integrity, the music, and the fans. While Paul had some very anti-Trump things to say around his false claims of rigged elections and the January 6th insurrection, Gene has been mostly pro-Trump, and Ace was always pro-Trump. Yeah, there was some dissent a few years ago, but these guys lean way more Nugent than Pearl Jam.
The similarities between KISS and Trump are way more prevalent than the differences.
Both Trump and Gene have had reality shows, and Gene was on the first season of The Apprentice.
Both Trump and KISS are over the top when it comes to marketing & merchandising and selling endless piles of overpriced garbage to their followers.
Both Trump and KISS have little regard for the truth when it comes to the narrative around their personas, legacies, and net worth. KISS will deny lip-sycing, farewell tours, aspects of situations with Ace and Peter, and, well, Trump lies about just about everything. Plenty of cringe-worthy quotes to go around on both sides.
Both Trump and KISS (Gene, especially) are publicly obsessed with money.
Both Trump and KISS wear insane amounts of facepaint.
For what it’s worth, I am, and remain a huge KISS fan, especially the original lineup, but with a soft spot for some of the non-makeup stuff too. The nostalgia of KISS for me is too strong for me to write them off because of this. Maybe if it were unexpected, I’d feel differently. I still crank Nugent’s early catalog too. Here’s to hoping Cheap Trick doesn’t suffer the same fate. *****OPE! Cheap Trick played! Still not canceling my membership to Trick International, #1845. I’m disappointed, but Colin put it in perspective a bit.
Scott Carr (contributor, Pencil Storm) texted to put him down for “ditto what Jeremy said.”
Ricki C. (co-editor, Pencil Storm, non-KISS fan)
Garth Brooks essayed “Shout It Out Loud” at the Kennedy Center to “honor” KISS. Need I say more? (At least it wasn’t fuckin’ Lee Greenwood crooning “Deuce.”)
And why does Peter Criss look like a little old man in this pic when Paul & Gene still look like rock stars? That’ll teach him to get fired and go off the road.
