Kiss have cancelled a planned performance at their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction due to a line-up dispute, it has been revealed.
The US band had been due to play a celebratory performance this April but, according to Rolling Stone, their set has been shelved due to arguments about which of the band members would take part. Former guitarist Ace Frehley, in particular, had previously claimed that he and other members of the band’s original line-up had not wanted to share a stage with their replacements.
A statement released by the band yesterday (February 24) confirmed that the group would now not play the show, with singer Gene Simmons stating: “This is understandably an emotional situation where there is no way to please everyone. To bring this to a quick end, we have decided not to play in any line-up and we will focus our attention on celebrating our induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.”
He added: “It is over 13 years since the original lineup has played together in make-up and we believe the memory of those times would not be enhanced. Contrary to claims made through the media we have never refused to play with Ace and Peter [Criss].”
This year’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony is set to take place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 10th, 2014. As well as Kiss, Nirvana, Peter Gabriel, Hall And Oates, Cat Stevens and Linda Ronstadt will all be inducted, while The E Street Band will be given the Award For Musical Excellence.
The svengalis behind The Beatles and The Rolling Stones will also be honoured, with the late Brian Epstein and Andrew Loog Oldham sharing the Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performers.