Kiss fans protest outside the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Kiss fans are getting fed up with their group not being in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and a couple of hundred of them, many in the band's trademark facepaint, marched on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum in Cleveland on Saturday (August 5th) to protest the exclusion. Kiss have been eligible for the Rock Hall since 1999, and protest organizer Kim Rolfe told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "We're not going to settle for a nomination. We want an induction." The number of protesters is up for debate -- the official kissonline.com website says there were 500, while the Plain Dealer and AP report it as 200 -- but everyone agrees that the fans gathered peacefully on the museum's plaza and chanted "We want Kiss." Afterward, they moved a short distance away to Voinovich Park, where three Kiss tribute bands performed and where vendors sold a host of paraphernalia.
Singer-bassist Gene Simmons told us that the band continues to be amazed with the devotion people have for the group: "Kiss fans are beyond anything we ever dared hope for, in terms of fans. We were gonna be happy with just being able to sell a record and, and doing our music, but to get this kind of loyalty is beyond anything we ever expected."

The Rock Hall has gotten a lot of grief over the years about the inductions, but this was the first time that fans have gathered at the building to voice their disappointment. Museum spokesperson Todd Mesek said, "We love it. It shows they're involved and they care. These fans are passionate enough to come to the mecca and to stand up for their band."

It should be pointed out that while the exhibits are housed in Cleveland, the inductions are handled by the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation, which is based in New York City.

In related news, Gene Simmons and his family are the focus of a new reality series called Gene Simmons Family Jewels that premieres on Monday, August 7th, on A&E.
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