GENE SIMMONS FURIOUS AT HALL OF FAME

Rock singing icon Gene Simmons is furious his band KISS has been excluded from a new list of acts to be considered for induction into the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year. The group released their first album in 1974, thereby fulfilling the requirement that rules eligible acts must have released their first album at least 25 years prior to a nomination. And Simmons can’t understand why Kiss has been left off the new shortlist which includes guitarist Jeff Beck, singer Bobby Womack and Metallica. Speaking at a Billboard Touring Conference on Thursday, the star ranted: "There are disco bands, rap bands, Yiddish folk song bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but not Kiss. "I believe we have more gold records in America than any other group, but it’s okay." The final five acts will be announced in January and officially honored at the 24th induction ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio on April 4th.

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