Gene Simmons was right.
The KISS frontman didn’t back down after launching a politically incorrect attack on rock’s sacred ground earlier this month.
Simmons blased the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for welcoming non-rock musicians into the fold.
“The fact that, for instance, Iron Maiden is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, when they can sell out stadiums and Grandmaster Flash is, right? … Ice Cube and I had a back and forth [about this]. He’s a bright guy and I respect what he’s done. It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language.”
His language is rock, and while his opinion might have sparked a backlash during the peak woke era, it didn’t generate much outrage this time. The far-Left Hollywood Reporter tried to stir up some, but apparently its actions weren’t successful.
According to the Legends N Leaders Podcast, KISS bassist Gene Simmons is once again questioning why rap and hip‑hop artists are included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, reigniting a debate he’s been vocal about for nearly a decade.
Simmons said: “Hip‑hop does not belong in the… pic.twitter.com/w7kjCAV8oS
— Rock Feed (@RockFeedNet) February 11, 2026
And Simmons didn’t backtrack or apologize on his own as many stars often do, large or small. No “Hostage Apology” on ice.
Now, we know why, and his argument looks even more solid today. The Hall of Fame just announced its latest class of nominees:
- Lauryn Hill
- Shakira
- Pink
- Oasis
- Iron Maiden
- Mariah Carey
- Phil Collins
- Melissa Etheridge
- Jeff Buckley
- New Edition
- Wu-Tang Clan
- The Black Crowes
- Oasis
- Joy Division/New Order
- Billy Idol
Some choices seem obvious, like Collins, Oasis and Billy Idol. Others invite robust debate, like the Black Crowes and Pink. Some voters may have heard Simmons’ rant and pushed for Iron Maiden to make the cut.
A few are head-scratchers for one obvious reason – it’s not rock & roll, whether you like it or not. Shakira is described by some as the “Queen of Latin Music.” New Edition is an R/B-pop hybrid, which is a little closer to the mark. Wu-Tang Clan is pure hip-hop.
Lauryn Hill is a rap pioneer and Grammy darling, but she’s not rock & roll.
See the problem?
Rock is rock, and while it’s an amalgam of different influences, from folk to blues, it carries a distinctive sound (and sometimes attitude).
Meanwhile, why has it taken the Hall this long to recognize Collins as a solo artist? Other worthwhile acts remain outside the gates, including Toto, Alice in Chains, the B-52s, Asia and The Monkees.
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The latter quartet, derisively dubbed the pre-Fab Four, is the ultimate head-scratcher. The pop gems are endless, from “Daydream Believer” and “I’m a Believer” to “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You.” Deep cuts abound, from the sublime “Sometime in the Morning” to the hard-rocking “Circle Sky.”
The band’s TV show, building on what the Beatles brought to ’60s culture, pre-dated MTV in profound ways. The band’s 1968 movie “Head,” a box office bomb at the time, became a cult classic.
Their music has stood the test of time, and the Monkees’ 2016 album, “Good Times,” proved the group’s durability and endlessly catchy hooks.
“Me and Magdalena” is a thing of beauty.
The group’s surviving member, Micky Dolenz, is back on tour this year at the age of 80. (He turns 81 on March 8). Not bad for an 60-year-old group that hasn’t even been nominated for rock’s top honor.
Their combined absence in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a stain on its legacy. And, as Simmons would argue, not the only one.
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