Matt Wake of AL.com recently conducted an interview with former PANTERA and current HELLYEAH drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
AL.com: A special, 20th-anniversary edition of PANTERA's "Far Beyond Driven", which was a No. 1 album in 1994, was recently released. Is there anything you appreciate more about the record now?
Vinnie Paul: Being a part of the production of every record I've ever been a part of, I really, really appreciate the fact it was recorded analog. It was before Pro Tools existed and music became simple, you could cut, paste and do that. Back then you had to play every single note that was on there, man. And you had to sing every note and (play) every drum lick and every part, and you had to be really good to get all that stuff right. I really do appreciate that more than ever.
AL.com: Do you care if PANTERA ever gets inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?
Vinnie Paul: Uh, I don't really think so, man. It's already been proven there are tons of travesties that have gone on with that place. How in the world did it take forever to get BLACK SABBATH in there? Honestly, I don't think PANTERA will ever get in there. But if we do, I'm going to embrace it just like anything else. I've actually been there and heavy metal is barely even represented in the place, so I wouldn't expect that to happen.
AL.com: You own the Clubhouse strip club in Dallas and a string of Latino-themed strip clubs, called Chicas Bonitas. What separates an awesome strip club from a lame one?
Vinnie Paul: I think there's one thing, man. Most strip clubs provide a service. That's what they're there for. My strip clubs provide a party and I want people to have a damn good time while they're in there. When they come in, I want people to be able to afford the drinks, to be able to afford the girls, I want them to hear good rock 'n' roll music and not feel like they're part of a machine.
Read the entire interview at AL.com.
Legendary rockers KISS have won the fan vote for induction into the 2014 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
The poll ended with KISS at 17.22 percent, followed by NIRVANA at 15.69 percent, DEEP PURPLE at 11.93 percent, and YES at 10.88 percent.
The Rock Hall's official poll will be used to create a single online fan vote. That will be matched against about 600 voters consisting of artists, historians and members of the music business.
The artists who get the most votes will be announced later this month December and will be inducted at a New York City ceremony next April. Highlights from the event will be shown on HBO in May.
During an interview with The Huffington Post, KISS frontman Paul Stanley took time to salute the band's fans while taking a swipe at chairman of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation, Jann Wenner, when asked if he ever sees a day when KISS will be inducted into the Rock Hall. "Well, it depends on who lives longer, us or Jann Wenner," Stanley said.
"Look, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is marketing," he continued. "You've got a bunch of faceless people in a back room who trademark a name that sounds very official. Well, if you had thought of it first, you would have been the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I am one of the biggest Laura Nyro fans. I still listen to that stuff incessantly. Laura Nyro does not belong in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Songwriter Hall Of Fame? Absolutely."
He went on to plead his case, saying: "It's absurd for anybody to look around and hear the acts and artists who cite us as an inspiration, and then tell me that we're not in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I would certainly accept on their (the fans) behalf because it seems to be a major sore spot for them, but I don't need the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame."
KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons told Rolling Stone last year about being shut out of the Rock Hall: "It's become a joke. We've been thinking about it and the answer is simply, 'We'll just buy it and fire everybody.' In all seriousness for the fans, for something to be called Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is such an insult to MADONNA, BLONDIE. . . Who the fuck knows what other disco act is in there? It's an insult to them because they don't get to be in the 'Dance Hall Of Fame', because that's what they do. They're legitimate dance, disco artists. They don't belong in rock and roll."
Stanley added: "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has reached a point where they're really scrounging and scratching to find someone left that they consider viable. With all due respect, when you get to Patti Smith, you're about two steps away from Pete Seeger."
Gene Simmons told The Pulse Of Radio that awards hold little allure for him, since it's the fans that ultimately decide who stays around and who doesn't: "Our awards are under the 'K' section in record stores. Every time somebody goes out and plunks down their hard-earned money — either for a KISS ticket or for an album — that's the award, and reward."
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