Peresman made they comments during an interview with Radio.com. They were discussing this year's induction and the interviewer pointed out that Gene Simmons' speech was surprisingly gracious and Peresman responded, "It was a lovely speech, it was actually kind of classy, as opposed to Paul [Stanley]'s. That speech was the best advertisement for [pointing out that] what we did was right. He's been almost borderline racist, not in that speech, but in other interviews talking about how hip-hop artists shouldn't be inducted because they don't play instruments. It's like, 'What are you, kidding?'

"And he talks about the nominating committee, and how those guys don't buy records. Those guys buy records! They're f�ing fans! Those guys are writers and critics and musicians. Those are the people who buy records and got into the business because they love music."

But it appears that Peresman fired at the wrong target. While Stanley has made a lot of headlines being critical of the Rock Hall, it was Gene Simmons who called into question the Rock Hall's practice of inducting non-rock artists.

Simmons told Radio.com "I have no beef with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You go on with your bad self and get more disco artists. Get the Boston Pops Orchestra to be inducted!

"A long time ago it was diluted. It's really back room politics, like Boss Tweed. A few people decide what's in and what's not. And the masses just scratch their heads. You've got Grandmaster Flash in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Run-D.M.C. in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? You're killing me! That doesn't mean those aren't good artists. But they don't play guitar. They sample and they talk. Not even sing!"

Simmons was asked a follow-up question about his friend Donna Summer "finally" being inducted and he responded, "What do you mean 'finally?' Donna was my next door neighbor for many years, I knew and liked her, she was on my [1978] solo record. But if you asked Donna, 'What kind of artist are you?' do you think she would say 'rock?' If you asked Madonna, 'What kind of artist are you?' do you think she would say, 'Oh, rock!'