KISS is in the Rock Hall but will they make up?

December 19, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

“You’re no good” was not only a hit song for Linda Ronstadt in the ’70s, but also the message sent by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to numerous decades-old platinum-selling artists who didn’t pass enough critical-acclaim muster to be inducted into the hallowed pantheon located on the shores of Lake Erie.

It appears as though the Rock Hall voters have tired of the whining among fans, with last year’s induction class including prog-rock act Rush. Now comes word KISS’ “Rock and Roll All Nite” shock-rock and pyro- fueled theatrics has paid off as one of the 2014 inductees.

The truth is though some folks may be shocked at the notion, KISS’ influence over metal and rock is undeniable: bands from Pearl Jam to the Foo Fighters to Queens of the Stone Age. Now comes word that co-founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley won’t let former members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss perform at the 29th induction ceremony, which takes place April 10 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Great, so the band that for so long sought credibility can’t set aside its differences for one night of KISS “Alive!” That also means fans won’t hear the group’s two best songs, Criss’ “Beth” and Frehley’s “New York Groove.”

The one no-brainer and seemingly biggest name on the inductee list is first-time nominee Nirvana. Sure, some will complain about the “Nevermind” group’s small sample size — only three studio albums before band visionary Kurt Cobain killed himself in 1994 — but the Seattle group’s grunge influence remains alive today.

Also, for those of us who lived through the fall of 1991, there was a decidedly before-and-after moment when Cobain’s angst crushed the music industry’s malaise at the time of Trixter and Color Me Bad.

The only downside to Nirvana’s induction is Cobain’s widow Courtney Love getting five minutes on stage with an open mic and an audience filled with record weasels. Actually, who am I kidding? There is no music industry anymore.

The remaining class includes Hall and Oates, Peter Gabriel, Linda Ronstadt and Cat Stevens. In short, Hall and Oates’ hit-laden resume and pop-music influence requires induction, while Gabriel’s second Rock Hall nod — the first came a few years ago with Genesis — is justified for his unique songwriting and creative vision.

The aforementioned Ronstadt is somewhat of an afterthought selection by the baby boomer powers that be. Less influential than Joni Mitchell, Ronstadt getting inducted means Carly Simon is on deck.

As for Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf Islam), all the talk will be about his conversion to Islam with some confused folks getting political, comparing his conversion to Brody’s on “Homeland.” They’re going to forget Stevens rode the original “Peace Train.”

Perhaps the head-scratcher about this year’s announcement is why Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band — which will receive the Musical Excellence award — wasn’t already inducted when The Boss received the honor in 1999.

Then there are the groups that were nominated but fell short. This includes LL Cool J, N.W.A., Deep Purple, The Meters, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, The Replacements, Link Wray and The Zombies.

Of those acts, the hip-hop performers will get their day soon, while the others may once again get lost in the shuffle by the Class of 2015, which will have an induction ceremony in Cleveland. That list features big-hitters such as Alice In Chains, The Black Crowes, Ice Cube, Kid Rock and The Smashing Pumpkins.