Cheap Trick has been feeling the heat from some fans since performing at the Donald J. Trump-hosted Kennedy Center Honors, an event that has become a political flashpoint since the president took over as chairman of the board of the Kennedy Center and installed a new board of his supporters.
Now, amid an outcry that has had some followers renouncing their fandom of Cheap Trick following the performance — as well as, inevitably, Trump supporters publicly doubling up on their love for the band in response — the group has issued a statement insisting nothing more should be read into their appearance than a kinship with Kiss.
“We were asked to perform at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors ceremony to pay tribute to our lifelong brothers in KISS, and to support artists and the arts,” the band said in a message posted on Cheap Trick’s X and Instagram accounts. “We agreed to do it for those reasons, and no others.”
The veteran group performed “Rock ‘N Roll All Nite” in salute to Kiss, which was being inducted as a Kennedy Center honoree along with Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford. The show will be broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Dec. 23.
This year marked a sharp break from the Kennedy Center Honors of the past, with most of the honorees known to be friends or at least friendly with Trump, who has otherwise alienated much of the artistic community. All of the honorees came to the White House the day before the event to receive newly redesigned medallions, with the president remarking on what a good friend Gene Simmons has been to him over the years as he placed a medal around the Kiss guitarist’s neck.
Some fans of Kiss have balked at their favorite band accepting the honor from Trump, as well, although being a Kiss fan generally involves not holding the band to exceptionally high standards of social consciousness — and with Simmons’ past support for Trump, it didn’t come as a major surprise to many when the group accepted his blessing.
Cheap Trick fans, though, may have had more reason to be surprised, to the extent that they may have believed the performance meant the band was down with the takeover of the Kennedy Center by a figure perceived as a villain and enemy of the arts among much of the rock world.
Back in 2016, singer Robin Zander noted that the group had turned down an offer to play the Republican convention that year. “The Republican National Committee called our office and offered us $100,000 to play at their convention in Cleveland [this summer],” he told the Guardian. “We turned it down. Then we had second thoughts. Maybe we should have accepted it – but we would all have got swastika guitars made.” (Tom Petersson was more circumspect, just telling the reporter, “We thought better of it.”)
The responses to Cheap Trick’s new statement on their social accounts were across the spectrum:
— “Everyone involved should have told Trump to go fuck himself. Your apology is weak sauce.” (Cheap Trick’s statement is not actually an apology.)
— “Thank you so much for posting this. There’s definitely been a divide among the fans, and KISS is having it twice as much with their KISS Army. I’m sure Paul Stanley will have more to say about this after the show airs on television next week. For now, it’s all about the music.”
— “A lot of artists put on the spot. I respect your decision as well as that of those who choose not to.”
— “The band doesn’t express any political affiliation. But I do!! TRUMP RULES!!”
— “I’m sure with a 50 yr career you’ve said no to other gigs. You’ll wear this forever. Such a disappointment.”
— “Kiss had your back in the 70’s and gave you a great spot to spring from. You were there to honor them.”
— “Hmmm… it’s hard to be neutral with Donald Trump. You’ll catch flack, I hope Kiss is worth the blowback.”
— “Sad you even thought this needed posted. People need to grow a pair.”
— “That’s a sorry excuse. You shouldn’t do it. You’re normalizing this madness by being part of it. Not that it should matter to you but because of this I will no longer be a fan.”
— “Bun E. must be the only sane one left. And that is saying something!” (Founding member Bun E. Carlos is no longer with the group.)