You don't often hear interview subjects challenging prominent journalists on their ex-wives. But that's what happened on Monday's CBS This Morning. Reporter Anthony Mason interviewed Kiss singer and guitarist Paul Stanley on the band's entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Mason quizzed, "And when the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame asked the original members to perform together again, Stanley resisted. For old times' sake, one more time, you wouldn't want to do that?" Stanley retorted, "How many times have you been married?" After the reporter responded with "twice," the rock star pounced,"How about for old times' sake you go back and spend the night with your ex-wife?" [See video below. MP3 audio here.]
Mason recovered, sputtering, "That's the way you look at it?" Stanley quipped, "That's the way you look at it. You wouldn't make good music."
An awkward Rather first shot back, "You been asking this to Tom Brokaw, have you?" After the question was repeated, Rather said of his interrogator, a fellow reporter, "Have you?" Following another pause, the then-CBS Evening News anchor clumsily concluded, "Mmm. Well, thank you very much. Pleased to see you."
A transcript of the April 7 exchange is below:
8:40
Gene Simmons said they're not fit to wear the makeup anymore.
PAUL STANLEY: Well, it's a great sound bite.
ANTHONY MASON: Do you agree with it?
PAUL STANLEY: I agree that they don't belong in the band and they don't belong in a position to represent the band.
ANTHONY MASON: And when the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame asked the original members to perform together again, Stanley resisted. For old times' sake, one more time, you wouldn't want to do that?
PAUL STANLEY: How many times have you been married?
ANTHONY MASON: Twice.
PAUL STANLEY: How about for old times' sake you go back and spend the night with your ex-wife?
ANTHONY MASON: That's the way you look at it?
PAUL STANLEY: That's the way you look at it. You wouldn't make good music.
