KISS FRONTMAN PAUL STANLEY SAYS THAT ACE FREHLEY AND PETER CRISS “WANTED EQUAL SAY WHEN THEY DIDN’T DO EQUAL WORK”
The OC Weekly spoke with KISS frontman Paul Stanley about his new autobiography, Face The Music: A Life Exposed.
In it the singer recounts many stories including one that claimed drummer Peter Criss went on a racist rant at a Chinese restaurant and quitting the band for a few days and crawling back. “[Peter] didn’t crawl back,” Stanley says. “He swallowed his pride and pseudo machismo and came back. But part of the dynamic of the band was to have to pragmatically deal with the fact that two of the guys were often times more interested in sabotaging the band, sabotaging [bassist/vocalist] Gene [Simmons] and I, than doing the right thing. And they (Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley) also wanted equal say when they didn’t do equal work.”
He continued: “Part of what we gave the public was the myth that the four of us did everything together and contributed equally. That was something we wanted to maintain in the spirit of the bands that we loved and pictured doing that. The problem was that the guys in the band began to believe it themselves!”
When asked what it is about he and Simmons that they have managed to stay together over 40 years, Stanley said: “It’s hard to define and distinguish between friendship and brotherhood. I certainly see him as a brother, although we don’t always agree on how to treat your brother. At the end of the day, I know he will be there for me and me for him. My issues have always been more rooted in participating evenly and equally and still ending up with a equal share of money. I didn’t want it with Peter and Ace, why would I want it with Gene? He wasn’t doing his job and he was off doing other things and being paid for those things. I felt like if he wasn’t going to do his job and gonna go elsewhere. It was like he took less here or he gave me some of what he was doing elsewhere. That was an ongoing problem. But look, at this point we made the life for each other that each of us could only have dreamed of, and those lives have very little in common. I’m sure Gene would no more want to live my life than I live his. But there’s a bond there because we made it possible for each of us.”
source: ocweekly.com
Hey Paul, ENOUGH ALREADY! You’ve made your points, right, wrong, true or false, WHATEVER, enough of the fucking drama! Nobody’s perfect, everybody’s made mistakes, regrets, bad choices and decisions, but take your own advice already and MOVE ON!!
I’ve seen Peter play great and I have seen Ace really shine. Today people need to take and listen to Cream and the Who , and the first three Kiss records and just listen … Peter Criss was right there with Gods of rock
Paul can do whatever he wants. It’s his band. And yes, Kiss is still selling tickets – over 20,000 opening night of the tour.
Yeah with def leppard supporting. No way they sell that many tickets alone! That’s why they are co headlining with def leppard!
Exactly…there’s no way Kiss tours with another band that size if they could still sell out arenas and sheds on their own!
And neither does Def Leppard…or virtually any other band out there not named Metallica or U2. Most bands are packaging tours…just the way it is now.
I am so proud to write that you can add AC/DC along with U2 & Metallica.
D from ET.com 🙂
By your logic, all the Def Lepard fans would leave after the that show and there would be a lot of empty seats for the Kiss show. That’s not the case. Silly and a bit close-minded.
Co-headlining in 2014 is called a sound business decision.
Journey / Steve Miller Band
Motley Crue / Alice Cooper
Rod Stewart / Santana
Boston / Doobie Brothers
KISS / Def Leppard
Styx / Foreigner
Aerosmith / Slash
Shall I go on?
Queen is doing quite well right now but they have not toured in a very longtime, no opening act either. Most of the bands you listed tour Every Year so the need to see them is watered down some what.
Sadly they are not selling out every stop on the tour. Here in Seattle just 24 hours before the concert they had dropped the ticket prices by half due to over 50% of the arena not having sold. I was row 13 and the people next to me paid half what I did as they bought last minute. They had to have donated tickets somewhere to fill the place the day of the show. They were even aggressively moving people from the lawn into seats to fill the front of the house. All that said both bands played great and sounded better than in recent years.
Your post is total fabrication.
14,000 – 15,000 were sold before show day. If you understood how the concert business works nowadays, unlike the old days when unsold tickets remained unsold, the promoter ,LN will always discount the last couple of thousand tickets the day of the show in order to sell you $12 beer,$10 hotdogs and a $50 T Shirt that they’ll get their part of.
I agree with with your point, but this is the part of the interview that made the headline. I am sure Paul did not start the conversation with “Peter and Ace did not want to do the work, but wanted equal pay.” I agree, this is yesterdays news.
He will only sell his book offering controversial issues! And that is what it’s all about: selling – the band, the music, the brand, the casket, the Rock’n Brews … list goes on. And as long as you buy it he will keep on doing it. If you want him to stop, stop going to concert or buying their merchandise … as well as their petty shooting crap at former members for the sake of making themselves look better.
Btw DF as well as Kiss both need the double headline bill, otherweise none of them in their right mind would share the profit just to make rock concert fans happy to see two famous bands in one concert.
Its “Never Enough”!
For someone who said he didnt throw anyone under the bus, he sure got his licks in..lol..I read the book..what he said about it being inspirational and less mud slinging is pure BS..he got his in just as much as the others did…that being said, it was an okay book, some cool pics…I guess he was right when he said kiss is the virus that infected rock n roll bcuz this shit just doesnt seem to want to go away..btw, has anyone seen the tour this year and is pauls voice still shot for shit?
PS: Just when u thought it was safe to log back onto eddietrunk.com….(jaws theme plays in background)..
Saw them opening night…took him a minute to get going, but he was great!!
Ok … what’s the story here? Did the reporter bring up A&P or did Paul?
I mean, if it’s Paul … then get over it dude. It’s going to be a long summer out there with Leppard if you have to keep beating that dead horse. C’mon, talk up the tour, the ticket sales (… no?) the future …
but leave Pete & Ace out of it, you know like you did with them playing at the hall.
Pansie.
I caved in and bought Paul’s book when I said I wouldn’t. Up to the animalize era, I am having a hard time reading it when everyone is a racist and lazy. To me Paul is coming off as a huge ass. I guess it’s O.K. to rip on anyone else but Gene who was absent for most of the early 80’s.
Support your local library…dont buy the book, you are not missing much…
“Paul-bashers” are going to say that they picked on poor defenseless Peter and Ace. After reading Paul’s book, any reasonable person can see that KISS is Paul’s band. At various times, the ship was abandoned by the other 3. He shows Gene no mercy in the book as well. This story has 4 sides and none of us fans know the entire truth. The acknowledged fact is that Ace and Peter know they screwed up and are now on the outside licking their wounds. Gene has become a parody of himself. Paul still plays marketable music and carries the KISS ARMY banner without embarrassing himself. We are in the end days of KISS with any original members on board. Enjoy the music and stage show while you can.
I am not a “Paul-basher”, I just want him to shut up already about Ace & Peter, and Gene! Let the music do the talking, and the show, not the book. In some ways, yes, Paul has carried the Kiss Army banner, but in other ways (mainly because of the book) he has been ripping it apart. He has divided the Kiss Army more than ever, and for what? To sell more books? Well, as far as I’m concerned, and many others, his “plan” to sell X-amount of books back-fired. Reason is, I was all set to buy his book, really was looking forward to it, UNTIL some of the previews starting coming out. When I read about some of the things he was saying about Ace & Peter, I lost all interest. Even if a lot of it was true, why? Why did Paul feel that he had to bash the shit out of them the way he did? Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t like some of the stuff I heard Ace & Peter say about Paul & Gene either, but IMO, Paul went way too far. We don’t need to know OR want to know everything, truth or fiction. Now, once again, can we just get back to the music?
His book is very good, but Peter’s is the best. If you like 1980s KISS, they were basically his solo band. No one has done more for KISS fans than Paul Stanley, so we should all be grateful to him. Long live the King of the nighttime world.
Richman, I’ll always be grateful to Paul, and Gene for all the great music, concerts, and memories from the 70’s & 80’s. My problem with Paul is now, he’s gone overboard. No reason for him to relentlessly keep bashing Ace & Peter over and over. Didn’t he already get everything off his chest? Why keep it going? I am so tired of hearing about the complaints, criticism and insults, just kiss & make up already! (not literally) LOL! Doesn’t Paul care about what all the bickering and B.S. is doing to the fans? Paul, if you really care about the fans like you say you do, then listen to us, we know Ace & Peter fucked up in the past, and so have you & Gene, everybody has fucked up at one time or another, the price you pay for being human. Just let all the baggage go already & “Move On”! all I want to hear about from now on, is the good details, to hell with the bad & the ugly, just give me the good stuff
“Let Me Go, Rock ‘N’ Roll”! 🙂
DOUGIE, THE DOUGMEISTER, DOUG MAN,
If all these guys got along then there would be no EDDIE TRUNK Website as we know it. It would just be postings of tours and album releases. You can get that stuff anywhere. The controversies are what is provocative. Stephen Freaking Pearcy the biggest clown not from Staten Island (Shannon, get it?) got like 300 comments a ways back. This stuff is fun and I think KISS uses it as part of its marketing machine. Good, not so clean fun. Think about it, Alice Cooper is a stand up guy and he’ll get like 7 comments. Imagine ACE FREHLEY SAYS GENE SIMMONSes NOSE LOOKS LIKE A BEAK: 250+ comments and they keep going despite 2 BLACK LABEL posts, 1 ROB HALFORD post, 3 WINERY DOGS, and a BOB DAISLEY.
RICH, RICHIE, RICHMAN,
I get all that! My whole point is after a while this shit gets old, Kiss, us fans, we’re all getting too old for this name-calling, trash-talking, character bashing bullshit! What would be “fun” & refreshing to me now, is if the original 4 would just reminisce about the GOOD times, IMO, that’s more interesting than their controversies. Kiss stories still generate a lot of interest, but do they ALL have to be BAD stories from now on? Like I said earlier, I would have bought Paul’s book if it WASN’T for all the “drama”, controversy, and bad blood in it! The Kiss rollercoaster is on it’s last ride, let’s make it a good one! When all is said & done, “WE ARE ONE”. Cheers 🙂
We have to acknowledge that, like in real life, the members are like a family with all the inherent problems and dramas, like real people who are sometimes sweeties, and sometimes a…holes. the only thing is, sadly they are putting it all out in public, they are using the public (in this case, the book) to feel good about themselves, which I personally do not need, I need their music, I do not need to know about their private lives. But one must admit there are lots of people out there who actually like the drama queens for being good entertainment and something to talk about – like posting on this website:-)
Again, we’re back to this mind set that it’s ok for Ace and Peter to rip the band and each other to shreds but not ok for Paul. That logic just floors me every time.
Simple question…why is it ok for Ace and Peter to do it but not Paul? I’ve yet to hear a non biased answer to that.
Is it because…just possibly Paul’s right and lets face it, sometimes the truth is harder to take for some people. The fact is…Paul has been there from the beginning, he never waivered in keeping the band going even in the lean times. You stay around long enough, you stay successful long enough, you work hard long enough and yet people will still find a way to resent you. Funny world we live in.
Kudos & credit where AND when it’s due. All original 4 are to blame for ripping the band and the Kiss Army apart. I just want them ALL to shut up about all the bad shit in the past already. Paul deserves all the credit in the world for never losing focus on the band, I’ll always respect him & give him credit for that like I always have. But right now, he’s the only one still bashing the shit out of everybody. Who’s more accurate, who’s more right, who’s more relevant, WHO CARES?! It’s not ok for ANY of them to keep bashing and trashing each other. Can we just enjoy what good memories we still have left of the original 4 before they erase & destroy all of them? I want the same feeling when I listen to Kiss today I had back in ’77, that’s why again I keep saying I don’t want to hear about anymore bad shit from anybody about anybody! Can we just Rock And Roll All Nite & party everyday, and enjoy some Cold Gin, for the next 100,000 years, or at least for Tomorrow And Tonight!
Doug when the media stops asking him, he’ll stop talking about them. He’s got a book and a tour to sell. If people really read his book, especially the the beginning of it when he talks about his childhood and the escape he needed…I think people would truly appreciate where the venom is coming from. Might not be right, but I personally don’t blame the guy.
Dear Doug R,
You sir are in luck. I got a C+ in Psychology one-o-one at CUNY: Queens College so I am no doubt an expert. Gene Simmons lived as a teenager in that area so all the more better. Your memories are your own and these sixty year olds cannot harm them unless you let them. Don’t give in to hate ’cause it only leads to the dark side. Love and cherish your memories and nurture them. I know what dissappointment is like. I am METS/JETS/KNICKS fan. Tomorrow starts a new week, so get out there and kick all that negativaty in the old keister. Free advice from me, THE RICHMAN. God be with you.
That’s right doug r. doug, layin’ it down as always. I don’t even go for demo recordings, or outtakes all that much (except maybe Priest’s), it’s the finished product that matters.
They’ll only destroy it if you let them doug…that’s totally up to you.
Just because these guys can’t get along anymore doesn’t mean you let it change all the good times you had with the band. Do I wish they’d all shut up…sure but that’s not the case. And the fact is, they aren’t the same band they were in 1977, that band ceased the minute Criss was gone. In the interim there’s been a lot of damn good music, tours and good times.
DR, Richman, Clown, JB, thanks for all the advice. We the fans, and the bands, we all may not be related biologically, but we’re all related musically. We all share a love for this music. That’s why sometimes it really gets to me when these bands bash the shit out of each other. We all know unfortunately it goes with the territory, and I try really hard not to let all the bad shit going on today affect my good memories I have of the bands from yesterday. I think I should pay more attention to my own advice as well, let the music talk, and ALL the bullshit walk! People may change, and times may change, but all the great music & great memories we have will never change! That’s one thing, well two things actually, that will live forever! Cheers. 🙂
BTW, hey Richman, LET’S GO METS! I’m a Mets fan too. 😉
Do you think there’s any chance of Harvey coming back this year?
Maybe he knows that this is the last or second-last ride of Kiss (I do not mean financially or regarding business plans, I mean emotionally), so it might feel about time – even subconsciously, to use this final phase to erect your statue, so-to-speak, to cement his place in rock history the way he sees himself, to claim thatit was he who shaped Kiss (to do so he must officially – while still ridiculously – deny Ace’s and Peter’s contributions and marginalize Gene) , to show everyone you are the best guy in the band (when you are and were not the most talented musician of all members past and present), to shape your legacy one last time. Some need to do that, the only difference is that he is a public person, so it is for all to see. They are old now, people getting old tend to do things like that. my only problem is that it keeps away the fcous from the band and music which in the end is all that is important. Therefore I am looking forward to Ace’s album doing his own thing. I would also appreciate one more Kiss album. Give us music and keep the drama to yourself.
I agree with both if you…Paul is only answering questions but I do wish he would stop answering them…even the RRHOF stuff was said and is true but to keep answering questions about why they didn’t play, etc is absurd…he should just tell anyone asking those things that he has already answered, period…
If Paul would let the music do the talking, well, he hasn’t got much of a voice left to do that 🙂 And so that is precisely how he is making headlines today, by doing other things than music, by keeping the band in the media expanding on other fields like football, restaurants, books, etc. – so it’s two ways: the band will sell more tickets if the brand is being talked about in the media for whatever reason, and the other business ventures might do well just because the band is still alive. This is called marketing. Musical integritity or productiveness, let alone creativity, does no longer enter into this game.
Paul is a pity poor me fella. Basically he is a Whineass drama queen. Call it “Paul-bashers” all you want but this guy loves to hear himself tell the world just how wonderful, honest (lols) etc: he is. Bottom line is he just can’t stop himself from branding/marketing the same old stories that he has told the human race & now possibly the Aliens for decades. If I was Ace & Peter I would send Paul “THANK YOU” cards for keeping both of them in his thoughts/news etc……Joe in The Cuse
Maybe he keeps on branding the old stories because there are no new ones?!? Someone herev has used the metaphor of the last rollercoaster ride, so he will stay on the track and thus keep true to this self-important banter until the ride is finally over and his presence and attention in the media gone. But as long as magazines and Tv stations keep asking him, he will use every opportunity to prove himself and to sell himself. Not let’s get to the music and put some 70s or 80s record on.
He embarrasses himself when he starts singing.