KISS’ GENE SIMMONS ON WHY THE ORIGINAL BAND LINE-UP WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE ROCK HALL INDUCTION: “THE MAKEUP IS EARNED, JUST BEING THERE IN THE BEGINNING IS NOT ENOUGH”

kiss-return Forty years after the release of their debut album, KISS have finally made the cover of Rolling Stone. Marking the band’s upcoming induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the cover image is a classic 1975 photo of the band’s original lineup: Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, plus Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.

The cover story, by Rolling Stone senior writer Brian Hiatt, tells the sad, hilarious and triumphant story of one of the biggest rock bands ever, taking an in-depth look at the founding members’ lives and careers. Hiatt hung out with all four original members in their homes (in San Diego, Beverly Hills and Monmouth County, New Jersey) where they shared fond memories and, inevitably, some intense backbiting. “I keep thinking about Ace and Peter,” Simmons admits. “”What are they doing now? Where are they?’ It’s gotta be close to the end. How do you make any money? How do you pay your bills?”

Even Stanley and Simmons have had their differences. “We’ve always seen each other as brothers,” says Stanley. “What we seem to be at odds at is how you treat your brother. Gene’s priority, by far, has always been himself. And he’s not one to let anyone else’s feelings or contributions get in the way.”

They also explain precisely why they won’t be reuniting for a performance at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Stanley and Simmons offered to allow the former members to jam with KISS’ current lineup, featuring guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, but Ace and Peter found that proposition deeply insulting. “I won’t be disrespected,” Criss says. “How can you put me in the Hall of Fame and then tell me to go sit over there in the corner while another guy puts on my makeup and plays? That’s an injustice. To the fans, too.”

Simmons counters that Frehley and Criss “no longer deserve to wear the paint.” “The makeup is earned,” he adds.”Just being there at the beginning is not enough… And if you blow it for yourself, it’s your fault. You can’t blame your band members. ‘Oh, look what happened to me. Oh, poor me.’ Look at my little violin. I have no sympathy.”

Frehley suggests another reason for the current members’ reluctance: “The reason they don’t want to perform with me and Peter is because the last time they did, they had to do a reunion tour. We play three songs, the fans go crazy. They don’t want to open up a can of worms.” Frehley, meanwhile, says he licensed – rather than sold ­– the rights to his Spaceman makeup to the band, and suggests that he’s due to get the rights back sometime soon.

Also in the story, Simmons says his touring days are almost done. “I’m 64 now,” he says. “Three more tours. Two, if I have a life change of some kind.”

KISS’ Rolling Stone cover story goes on sale Friday, March 28th and online tomorrow, March 26th.

source: rollingstone.com

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158 Responses

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  • DR on

    Oh dear God, please make it stop.


    • Eric Heaton on

      All in due time DR….all in due time..lol


    • Scott on

      Just think how Dana must feel……….

      Dana…please assure us that your office is on the ground floor of the Trunk Tower?? 🙂

      I am seriously considering sending you a gift certificate for a masage and a bottle of of your favorite liquor to get you through the eternal nighmare which is the daily KISS diatribe. Personally, I think YOU should go on the cruise and Eddie can be editor in chief….I’m just sayin’


  • Ivan on

    Well that’s … hilarious.
    I’d venture to say that two guys that were there at the beginning, when the work WAS work – have paid their dues tenfold. No offense to Eric & Tommy, but they both came into an established band. What have they earned? The original 4 spent quite a bit of “grind time” out there to turn that band into something. With plenty of help from other non-band members (Bill Aucoin, Sean Delaney, Neil Bogart) and ex-band members that have contributed as well.I get it Gene, you’re stoking the fire, building more hype … but at least do it with some sense. Must kill him that he can’t buy respect.


  • Joe on

    Well…here is what interesting. Gene “Ace & Peter no longer deserve to wear the paint. The makeup is earned,” he adds.”Just being there at the beginning is not enough”….ok fine. But let’s clarify something of importance, “KISS” Gene, Peter, Paul & Ace all paid a very high price from the start & basically did almost the same on the Reunion Tour. So sorry Gene, they still deserve to wear the paint because they earned it. And if I have to break it down HOW they earned it minus the addictions I easily can. That being said “KISS” was a rare special once in a lifetime band. Unfortuantly KISS earned their honors/stripes etc: are the very beginning until Ace & Peter left. The band was never the same after that & the charisma/magic/heart was well gone until (once again) the reunion. And as Gene himself said, ” so fucking what, the magic is back”. And Ace is SPOT ON, the ONLY REASON WHY they won’t perform together is just that….the “magic” will return & Gene & Paul would be placed in a very uncomfortable situation that they couldn’t CONTROL then and they wouldn’t CONTROL now. Case closed!!—— Joe in The Cuse


    • Van on

      Ace is right about the real reason the original lineup not performing at the HoF and Paul and Gene know it. I agree that the original lineup has earned their stripes and honors, including the HoF and Rolling Stone cover. Ace, Peter, and the HoF were right in turning down the idea of performing with the current KISS lineup in makeup.


    • Klaus Baumgarten on

      Absolutely. It is just the usual crap again. Obscuring the real reasons with stereotypical accuations. Lame. To Gene a person is compared to how much money he earns so he must feel very fond of himself. What a sad person he must really be.


  • Geoff on

    Just being there in the beginning is not enough? Gene, the only reason you are going in the Rock Hall is because of the beginning.


    • Van on

      That can’t be a good thing to say coming out of Gene. If Ace and Peter created the makeup, they deserve to wear the makeup. I supposed Gene is not happy with the success of the original lineup.


    • Klaus Baumgarten on

      If it really wasn’t that important why have they been keeping up the image of the reunion for more than a decade now using the impostirs and making them copy sounds, licks and moves for a salary??


  • MetalMike on

    I’m so done with this……Paul & Gene are dead to me……..


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