I’ve seen SO many comments about Ace & Peter reuniting at my party, Kiss (as usual), the R&R Hall and Gene’s comments about Ace & Peter not playing, and more. Last night on the radio show had MANY calls on the topic with many opinions. I welcome all opinions as usual if based in some level of reality and not just blind worshipers one way or the other that drink the Kool Aid they are served. The biggest question I have heard from many is why would Gene & Paul (Gene most recently) continue to talk about what fuck ups these guys are (he hasn’t played with them in over ten years), talk about them being drunk or on drugs (both have been sober for many years now), and say they can’t play at a Hall induction when Kiss has not even been inducted yet (no matter how you feel, that is just INSANE!). The answer is simple. Gene is the ultimate salesman. He prides himself on this, that is no secret. His job is to sell THIS Kiss. Just like it was to sell all the other lineups when that was happening. Explains why he will tell you THIS Kiss is bigger than anything, when in reality they CO HEADLINE tours with Motley Crue instead of HEADLINING arenas in the US. Explains why he takes subtle shots about Ace & Peter doing signing shows, when he and Paul sell signed played guitars to fans after shows. Not a huge difference from what I see? But it’s about selling whatever he is doing and Kiss is doing now, which will soon be a sanctioned Kiss tribute with no original members. And who knows, that might be a pretty good band. Many will say the same old “Eddie is just backing up his friends, only cares about the original band”. Yes Ace & Peter are friends and did an amazing thing playing together for me recently. But I’m more just trying to offer some balance and objectivity as a lifelong Kiss fan myself, who HAS supported and loved all the replacement members and lineups. I simply chose not to support what they have been doing lately because the impersonation rubs me (and MANY others who won’t say it) the wrong way. That’s my huge sin to some I guess, so be it.
The real reason these barbs in the press from them continue at Ace & Peter is because they know the avalanche that would happen if they ever played with them again from fans and the media. Example? I was at the 1996 MTV Unplugged taping. Then they were all about the non makeup lineup with Singer and Kulick. That’s what they were selling then. When Ace & Peter came out for a brief appearance on a couple songs the entire crowd went nuts. From the second they stepped on that stage the electricity was insane, and they knew they had no choice but to go back to that band no matter how hard they were selling the Singer/Kulick band and about to release a new album with them. I felt a very similar energy in the crowd when Ace & Peter walked out on stage together at my event last Wednesday, right down to the ear to ear smiles from every fan and musician in the building! So I see it as a big defense mechanism by Gene & Paul. They know another reunion, even for a song, would ignite a huge fire once again. For the record I do NOT think there should be another original Kiss reunion. For a couple songs at a long overdue Hall induction, for sure! But for a tour, no way. I don’t think ANY of the original members could deliver enough of a high energy show to do the legacy justice at this stage. As I have said MANY times the current Kiss can and should do whatever they want. The fact that it’s not for me doesn’t matter. If you are cool with it enjoy what’s left of it. But the idea of the original band FINALLY getting into the Hall (and I must stress they were nominated before and passed over once already, so NOT a done deal!) and Ace & Peter not being invited and welcome to at least play a song or two would be a travesty to even the most hardcore Kiss fan. I look forward to your comments.
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For me, it comes down to this. When Gene knows full well what Ace and Peter are today and says mistruths anyway about them, it says nothing about Ace and Peter but speaks volumes about the lack of character of Gene. I think saying he’s a salesman is being much too kind. I don’t like the tactic and self serving agenda. I don’t respect anyone that doesn’t play fairly. I don’t know what the lure is of Gene and Paul to fans when they act like kids. If you took their money and declining fame away, their confidence would be probably zilch. Peter’s book talked about what a real basket case Paul is with his constant needs for a shrink to get him through just living on a daily basis. That Gene wouldn’t allow Peter and Ace to play a song together now because of their own admitted f-up’s in the past tells me just how shallow this guy is. He even named a solo album after himself. Eddie, I lived the fantasy of Kiss in the 70’s along with you and it was a lot of fun. I don’t pay attention to these guys anymore because I don’t want to indulge in the kinds of people that they represent them to be these days. Gene isn’t JUST selling what Kiss is today. He is jealous of any attention that is turned towards Ace and Peter because it means its away from him. In reality, he is an insecure little man with a lot of money. Big deal. Ace and Peter always take the high road and have a sense of humor along the way not being really affected by Gene’s tiresome antics. Gene and Paul have no humor and I honestly have grown to dislike these guys only more and more. How can you not?
Boy did you hit it on the head Rich !!
Wow, your view on Kiss is really skewed. Did you even read Peter’s book? He sounded like a whiney 6 year old throughout that entire book. And if you ever have any doubt as to where the musical talent was in Kiss, take a long listen to Peter’s most recent solo work, All For One. Probably the most embarassing, painful album ever made.
I read Peter’s book and he killed himself as much as anyone in it. When did the discussion about all this turn to “musical talent”?
Eddie.
I have a feeling this SS guy is in the Kiss camp and doing pr work on the internet.
He tries to change Rich’s points to something else . Usually typical of a politician.
He must have not heard Gene’s embarassing,painful, 4000 copies sold 1st week , release ; A**hole…….LOL
Like I wrote to you years ago . I hope you never have Gene and Paul on TMS .
I’m your age and have followed Kiss as long as you . Saw them 13 times around the midwest from 96-00 alone. Eddie, you know exactly what they would say to your questions if they were on your show . They are masters of spining their brand.
The only way I would have them on my show ( if I had one ) is if Peter and Ace were there too !
Actually SS is too dumb to work in pr unless its Todd fronted Queensryche camp.’
He’s just a internet troll looking for attention.
He’s probably very excited you jumped on the boards so he can argue with you. He probably dosent even beleive what he is posting
So then you agree that All For One was a musical embarassment?
I only agree with one small portion of your post, Rich. Ace and Peter have always taken the “high” road.
Kiss Alive was the first album I ever bought. Kiss back in the 70’s was the Real Kiss, not merely a cover band that they are today. Make no mistake, it’s always been about money. Why do you think Peter and Ace were allowed one song each per album, the lion’s share of the profits go to the ones with the song credits! Correct me if I’m wrong but Ace’s solo album in the 70’s sold more than gene’s and Pauls!! A good comparison of what happened to Ace and Peter would be what happened with Don Felder of the Eagles. Has been, always will be about money!! Both Gene and Paul claim it’s all about the fans, ok, ask the Kiss army and all of the fans what lineup they’d rather see, the original or the current !!!!!
Darren. You make some interesting points, but believe it or not, Gene did allow 3 Ace songs (Ace’s confidence had grown after his solo album did the best (“NY Groove, Rip it Out, etc…) to be featured on Dynasty (Save Your Love, 2000 Man (modified cover of Stones song), and Hard Times), and Unmasked (Talk to Me, Torpedo Girl, 2 Sides of the Coin), but it was always Ace and Peter versus, Gene and Paul, and as much as Ace was tight with Eric Carr, from what I’ve read, the leverage shifted where Ace had to counter Paul and Gene, and a neutral Eric (God rest his soul) Carr. The Elder was the final straw for Ace. Obviously not every Kiss fan’s favorite album, but at least it’s failure was the impetus to go in a more rocking direction with Creatures and Lick it Up with Vinnie Vincent on guitar until that relationship imploded. After that, I feel the roof caved in creatively for Kiss as Gene went Hollywood (acting), and his efforts were substandard, and they chased the trends insteaed of being the leaders. I guess they got it back in my book with Revenge, but note that “old friend” Vinnie Vincent contributed the writing to Unholy and some others, and even Michael Bolton (rock background to those unfamilar with that part of his career), helped them score their last top 10 to date, Forever. Strange band, with strange Kisstory, perhaps not so strange for the wacky world or Rock!
Don’t forget though, in the Eagles…. Felder was not a self-destructive addict.
Hey, Ed I did not mean 80-83. Try 83-87. Lick it up eventually goes platinum as does animalized as does crazy nights. I was at Asylum tour at Garden 1985.(same night John Gotti has Paul Costellano Wacked at Sparks steakhouse)and place was packed, maybe not sold out but almost. There was a Monster tour in the states, I was at Mohegan sun in the summer with no opening act worth mentioning and the place was sold out. (even though the joint is small and took walk up to finally close sales). I totally agree with a lot of this great back and forth with all the great opinions on this topic on your site, but I go to a lot of hard rock shows and this problem with filling houses is all over. People don’t come out like they used to be it for Kiss, Whitesnake, Priest, Even Sabbath had to paper the arena with a #1 album. I just think Kiss in the 80’s did a good job changing with the times and being a Hair rock band with a axe slinging guitar player(Vincent,Kulick), Like Ratt, Dokken, etc. and I thought that version of the band made good tunes as well. Saying they were in Huge trouble is a bit much. I don’t think Gene and Paul were gonna go broke at any time during that period. I do agree obviously that this was not as cool as the reunion of the original 4. Hey ED I just heard from my friends that are on the Kiss cruise that they are doing songs like Almost Human, anything for my baby, mainline and even the Oath!! LIve!! I respect your opinion on the topic but tell me if you were there for that you wouldn’t go nuts. You are still the kiss fan that tried to defend them when you were a kid when Dynasty and Unmaked came out…..Just like me..Later ED.
A “tour” is not a few scattered gigs at fairs and a casino. Trust me, Asylum and Animalize were also very soft in many places, as was Crazy Nights. HOTS maybe did the best and benefited from Slaughter and Winger as support. Both very hot at the time. Revenge tour also far from a slam dunk sales wise. It was all okay, but far from massive. There is a book that tells you openers and attendance at every Kiss show ever, check it out
I was at Animalize in Dayton Ohio with Queensryce it was full crowd show at a smaller venue less than 10,000. I was in Toledo on Hot Shade Tour Good crowd(Slaughter and Faster Pussycat). Slaughter was horrible(Pussy Cat was awesome). The songs on MTV I think Helped at the Time. Paul’s Poppy Metal/Ballads. People were excited about Queensryce but not Slaughter. I was upset because WASP was opening up just before my show then Queensryce got on and I was pissed off. there were fights all during the show but that’s Dayton I guess. Paul threatened some on in the audience Said he wanted to make earrings out of his f*cking teeth.
You are right Ed.
Here in Mn, Paul and Gene were filling 1/2 to maybe 3/4 in the 80’s at the Met Center in Bloomington ( a suburb of mpls/st.paul
Yes, and I recall the attendance at Ace and Peter’s tour was sold out at the time.
Not at all. Who ever said that? It was a club tour if I recall.
My comment was 100 percent sarcasm.
SS’s vision is attendence figures . I guess if thats true Lady Ga Ga is better then the Gene and Paul show.
What SS fails to say is Pauls LTW solo tour sold no better then Ace’s tours…
LOL
I agree. KISS was always one of the biggest bands here in the Midwest. Five to ten thousand people is a great big crowd. look at KISS’ album sales without makeup and now….no comparison.
i now can see why they named their last album monster, it just what they have created with all this hype and nonsense .
Ace & Peter should definitely be INVITED to accept/play if KISS is inducted. Heart went in last year and played with original members who have not been in the band since 1979. To exclude Ace and Peter would be the same insult as to exclude Ritchie Blackmore if Deep Purple gets the nod. Founding members/key members should always included, any other decision is beyond stupid!
I’m guessing Ann and Nancy are just little more classy than Gene and Paul…lol.
Only the original lineup of Heart got in! The RRHOF did not admit the 1980s “big hair” version. The goofy thing is even though the original lineup was onstage, Ann still had to have her current keyboardist and a guitarist from the current lineup. Talk about insecure! She still couldn’t just have the original lineup up there.