Exclusive new late tonight. Ace Frehley called into my radio show live tonight and confirmed that he and Peter are being denied the opportunity to perform at the R&R Hall Of Fame ceremony by Gene and Paul, who will perform instead with the current band. Ace said (and the HOF confirmed to me directly) that the HOF wants the original band. However Gene and Paul to date have declined to allow this to happen. Ace said it was important he let the fans know exactly what was happening since tickets are about to go on sale to the public and he didn’t want fans to purchase them expecting a reunion performance even for a song or two. Ace said he is undecided if he will even attend in light of this decision. Even though the HOF would prefer the original band, they will not stand in the way of the current band playing if that is all Gene and Paul are willing to do. Assume anything is possible that something could change, but at this time there are no plans at all for Ace and Peter to play, or perhaps even be there depending what they decide. As I have said consistently when there was news to share I would let it come directly from a member, and tonight Ace let everyone know exactly what was going on. Said he was most upset for the fans who voted them in and were hoping to see a song or two, but also said it is now time to move on. He is working on a new album and said the stress was really killing him about the HOF and he needed to let fans know what was up before tickets went on sale. Peter will likely have a similar statement on his site tomorrow. I’ll continue to keep you posted as more info develops but that’s where things are at now. I’m sure the audio will be on YouTube of Ace’s call but you can hear the entire show next weekend as usual on all affiliate stations and online outlets as well. Sad day for long time Kiss fans but at least we know where things stand as of now. The producer/director for the HOF show Joel Gallen expressed an interest in coming on the air soon. As usual my door is open to any and all to discuss. More soon.
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This is indeed a travesty for all KISS fans. I am very disappointed with the news. I guess since Gene and Paul can’t make money from this then no one will be able to see which would probably be the very last time those 4 would take the stage. I also do actually agree with Paul that Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St John, Bruce Kulick, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer should all be included in the induction. Evidently we can’t all just get along.
If that decision stands…it is despicable, and the ultimate slap in the face to Ace, Peter, and the BEST Rock and Roll FANS in the world! My money is on this being a very transparent ploy to get some extra press mileage out of the induction. ..otherwise, when they are introduced to perform that evening…they announcement should be…”You wanted the BEST…here they are…at 50% OFF”……..
I was so hoping that the KISS HOF induction wouldn’t turn into a joke but it seems to be heading that way. If the original version of the band is the one being inducted, Tommy and Eric shouldn’t be involved at all. Nothing against those guys but they shouldn’t be performing that night. I have really tried to stay open minded about Paul and Gene and everything that has taken place over the years but to me, they are definitely not considering the fans if they in fact move forward with this. So disappointed!!!
Eddie, I have great respect for your insight on the industry and your opinion. I usually agree with you on nearly everything, but not the KISS vs Ace & Peter situation. I think you friendship with them has made you a bit biased, and you can’t really blame Gene or Paul for not wanting to come onto TMS to possibly walk into a bad situation being interviewed by the friend of their two former employees. I too, have been a long time KISS fan. The first album I ever had of my own at age 11 was KISS ALIVE II. From that point on, I was hooked. I had to buy every album they made. I bought the bubble gum trading cards, the posters, you know the drill. However, my parents would never allow me to attend a KISS concert. By the time I was old enough to make that decision for myself, Ace and Peter had already left the band. I was lucky enough to catch KISS in concert with Eric Carr and Bruce Kulick on the Animalize Tour. Eric was AMAZING, but let’s face it, Bruce is no Ace Frehley. I caught KISS every time they came through my area through the next couple of decades. But I must say, the reunion and Farewell tours were the most disappointing to me. I was so excited to finally get to see the original lineup play together, and in full makeup. Boy was I disappointed! Peter looked disinterested and played the basic rhythm beat just enough to keep time. Nothing more, nothing less! He literally looked like he couldn’t wait to get the show over with. And Ace looked like he was having trouble keeping his balance. My best friend and I both swear he was drunk on both of those performances. His playing was less than good those nights. I would have been embarrassed to get up on stage and give those performances. Needless to say, I was pissed. I felt like I got scammed out of my money and those tickets weren’t cheap. I was more pissed at Gene for hiring these two clowns back into the fold for what appeared to me as a gimmick to bring in more money. IT WORKED! I haven’t back to a KISS concert since.
I guess my point is this. Gene and Paul started KISS. They hired Peter and Ace and together they all four made some really great music. But like any other job, if your performance falls off you can be replaced, and they were. They were replaced by some pretty good musicians too. In my opinion Eric Carr was a far better drummer than Peter ever was. You didn’t just hear his playing, you felt it. Ace, well nobody is Ace. But I did enjoy Vinny Vincent’s playing along with the numerous others. Creatures of the Night is my favorite KISS album after Destroyer. The fact is, they were consistent. They never knew what kind of performance they were going to get out of Ace. How many employers would fire you due to substance abuse and hire you back two more times? How many employers in the real world would ever do that? While I would love for the original four to perform for the HOF concert, I can’t blame Gene & Paul if they decline. I mean come on, you’ve given these two guys chance after chance and then they bash you in the media every chance they get. If they somehow do perform at the HOF concert, I don’t believe Peter or Ace deserve to ever don the KISS makeup again. Having said that, I don’t think the cat or spaceman makeup should be worn by anyone else but Peter and Ace either. Create new characters like they did for Eric and Vinny.
Respectfully,
Andy in OKC
PS – Don’t let ’em wind you up so much on Stump the Trunk. NOBODY else even comes close to what is stored in that melon of yours. It’s astounding!
Andy in OKC
Let me start by saying I’ve been online since 1997 and this is the very first online post I’ve ever bothered with replying to. Like yourself, my parents (stepmother) didn’t let me go, either. I shoveled snow like a man possessed for those tickets. The Boys (Ace, Peter, Paul and Gene) were my heroes then (fullsized wall posters, belt buckles, lunch boxes, makeup kits and t-shirts and so on and so forth) and to an extent, always will be. Having said that, this is the Hall of Fame (shame?) we’re talking about. Needless to say, we all know the drama and backbiting and the general I know you are but what am I that goes along with (and has for a very long time) the entity we call Kiss.
Are you saying that since Paul and Gene started the band that they are above reproach and since Ace and Peter were *hired hands*, fuck ’em both and the respective horses they rode in on? Replaced? No. Ace and Peter will never be replaced. Neither by a guitarist or drummer in their makeup or a guitarist or drummer in makeup that Paul and Gene allow. Better musicians? Semantics. Hell, I don’t even play the drums but I’m fairly certain if I practiced real hard and applied myself, I could come up with more than “the basic rhythm beat”. As to the lead guitar? I do play when I can and by no means will I ever be good enough to quit my day job but I know this much: as stated before, I’m sure I could come up with more technicality in my playing than Ace would ever bother with. However, I will never do what Ace does as well as Ace does and neither will Bruce (or his brother Bob) nor Mark nor Dick Wagner, nor Tommy. I can’t add Vinnie to that list because I just can’t. Sorry, Vinnie…nothing personal but how you ever deluded everyone including yourself into believing you’re a guitarist is one of life’s great mysteries. Like you, I finally managed to see the fantastic four later in life. Was I disappointed? No, can’t say that I was. I realized it was no longer 1976 and I was no longer 14. I’m sorry, I digress. I *was* disappointed that it was no longer 1976 and I was no longer 14. But for all intents and purposes, they’re my boys and always will be. And I had the good fortune of hanging with my boys a couple different times (albeit from the concert floor) and there’s no disappointment in that. I’ve no problem with the fact that Paul and Gene will more than likely not allow Ace and Peter to don the gear and play. We’ve all known the Emperor has no clothes for many years now. However, if Paul and Gene and Tommy and Eric get up and play as the Starchild, Demon, Spaceman and Catman…then let the heavens be hung with black. I will agree with your statement that no one but Ace and Peter should wear Ace and Peters’ makeup. I can’t agree with your statement that for whatever reasons you may have that Ace and Peter wouldn’t deserve to wear their respective makeup ever again. It’s THEIR makeup. If it’s all good for Paul and Gene (and to a lesser extent…Eric and Tommy) to shit on literally every Kiss fan that’s ever been…then it should be all good for Ace and Peter to suit up any day of the week. Even if they’re only stopping in at Starbucks for an expresso or washing the car in the driveway. On that note, I will close with this: Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that my boys would become their own tribute band.
YOU WANTED THE (almost) BEST! YOU GOT THE (almost) BEST!
THE (almost) HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD…(almost) KISS!
Peace, Ace
😉
Sad. That’s about all I can say.