KISS FRONTMAN PAUL STANLEY SAYS THAT ACE FREHLEY AND PETER CRISS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO THEIR MAKEUP FOR “NOT A WHOLE LOT”
As the controversy rages among KISS fans over whether Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer should wear the makeup made famous by Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, Paul Stanley defended his band by saying that the answer is simple. In a new interview, he said KISS own the rights to their “Spaceman” and “Catman” characters, which they bought from the former members for a song.
Speaking to Australia’s 4KQ, Stanley said, “The guys basically sold it off for, you know, not a whole lot, because they didn’t think it was worth anything. Quite honestly, I’ve always thought our image and what we represent is priceless. It didn’t matter to some people — it truly matters to me.”
Stanley added that being in a band is no different from being an athlete on a team, where lineup changes are natural with the passage of time. “If somebody is out, somebody else comes along,” he said. “I don’t think that when you go to see your favorite team, you’re yelling that you want to see somebody who was in the team 20 years ago. Time moves on, but the team lives on. … I didn’t invent the wheel. Somebody is out there who can come in and take my place. … I don’t see a reason for the band to fold, any more than I can see a reason for a team to fold.”
additional source: ultimateclassicrock.com
It is his band so he can do and say as he pleases. If people ask the question he has to answer it somehow. I have read every article watched every interview, documentary I can find, they are full of inconsistencies. At this point who cares anymore, if Ace was never in this band I would not have become a fan. .Booze and drugs, sorry that was the lifestyle, neither are in the ground so they aren’t total screw ups as Gene and Paul indicate. I also cannot find one example of Ace playing super sh–y on stage because of drugs and or booze. So they sold the rights, somehow it appears they were mislead, why would anyone give away the rights if they knew that a decade plus later they would still be using the characters??Does not make sense. At forty or fifty grand a show during the reunion, there is no way they needed the money that badly. I am glad Ace is no longer in the band, he appears healthy, happy and making good music. I think the original four should play one more show and hang it up. I do enjoy the mudslinging, makes for good reading, ha ha. Just my uninformed 2 cents. Peace
There’s no reason why Paul and Gene shouldn’t conduct business as they see fit, using these assets (the rights to the characters) they acquired using (apparently) legitimate means. KISS may be more than a band, they have unique aspects to their presentation that give it added dimension, but it’s still just entertainment.
I wouldn’t rule out going to see an officially sanctioned KISS tribute, but it would have to be presented and priced right.
I remember Ace saying his lawyer said he’s just leasing the likeness for X amount of years.