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
Read more at
158 Responses
So much for the high road.
Forget about the band and remember these guys were just four friends hanging out and trying to make it to the big time.
Sad to see how Gene feels/treats friends. Guess if Ace & Peter were on fire, Gene would just pour gas on them.
Judas, he needs to grow the **** up!
AGAIN, AGAIN, & AGAIN……….the BEST music KISS EVER MADE WAS WITH THE ORIGINAL FOUR.
Is Gene really that damn dumb?
You got that right.
I’m sure Gene and Paul appreciate all of this recent PR right before they head out on tour. Paul sells more books, they sell more of the indoor football (whatever that is) and sell more food and drink at their restaurants . One thing is certain over all of the years, they manipulate and use the media like nobody else. Paul has learned a thing or two from the PR master Gene Simmons. The RRHOF story has been a media coup for these guys. They will keep dissing former members because it gets everyone in an uproar and keeps them in the news while laughing all the way to the bank. Debating about former and current members is silly. KISS hasn’t been a band for a very long time, they are a corporation with a very diverse portfolio.
Dear Gene and Paul, Nothing could be more disrespectful! Disrespectful to the fans who made you, especially to Ace and Peter and to the legagacy of KISS. Some simple and crucial points that you two should be aware of:
1. We want to see our KISS with Ace and Peter, not your KISS.
2. Earn the right to wear the war paint? Are you kidding? They have earned it just as much as you have!
3. Why didn’t you visit Peter while he was sick? You call him a brother so where were you in his time of need? He is a survivor – he derserves this moment and you are stealing it.
4. Wouldn’t an incident like that wake you 2 guys up? Life is short – make the best of the ride.
5. They have all the ability in the world to step on that stage and give the fans what they want.
6. Deep down Tommy knows that this is wrong and is probably to scared to tell you guys in fear of losing his job.
7. This is another moment in Kisstory that will last forever – let it be remembered the right way.
8. The fans have given you everything you have, we just want 10 minutes back with our KISS.
Peter and Ace I hope you play – this is what the “ARMY” of fans want.
Gene and Paul – get on Eddie show (radio or TV) and address this is a fair forum.
I would love to think that all the people complaining, here and elsewhere, that the current lineup and especially G and P owe them and let them down and ar enot able to deliver anymore and deserve to crash, that these people actually won’t spend another cent on the band, that they all would do as they say, The ship called Kiss would then be sinking very fast. But I must admit, if Kiss were to bring their new tour to Europe again, even though I am most critical about all this, I am not sure whether I would not buy one last ticket because it might be the last time I come to see them (the long farewell …) … and bang, we have fallen for their little trap again. They know it. It is about reasoning on a website like this one, but in the end it is all about trying to relive the magic that once turned you on a certain band that became part of the soundttrack of your life. Business men like G and P of course know how to make profit from that kind of human weakness.
Yeah, Ace and Peter: you have to EARN the right to wear the make-up. Just like Hello Kitty did! C’mon guys!