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
It always sucks to find out someone you respected and supported turns out to be a jerk. Some people say it doesn’t matter who their idols are offstage, but to those who care so much about their favorite bands, it does. If it didn’t matter, nobody would care whether Phil and Vinnie ever talk again, regardless of whether they ever perform a single song together or not.
Judging by the tone of the comments from this article, this is actually news to some people but this article really hasn’t provided anything new as far as who Gene is, or his real feelings towards Ace and Peter. The spotlight is just bigger because of the HOF activity. Gene and Paul may have started this band and brought Ace and Peter on, so in their minds THEY (G + P) are KISS, but saying Ace and Peter are incapable of playing today or calling them a Cancer (Gene has done so in other interview before HOF induction talk even started) because they struggled with drugs years ago (despite being clean for more than a decade now) just shows how petty Gene (and Paul) are.
The music that the original four made, as explained by HOF president and as 99% of fanbase feels, is what got them inducted, not the string of mediocre albums churned out by the extended KISS “family” (as Paul referred to Ace and Peter for Unplugged).
Gene and Paul couldn’t care less about their fans and refuse to acknowledge Ace and Peter as anything but a footnote in the KISStory book, but everyone who buys a ticket shows them that there’s nothing wrong with that.
Gene needs to do us a favor,shut up for 5 MNS and hear what the fans want..We in the Kiss Army have supported the band thru good times and bad.Gene needs to get off his high horse and look at the big picture..If it wasn’t for us,nobody would even care who he was..Kiss should be based on the music and both Ace and Peter were there for the classics..So what they fucked up.We all have at some point in our lives..Do our love ones throw us to the curb,not..All he had to do was play with them for a mousey 15 MNS and he can’t even do that…The current version of the band is good,but nothing like the original lineup..But Gene will be Gene and the fans are the ones who suffer…..
This is why KISS will always be thought of as a circus act; not a musical one.
Gene & paul your Asshole’s .. So now done with them and Their fake Kiss , have they even sold out one show with Def Leppard ? If this ant a good reason to hate Gene even more I don’t know what is ,you just don’t treat or say things like this if you’re not an ass out of RS Mag … “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?” ….. Dam what a dick I now wish I never gave him shit with the Kiss name on it he never dissevered my money that I work for …..
Guess I won’t be going to their show in denver this summer. Bummed. A kiss reunion would of been great!!!