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
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158 Responses
Couple of revealing stuff such as Ace licensing the rights to his makeup instead of selling it and regaining it in the near future. I’ve been hearing that he gets royalties each time they used his makeup through Tommy Thayer. It’s a smart business move by Ace.
As for Gene, after 2-3 tours the day may come when we see KISS without him.
Contrary to what G and P are trying to sell us, I do not see Kiss without them – if they are not able to sell out large venues with 50% or the original members, do you really think Kiss can go on and play these venues they need for their kind of show without any of the founding members? I think P and G are just currently trying to find out whether they coud actually sell a 100% tribute band as the original and keep on making money without showing up themselves while lying at their pools in LA. that won’t work, people are not that stupid. I hope …
I apologize, Gene did not say “how do they eat”. But my position is the same and his comments were rude, lame and hurtful.
Did not say it, but meant it.
fuck you gene!!!!!
Earned? Ace and Peter came up with those characters, Gene and Paul have proven to be quite ignorant with there stupid comments, lately.
Do you really think that Paul and Gene are arbitrarily making derogatory statements for no reason? Really?
Is there anybody left that believes this shit? Earn the right to wear makeup. What a delusional fuckface Gene Simmons is. And to make comments on how Ace & Peter can get by…does he know that the people that buy his increasingly shitty “product” are living on far less??? And footing the bill for his arrogance? What a jerk.
Everything I have read from people around him is he has always been this way, he now has a vehicle in social media to voice his self centered personality. The lack of management control is the issue. Bill accouin would have never let this happen. he would have clamped down on them and hand picked responses. There is a lack of professionalism they both need PR relations course.