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
I saw Paul on his club tour in ’89, and I took my girlfriend at the time who was a big Who fan, and she just didn’t get into it one bit. Me, that’s one of the best concerts I’ve been to.
What Gene said about the makeup bein’ earned is stupid.
Gene and Paul shut the fuck up remember where you come from.
Also fans shouldn’t forget Eric Carr- The best drummer kiss ever had. Least he came up with his own paint design.
As did Vinny Vincent as who the fuck knows what, he would have been better off as like the SPACEMAN’S brother: ALIENBOY or MARTIAN GUY or some shit. A FOX is kinda like a CAT. Why not Tommy as NEPTUNE AMIGO or URANIS ANUS LICKER or whatever? Eric could be THE TIGER or MR. CHEETAH or JACKSONVILLE JAGUAR or CAROLINA PANTHER. New Make-up = new dolls, more $.
I’ve heard Gene talk a lot over the years about “the fans” and how great they are, Kiss is nothing without them, etc…. Makes me wonder if he was just saying that to keep the cash flow rolling in. It seems to me that he really doesn’t care about “the fans”, just their money. Am I right in saying this?
They care about both but the money Trumps everything according to GENE, remember this is the guy who endorsed Hello Kitty, KISS.
That sure is a rhetorical question??!