In speaking with with KNPR News, KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley was asked why he declined to perform with fellow original KISS members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley at the band’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in April. His answer has been transcribed by blabbermouth.net and can be read below.
Stanley said, It’s a tough question to answer, but there’s so much involved in it. Firstly, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame wanted nothing to do with us; they begrudgingly let us in. And my sense was that we were going to be a dog-and-pony show. They wanted to have the original guys play in the band, and all of us in makeup, and, quite honestly, I think it would have done the band a disservice. That lineup has not been together for 14 years, and physically, perhaps, wouldn’t have looked that great, and musically, undoubtedly, probably, would have sounded a bit suspect. So, to have people watch it on television and identify that as KISS because there’s four guys in makeup would not send a great signal to the people who are not following the band in its current permutation, or what it is today.”
He continued, “Look, we just did 42 shows and played to 600,000 people in America, and I would hate for those people to turn on a TV show where we were an unwanted guest in the first place and see us strong-armed into doing something that really does a disservice to something that I worked at for 40 years. I never quit the band twice, once, and to dilute what I’ve worked on all these years just to make a committee happy that really was not all that thrilled that we were there in the first place, it sent the wrong message and it endangered something that I hold very dear to me.”
KISS begins their three week Las Vegas residency, Kiss Rocks Vegas, at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino today (November 5th).
additional source: blabbermouth.net
204 Responses
I dont know how anyone can disagree with what Paul said? I love Ace and Peter but they are not in the band anymore. Who cares if Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer where the make-up? 99.9% of people know that it is not Peter or Ace? Even though Gene and Paul can be kind of annoying, how can anyone logically disagree with him? Looking forward to see Ace here in Anaheim.
I think many commenters here place unrealistic expectations on the band. Fans grow older but KISS is supposed to be freeze-framed in the 1970’s. As much as I wish Ace and Peter were still able to perform in the band, it is not going to happen. I like where KISS is now and it is because Paul has been relentless in keeping it together. Any time Paul is honest or opinionated, these used-to-be fans take it as a dig at the former members. I don’t understand their outrage. If you don’t want to be a KISS fan anymore, then don’t be. It serves no purpose and helps no one to have a constant stream of comments complaining about a 60 year old man’s singing voice who has been singing his heart out for us for over 40 years.
With their 70’s oriented set list, makeup & characters Kiss IS in a freeze-frame.
Either way. I still support KISS as my favorite band. All this hand-wringing about original members – new members is boring. I like original KISS, 80’s KISS, and new KISS.
Puppet show and Ace Frehley.
Eddie has told us a hundred times…”It’s Ace Frehley THEN puppet show…”
How many times do we have to rehash this sh*t? Move on people. It’s over Johnny. It’s over.
For the life of me I cant see how paul could say something about ace and peter at this point. I mean have you ppl.heard paul last several yrs . Its sad he is just about thru performing I cant see him performing much more he sounds completely horrible. And I for one do not like or support this version. Of kiss. I am a a fan from 70’s and its original kiss all the way for me in makeup that is. These imposters in band today sound like shit. I cant even stand to hear five seconds of the performing and I turn away . He has lost his voice completely and it shows. As far as ace n peter well I wull always support them guys in fact my tickets came in today for ace in texas im there…ace to me was the backbone of kiss when he left that band lost everything that was the core of what made me like them in first place. Im sure alot of other feel same way… paul and gene needs to retire. After hearing paul I dont think I would wanna see him even if he did wanna reunite to ace and peter. Its that bad
Kiss has been my favorite band since the age of 4. So that makes me a fan of theirs for 37 years. With that being said I don’t really care about the crap they do today. I do not follow them or go to the shows anymore for the past 10 years. I just don’t care anymore. I did not like Sonic boom or Monster. They are still my favorite band and always will be but if they were to call it a day tomorrow or play another 10 years it would not mean anything to me. Kiss to me personally has been done for some time now. In the end always have the good memories and rise above this drama crap. At one time Paul Stanley kicked serious ass but now he is a shadow of himself as well as Gene. That is what happens when you start believing your own bullshit.