KISS frontman Paul Stanley was recently a guest on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” where he discussed his former bandmates drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley implying that they carried “a lot of resentment” over the fact that some of the other members of the band were more “focused” and “driven” to succeed than they were, which ultimately led them to sabotage their careers.
“It’s very difficult to move forward when two of the people are, at times, like flat tires,” Stanley explained [as transcribed by Blabbermouth]. “It becomes more of a problem when their reason for being is to foil and to throw off track what you’re trying to do. So, at some point, it really became more about trying to disrupt what we were trying to do with no regard to whether or not what they wanted to do was right or wrong; they just wanted, ‘Let’s screw Gene [Simmons] and Paul. So we’ll say no, and they’ll say yes.’ So it really became very, very, very difficult.”
Stanley claimed that he was in favor of splitting the band’s finances evenly in the early years, but that things changed once Ace and Peter started putting less effort into the group, leaving Paul and Gene to take over. This, in turn, caused a rift between the bandmembers, necessitating a change in the group’s lineup.
When asked why he thinks Ace and Peter were seemingly so intent on working against their bandmates, Stanley said, “I think self-sabotaging comes into it, because, I think, that’s been something that’s run through parts of their lives. But I also think that there was a lot of resentment. And, honestly, I don’t believe in resenting people for what they can do that you can’t. if you’re lucky enough to have people around you who can do what you can’t, make them your best friend. Everybody can’t be the best at what they do, but you can benefit from being around those people. So, look, I never wanted or expected anybody in the band to do necessarily the same amount of work that I did, but I expected them to give a hundred percent. I was all for splitting things evenly in the original lineup of the band up until those guys departed the first time, but you have to give your best.”
He continued, “I think [our] focus and drive and determination and seeing the whole picture and wanting this to be as good as it could be, as opposed to falling back on, ‘It’s rock and roll.’ Well, rock and roll is no excuse for mediocrity, and rock and roll is no excuse for not doing your job. If somebody says, ‘Oh, my playing is rock and roll.’ No, that’s just bad. You know, there’s bad and then there’s rock and roll…Look, it’s a long time ago, and it’s kind of like talking about a girlfriend or wife you had a long time ago and trying to disseminate what went wrong. At some point it really doesn’t matter.”
Stanley says that ego clashes and disagreements over songwriting credits contributed to creating an unhealthy environment and he makes no apologies for taking charge of the group.
“I don’t know the mentality that wants to sabotage what ultimately benefits you,” Stanley said. “Look, if you’re in a band that’s doing great and you’re not the primary songwriter and the primary singer, well, you should revel in what you have. You know, the idea of equality… Some have to be more equal than others. Everybody can be in car together, but somebody’s gotta drive. We’re all going in the same direction. But when people reach the point of saying, ‘Well, I want an equal amount of songs.’ Well, do we leave off ‘Strutter’ so we can put your song on, or do we leave off ‘Detroit Rock City’? It doesn’t work like that. I don’t believe that there’s any birthright or that we should expect a quota in anything. We get what we deserve, and somebody has to decide that.”
He continued: “The key to a great band or any great situation is doing what’s best for the situation, not what’s best for you. I don’t have to be right, I just wanna see the right thing happen. So if you’re more tied up in the ego gratification or in the control factor… I honestly don’t mean to control anything, but I do have a point of view, and I guess I’ve earned my place at this juncture. But everybody gets a chance to state their views, and hopefully they are always with the best intentions, and I think that’s the way the band works now. We have a drummer [Eric Singer] who doesn’t like to take a solo, and this guy could play a better solo with one hand than most drummers could play with every limb of their body. So it’s all for one and one for all.”
In other KISS news, The Pulse Of Radio reports that “Love Gun: Deluxe Edition” will be made available on October 27th. The two-disc CD features the original 1977 album, along with a bonus disc featuring assorted demos and live tracks.
Vintage Vinyl describes the release as “the first disc includes a remastered version of the original album while disc two has demos, three live performances from a 1977 Lakeland, Florida concert and an interview with Gene Simmons. A rarity for any expanded edition of an album, the deluxe edition includes a glimpse into Paul Stanley’s creative process on Love Gun (Teaching Demo) with Stanley talking through the various chords of the song.”
Love Gun: Deluxe Edition track list:
Disc 1 (Original Album):
I Stole Your Love
Christine Sixteen
Got Love For Sale
Shock Me
Tomorrow And Tonight
Love Gun
Hooligan
Almost Human
Plaster Caster
Then She Kissed Me
Disc 2 (Demos, Interviews & Live)
Much Too Soon (Demo)
Plaster Caster (Demo)
Reputation (Demo)
Love Gun (Teaching Demo)
Love Gun (Demo)
Gene Simmons Interview (1977)
Tomorrow And Tonight (Demo)
I Know Who You Are (Demo)
Love Gun (Live 1977)
Christine Sixteen (Live 1977)
Shock Me (Live 1977)
148 Responses
I bet if Paul asked Eric Singer if he’d like to do a Drum solo Eric would say Hell Yes!
Look what Paul did to Eric Carr on the Europe tour in the late 80’s !
Paul told Eric Carr that he couldn’t do a Drum solo because No one wanted to Hear one!
Does Thayer do a Guitar solo? I’d be surprised if he didn’t!
If not for Eric Singer being able to Drum and Sing I think Paul’s voice would be Trashed by now and What about Paul saying that If you can’t cut it then you shouldn’t be up on stage with KISS . Referring to Peter’s Drumming and Singing?
Both Paul and Gene had addictions and Personal problems when Ace and Peter were in the Band , but they don’t talk about them so people don’t hear it. Paul was seeing a Psychiatrist and it wasn’t for his deformed ear and Gene was addicted to food and sex and was a Momma’s boy who wouldn’t let anyone from the band into their Apartment in the early days.
Paul and Gene Always Wanted Ace in the Band Period! They would’ve put up with his booze and coke just to have him and his sound in the band; Paul and Gene have said that before.
With Peter it was just too much; his playing and singing were affected by all his booze and hard drug use and he was way out of control when he was using. Just read sealed with a Kiss by Lydia Criss to get a reference of how hard he was into drugs and booze ,even Before Kiss.
I bet if Ace wanted to play with KISS Paul and Gene would demote Thayer back to getting coffee and donuts !
that wouldn’t be a demotion. in paul and genespeak, it would be a shift to the drive-thru.
Well…There’s 30 minutes we’ll never get back…
Imagine saying to Paul that the ’14 line-up isn’t as good as Kulick & Carr. He’d be on the floor laughing. The wig ought to read Stanley interviews in ’14. He has a weave not a wig like Gene, Joe Lynn, Herman The German and Roth.
Actually … I like this interview. I think Joe does a good job. He’s clearly a fan and Paul seems “somewhat grounded”. Is he still delusional? Yes… but this is his truth now, sad to say. Honestly half of the band was on one track and the other two were on separate paths.
But I still believe … if there’s the right money to be made … the original band plays together again.
Thank God that Gene and Paul have the drive, ambition, and talent to keep this band going for nearly 40 years in spite of two members who were more concerned with taking drugs, getting high, being lazy, and wanting “their due” while doing nothing to sustain success.
And F you Peter Criss and especially Ace Frehley for nearly destroying it. Good riddance, except for your platform which Eddie seems to love to provide.