The bitterness between the current and former members who founded Kiss will not be quelled anytime soon. It’s been a little over a week since the group announced that it would not perform “in any lineup” at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, following Ace Frehley’s comment that he would not perform with current guitarist Tommy Thayer wearing Frehley’s sometime makeup. Now, in a new interview with Guitar World, vocalist-guitarist Paul Stanley has questioned Frehley’s talent.
“What we had at the beginning was magical. . . Ace and I played great together,” Stanley said. “But in my mind it’s a crime what Ace did: He threw away incredible potential and talent. The Ace I played with when the band first started out was a comet – and not [Frehley’s late-Eighties band] ‘Frehley’s Comet!’ But he was burning bright and really had the ability – and this would rub him the wrong way – to be a real contender. But he stopped practicing. He got involved with a whole lot of things that really diluted and diminished his craft. I saw that comet grow dim.”
Stanley added that after KISS fired drummer Peter Criss in 1980, he decided the band needed to reinvent itself, and that’s why they removed their makeup in 1983. It’s a decision he now feels hurt the band. “Rather than saying, ‘We’ve built these iconic figures together and we’re going to continue on with what we built,’ we bought into the idea of, ‘We have to have a new character,'” he said. “That watered it down. Some people may argue with me, but I feel that Batman is Batman whether he’s played by George Clooney, Christian Bale, Val Kilmer and on and on.”
additional source: Rolling Stone
238 Responses
And for the record: I think Paul’s is the best by far out of the 1978 solo albums.
Cmon’……………over Ozone, Snow blind, Rip it out, I’m In Need Of Love, Wiped Out, etc……………Ace’s solo was by far the best.
Paul’s was pretty solid………
…I’m in Need Of Love, that is one of the coolest stream of consciousness things he’s ever done, there’s Fractured, Rip it Out…Ace made a great record, but Paul made one that was above and beyond, it is concise and consistent throughout, save for that ballad on side 2, which Paul should just never, ever do. Ever, no Forever, no, nada. Not a knock against Ace, more of a acknowledgement of Paul.
OMG!!! And just how have you grown Paul as a guitar player? You know I never ever here Ace and Peter put you and Gene down as artist. It’s just amazing to see how much more class Ace and Peter are showing these days. They may of been drunk and high a lot back in the 70’s but who wasn’t? Now they show class. And truly care about Kiss fans. You and Gene don’t. You proved that. Aces solo records blow anything Gene and Paul have done solo. I do love Paul’s solo in 78″. His and Ace’s were great. Really tho to say Ace lost it or whatever. Hahaha!! Listen to his solos on Dynasty. That’s at the tail end of the original lineup. To say he was losing it? Bull fucking shit!!! His solo record from 78″ was fucking amazing!!! I saw Ace in 94″ at a club show in Kansas City in Westport. It wasn’t that good. He was sick and the sound guy was doing a very poor job. I’ve Played shows for years bathe sound guy can make or break you. Gene and Paul really fucked up not allowing Ace and Peter to be more involved with singing and writing. Lets see. Peter wrote Kiss’s biggest hit with Beth. And Ace had by far the most sales of the solo records. Hmmm. And I might add. When Aces last album came out it debuted in the top 20. I can’t remember the exact spot. I think 7th on billboard. THAT’S ACE ALL BY HIMSELF!!!! On the other hand Genes last solo was god awful crap and so was Paul’s last solo record. They didn’t chart shit. Im really hoping Peter gets his rock album out soon. He’s due for a good record. Im hoping Ace and Peter record a full album together. That would be special.
“And for the record: I think Paul’s is the best by far out of the 1978 solo albums.”
Now who’s the one on drugs?
Now look at it from Paul and Gene’s side: they had to pick up the slack for this guy when he wasn’t performing well, and then they look at each other and go, “this guy is a superstar and here we are practically carrying him…why are we busting are asses to help this guy?” Trust me, they had that conversation. Finally, Paul and Ace’s styles compliment each other …like peanut butter and jelly, I can’t think of two guitarists who go together better.
“… but I feel that Batman is Batman whether he’s played by George Clooney, Christian Bale, Val Kilmer and on and on.”
That might be one of the dumbest Paul Stanley quotes of all time. By his logic, anyone that puts on a Michael Jordan jersey will deliver you 6 championships.
Well, your Jordan analogy is a grasp at straws. Whether you agree with it,or not, the Spaceman is a character. And to say that Paul’s quote is “one of the dumbest quotes” is really conveying how close-minded you are. Let’s look at the Batman analogy….. Michael Keaton was the original (in the movies) Was he the best? It’s subjective so people will have different opinions. Was Bale better? Kilmer? Clooney? Batman is a character. He has certain powers, says certain things, wears a certain costume. The Spaceman is a character. He acts a certain way, plays certain notes on his guitar, and wears a certain costume. Paul is saying that the Spaceman is a character. He has the right to say it because he owns the character. Some people may not agree with it, but it is what it is.
well said brother.
The hating on the ONE Kiss member that NEVER wavered and kept our favorite band relevant for 40 years is also getting old. Paul in this interview from Guitar World also says the most amazing compliments to Ace..brilliant,a comet, said how they used to be magical together and things changed and dimmed because of Ace.’s choices then and again when he returned. He isn’t saying ANYTHING about him still being an addict. He was not talking about now. Throwing Ace and Peter under the bus??? ….after the continual page after page spent in Peters book accusing and slamming Paul about private shirt that had nothing to do with his story. Ace says many hurtful things in his book too and I can hardly wait for Paul to fight back in his..ever think how ace and Peter are all about kiss on their terms…gene and Paul are founding members too people and they gave us a hell of a lot to cheer about in the dozens of years Peter and Ace weren’t in band. Look I like ace and Peter but there are two sides and is anyone gonna stand up and be proud of Paul and Gene and stop acting like the two relative small runs of Ace and Peter is ALL that made Kiss???…..hating most the civil war between the lifelong brotherhood I felt from all Kiss fans all my life. It’s pathetic how we are slaughtering each other over members. I’m a dam Kiss fan and proud to see em go into Hall,I feel all the members should go in with exception of Mark. But surely of course most important are the founders…I want that brotherhood and camaraderie of being with fellow Kiss fans without all this horrid in fighting. As Eddie reported today still small chance originals play at least a song anyways so even if not this HALL is NOT worth killing each other over.because the Kiss members aren’t jabbing each other any harder than their lifetime of brotherly fights their whole career. It’s just under a microscope now. Peace everyone and ease up on Paul..ok he is guilty of a fading voice, he did a lot of sacrifice for KISS to be around and it’s not like he killed anyone. Peaace
Well said, Chad.
Yes, well said.
Excellent commentary…Paul and Gene have a right to be bitter since they keep the KISSM flag flying and keeping them relevant for the majority of the bands existence…not to mention they founded the band before it was a quartet I terms of Wicked Lester, so why would they let anyone ruin their stardom and success, not once but TWICE???? I’ve heard Eddie say the HOF is part to blame because when they were eligible in 1999 the original band was intact, but that was after Paul and Gene had kept kiss going for 20 years without them and now here they are again 15 years later and Kiss is relevant because Gene and Paul are still out flying the KISS flag…I’m just happy the band is getting their due with the HOF and hope for the best whether they play or not…just no jabs at each other and at least a showing of respect for the band…
Slaughtering each other? Killing ? excuse me, but I thought this was just a spirited debate. Then at the end you knock Paul about his vocal problems which is pretty low. I wouldn’t even think of bringing that up.
Is this Shannon Tweed? Us true Kiss fans are pissed and hurt Gene and Paul are too into themselves to do this for Kiss fans. Some going back to 1973. Defending Gene and Paul about this shows you are for sure part of THIER camp. We are fans of Kiss the original band. And some of us even accept the current lineup. Im siding with Ace and Peter in this no matter how much you want to defend Gene and Paul. It’s about respect!!!!! Showing none to Ace and Peter and more importantly to the fans that wrote your paycheck is a discrace!!!! Spin it all you want. It’s pretty simple to me. It’s PAUL, ACE, GENE and PETER being inducted. PLAY SOME SONG TOGETHER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TO CELEBRATE 40 fucking years KISS!!! Do it for Bogart, and Shawn Delaney and if for knowbody else for BILL AUCOIN WHO RISKED EVERYTHING WITH HIS CREDIT CARD TO MAKE 4 KIDS FROM NEW YORK FAMOUS!!!! God bless you Bill!!!
Here’s an example of Paul Stanley demonstrating a complete inability to show restraint and stay above the fray on his own Twitter account. It’s relevant to me with regards to his recent comments about Ace because it shows a pattern of not being able to rise above it. Paul couldn’t just say a few nice things about Ace when asked and not spiral into the gutter as he does below. Besides, why address an insult with an insult? Isn’t that what children do?
Paul Stanley @PaulStanleyLive ·6h
“@Twerk_Freak: @PaulStanleyLive Your songs make me wish I was born deaf.” Wasting your time here shows you were obviously born stupid.