Original KISS guiatrist Ace Frehley was a guest on Eddie’s Q104.3’s, Eddie Trunk Rocks, radio show on December 20th. Excerpts from the interview appear below courtesy of blabbermouth.net.
Ace discussing performing with his fellow original KISS members when they are inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame next April:
“I always try to take the high road and be optimistic and hope that everybody’s gonna come to the bargaining table and do the right thing. Sometimes I get the support. But I have a feeling everything’s gonna work out. I mean, I spoke with Paul [Stanley, KISS guitarist/vocalist] and Gene [Simmons, KISS bassist/vocalist]. I know they wanna perform with me and Peter [Criss, original KISS drummer]. I’m just not sure how much they want [current KISS members] Tommy [Thayer, guitar] and Eric [Singer, drums] to be involved. But since [Tommy and Eric] not getting inducted, I’m just gonna let that play out with the Hall and management and attorneys and all that stuff. I’m just excited about getting back with them and doing a great three or four songs. And I think it’s gonna be great. I’m hoping that everybody’s just gonna do the right thing.”
“I know for a fact that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame wants the four of us to perform in makeup. That’s what they want, and we’ll see how it plays out. I’m hoping that everybody’s just gonna do the right thing and celebrate the four original members who started it all.”
On his conversations with Paul and Gene after it was announced that KISS was being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame:
“They actually called me today. We had a very nice conversation. They congratulated me. They actually have been trying to get hold of me since the announcement, but I’ve been in the studio working on my new record, so I wasn’t available. But they tracked me down today through [KISS manager] Doc McGhee’s office. And we had a nice conversation; it was very up and very positive.”
Speaking about how the current lineup of KISS should be included, if at all, in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony:
“Where KISS is now, that’s fine and that’s the way it is now, but what we’re celebrating is what Paul, Peter, Gene and Ace started back in 1972. ’73…
“I don’t have a problem with Tommy and Eric being there out of makeup, if I’m in makeup, because they’re a big part of KISS today. They had nothing to do with the beginning of KISS or had nothing to do with the designs or the costumes or the makeup, but they’re a part of KISS today and it is what it is; I don’t control that. But this is about the celebration of KISS and how it all began and started and it should be honoring the four original members.
“If those guys [Tommy and Eric] wanna come up out of makeup and do Rock And Roll All Nite with the whole cast of the show, that would be a great thing. They deserve a little. [But] I can only hope that [Paul and Gene are] gonna do the right thing.
“You can’t have me and Tommy both in makeup. You can’t have Eric and Peter both in makeup. That’s gonna be a farce. So hopefully the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame will talk some sense into those guys [Paul and Gene] as far as that aspect of the show. Believe it or not, I have faith in those guys.”
Talking abouy whether he is open to doing more things with KISS in the future beyond the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction:
“Like I said to Rolling Stone [magazine], never say never. Anything could happen after that night. And I don’t wanna speculate at this point, but who knows? We’re gonna make rock and roll history one way or the other.”
“Look, if something was presented to me in the right way, anything is possible. That’s as far as I wanna go on that. I’m working on my new album. It’s gonna be released next spring. I’ve got a single coming out probably right around the time the ceremony is gonna be happening. And [my new record label] eOne is really excited about the new record. So who knows what’s gonna happen? But I’m not gonna scrap my record [to reunite with KISS], I can tell you that right now. [laughs]”
source:blabbermouth.net
Imagine if Ace never showed up….you think Michael Anthony looked dumb up there, imagine Gene.
Anything with the original 4 is cool but like I keep saying nothing would be more interesting than a Vinny Vincent reemergence. The Jake E. Lee thing with Eddie was cool but Vinny Vincent has had a few awful stories written about him and he is one of metal’s more interesting loose ends. Peter’s great book finished up Mark St Johns and then he died. Nothing evil about Vinny just weird (I.e. a sex change rumor and a misunderstanding regarding dogs). Love to see him on TMS but he s an L A guy and he probably won’t t come to NY and be confronted by Eddie and 2 commedians. Who knows?
Eddie you know what I would love to see. KISS is doing their 40th anniversary next year so I would love to see the original 4 in makeup then you would have Eric Singer as backup Drummer without makeup and Tommy as backup w/o makeup and Bruce Kulick, Vinny(Doubtful), and Mark. And they would all perform celebrating 40 years of KISS. And with a cool video in the background showing the whole history of KISS. Now that would be the most respectful, Intelligent thing KISS has ever done. It would be smart on Genes part $$$ and also do a nice tribute to Eric Car(RIP). What’s your thoughts??
Mark died this past year so he’s out. Don’t forget Anton Figg, Bob Kulick, Dick Wagner and a FOREVER duet with M. Bolton.
I’d also like to see Rod Stewart join them on stage for a version of Hard Luck Woman. That’s who Paul originally had the song in mind for. Bob Kulick would be a must as he created a lot of memorable solos that another guitarist got credit for.
Country Music star and NY METS outfielder Garth Brooks did HARD LUCK WOMAN not too badly on a very bad KISS “tribute” album called KISS MY ASS. Garth is theatrical and should do his flying thing while the Demon spits fire and then Garth and Peter get it started. What is more NY than KISS and the METS. NO BABY DRIVER, IT’S AWFUL. MERRY KISSMAS GUYS. FARE THEE WELL. HOT. HOT. HOTTER THAN HELL. I got SMASHES, THRASHES AND HITS twenty five years ago today. Still have it.
I am not hugely interested in a FULL original lineup reunion. Love the original material, and looking forward to seeing the mini reunion at the ceremony, but that’s it. Ace is better solo. I would like to see a permanent Revenge lineup reunion. KISS was at its best creatively at that point.
Bruce absolutely shredded on Revenge. Some of his best work ever. He’s probably the only member that left this band with all integrity intact, which clearly is not easy to do. Like Eric Carr, he was a driving force in the non-makeup era of KISS, and he along with Eric Carr would be the only other two members I would consider for induction along with the original four. Vinnie Vincent is worth the conversation, but his time in the band was too short IMO (essentially two albums and a writing credit on Revenge). I often wonder if Eric Carr hadn’t passed as to what KISS would look like today. Like Bruce, he was a class act to the end.
Had Eric lived, I’m sure Gene and Paul wouldn’t have hesitated at all putting him in the catman costume after the reunion of the original members. They already started this sort of thinking back in 1988 on Smashes, Thrashes, and Hits when they had Eric sing Beth. If Bruce didn’t have his integrity, I’m sure he’d also be in the spaceman costume right now instead of Tommy. The non-makeup era is definitely underrated. To bad most people (even Gene and Paul) tend to remember the dreaded Asylum outfits over their music of that era.
Eric was THE FOX and the fox says: RING-DING-DING- DING- DING- A – DING-A-DING-DING-DING-RING-DING……..He was a distinct character as was Vinny Vincent (who was a weird fucking thing ((why he lost his marbles like Heath Ledger?)). He would have stayed the fox. No reason to imitate Peter. Eric like the current Eric was a very good drummer, just neither could sing like the CATMAN. Paul singing GOT TO CHOOSE and anyone other than Peter doing BLACK DIAMOND lacks energy and greatness. Peter may not be KISSes best singer but he sang some of their best songs. Ace is a great guitarist, but he only sang a few songs. Paul is definitely their best rapper. ALL HELL’S BREAKING LOOSE is still fucking hysterical. A STREET HUSTLER WALKS UP TO ME……….
‘You know we ain’t always winners. But this is the life we choose. And we ain’t gonna change or rearrange and we ain’t ever gonna looooooooooosse…….
Have a Kiss Week in Vegas in July. MGM Arena shows with each line-up. Every single Kiss member and assorted Kiss people. Smaller shows with special guests. Gigantic Kiss marketplace & museum. Bring it on large. I wonder if Gene would give Eddie a backstage pass?
Thats how it should be, of course Ed says he supports all lineups where is he now? only supporting aces interest.
Ace’s interest? How exactly?? Buy saying ALL members of Kiss should go in if not just the originals? INSANE the assumptions people make that only view things through the way they want and NEVER acknowledge the full story. And DAMN RIGHT it would be an insult to have two guys dressed as Ace Frehley on the stage at the same time!
SIMPLE ALL MEMBERS NO MAKEUP, ITS JUST 3 SONGS. You know metallica had all 6 members why do you act as if its a demand that cant be changed, they filed for extented members, so could kiss, and they should. This isnt about the original 4 its about KISS, they should simple drop the gimmick for a night. INDUCT BRUCE BOTH ERICS AND REALLY TOMMY. Its the right thing to do, as for the hall DEMANDING…… KISS should demand them to go to HELL. If what ace is saying is true.
all should get inducted, this is kiss not the ace frehley band, as for eddies bs about only the original 4. As metallica has shown all of them are in. starting @ 14:25 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLAhvhDYFIs
What are you talking about “Ace Frehley band”? Wow, amazing what people come up with! The HALL makes the decisions on who goes in! All i ever said was it should be ALL past and present members or just the original four! And just because you play on stage and stand up there with the band it does NOT mean you were inducted by the Hall. Gilby Clarke was not with GnR!
YOUE WRONG GENE AND PAUL CAN AND SHOULD WALK AWAY IF THE ARE BEING TOLD WHAT TO WEAR, WHO TO INVITE, ECT. ALL MEMBERS OF METALLICA HAVE BEEN INDUCTED, BECAUSE THEY FILE AN EXTENDED MEMBER PETITION. YOU AND ACE BOTH NEED TO INFORM PEOPLE THE TRUTH., GET OFF THE FREHLEY FRIUT PUNCH.
Love to see them walk away for being snubbed 15 years, but they won’t. Funny because I didn’t see Lloyd Grant, Dave Mustaine, Ron McGovney or any other Metallica members inducted? But you seem to know all and have some agenda here only believing what you want, so good luck to you. You are the same guy that bashes Ace and Peter and then would fall to your knees in praise of them if they walked in the room. Seen it a million times. Keep drinking that Kiss Kool Aid you are loving, after all, doesn’t matter who’s in Kiss or behind the makeup, just “characters”. Maybe just four guys off the street dressed as Catman, Spaceman, Demon and Starchild can be inducted right? I mean it doesn’t matter…
not true ace nor peter have impressed me, Kiss has had much better musicians who didnt walk out on thier fans, I know local gutiarist who play better then ace. I personally was happy with the revenge line up.. they should have put the makeup on with the release of revenge. The reunion tour was really huge because of the makeup not the members, dont believe it? how well would the reunion tour done without makeup?