Andy Greene of Rolling Stone spoke with original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. Portions of the interview appear below.
RS: Tell me your first reaction to the news that KISS made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ace: It’s such an honor. I’m so excited. I learned about it last night when my assistant called me. I didn’t sleep very well afterwards.
RS: Did the news surprise you?
Ace: It surprised me, but when I saw all the people we were up against I had a feeling we were going to make it in…It should be a great evening. I’m really excited and looking forward to the night.
RS: I spoke with Gene a couple of hours ago. He said he’s willing to play with you and Peter Criss that night.
Ace: Okay. That sounds like a great idea.
RS: Are you open to that too?
Ace: Absolutely. Are you gonna want us to put makeup on?
RS: Sure.
Ace: It’s been a while for me.
RS: It’s been over a decade, right?
Ace: The last shows I did with KISS was in Australia around 2002.
RS: You have no hesitation about walking back onstage with Paul and Gene?
Ace: Not at all. I think it will be great. I think it will be great for the fans to witness and a lot of fun. I recently performed with Peter at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York for Eddie Trunk’s 30 years in broadcasting celebration. That was a lot of fun. I hadn’t performed with Peter in 12 years. We all still have it.
RS: Gene mentioned that next year is the band’s 40th anniversary. He said he didn’t want a reunion tour, but I got the sense it was somewhere in his mind. Would you want a KISS reunion tour?
Ace: It’s something I haven’t even entertained or even thought about. I hadn’t even realized that next year is the 40-year anniversary. Right now, I’m focusing on my solo career. I recently signed a two-album deal. I’ve been in the music for the past three months.
RS: If a tour was offered to you, would you think about it?
Ace: It’s something I would consider if it was presented in the proper way.
RS: Gene was praising you when we spoke, but in other interviews he will call you a “cancer” or a “loser.”
Ace: I’ve always had a pretty good relationship with Paul and Gene. We parted company on more than one occasion, but there’s always been mutual respect and admiration. I think somehow the press plays it up that there’s a lot of hate between the members. It’s really completely blown out of proportion.
RS: But he called you a “cancer” recently.
Ace: A cancer? I wasn’t aware of that. What does it mean?
RS: I guess that you’re somehow a poison.
Ace: [Huge laugh] I think he gets frustrated that even though they have a replacement for me in the band, fans are continually bombarding him and saying, “Hey, you should get the original guitar player back. Ace is still number one.” He gets that constantly. It has to be frustrating to him and Paul.
RS: Are you insulted that somebody else is in your makeup?
Ace: Well, it’s a choice that Paul and Gene have made. I know the fans aren’t happy with it. I read the comments on the Internet. Paul and Gene have lost a lot of fans because of the move they made. It is what it is.
I’m not happy about it. Most of the comments I read by fans say that, “If you’re going to replace Ace, you should have created a different character.” That’s what they did with Vinnie Vincent when I originally left the group in 1982.
RS: They have Eric Singer in the Catman makeup and he’s singing Beth.
Ace: I didn’t know he was singing “Beth.” [Laughs] You know, a lot of the fans I talk to just tell me they aren’t going to go to the shows anymore. I know concert attendance hasn’t been what they’ve wanted this past year. It is what it is.
RS: Gene has implied he doesn’t believe you are sober.
Ace: That’s kind of juvenile. Does he have blinders on? I know he’s spoken to several people that I know that he knows that have seen me and done business with me over the past several years. I don’t believe they are telling him that I’m not sober. It’s been over seven years for me and I can’t see myself going back. But all I have is today. One day at a time.
RS: I imagine it’s going to be emotional to stand at the podium with the three other guys in the band.
Ace: It’s going to be intense, but it’s going to be great. I don’t foresee any negative vibes. I don’t foresee any bad blood. I think that myself, Peter, Paul and Gene, we’re the four guys that started the group and brought it into international success. I think that sometime in the late 1970s we were listed as the number one group in the world by some polls. We achieved what most people only dream about. I’ll never forget it. And that’s something nobody can take away from me.
Read more at Rolling Stone.
source: rollingstone.com
64 Responses
I was impressed with the interview Ace did but thought Rolling Stone was trying to start a fight. What do you think?
Lets stick to all 4 receiving the award and playing together and see where it goes from there everyones staring to stir up bad vibes before it takes place
I agree. The interviewer focused more on all the drama between KISS and past members of KISS.
It was almost like he was trying to start a bigger feud. Trying to throw a wrench in the workings of this award ceremony. Lets see if we can stir more shit up and Ace and Peter get so mad they don’t want to show up. I do think that KISS will do a Final farewell tour where and when? Only Gene and Paul know. I would think instead of blowing millions on a tour just do a farewell pay per view at say the Super Dome.
I think Rolling Stone and KISS agreed in advance of the announcement that the four of them would reunite for the induction only. I honestly don’t think Peter or Ace could do a full tour and play better than Tommy and Eric, and I’m a longtime fan, and 100% dedicated to the KISS Army.
Ace would have no problem holding up on tour, he is a professional and will do what it takes to make it through the tour, that means getting back in touring shape. Peter could also make it through the tour, he just would have to pace himself perhaps, it’s all speculation that they couldn’t do it. Tommy and Eric aren’t spring chickens either, they did do less drugs in there life though, LOL!..Who say’s they need to do a full tour. I rather see a tour of 40 to 60 dates a year with the originals than over 200 with the replacements. To many bands put themselves out their way to long, what ever happen to the mystique of playing less and people wanting more.
Its about time Kiss is inducted. Kudos for Ace for being the bigger man. Gene has always seemd to look down on Peter and Ace ever since they left the band the first time. To him its about the money not the friendship or the fact that Peter and Ace r originals and can never b replaced. Ace miss ya still rocking and u r one of the best.
I think people miss Ace Frehley more than any other Kiss member. I believe Ace holds the majority of the true Kiss Fans, I believe they sell out Stadiums with Ace back in the band. He is like the Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, you can’t replace Keith Richards and call it the Rolling Stones. I know Gene and Paul no deep inside that Ace Frehley is very important to the Kiss image, he brings a sense of drama, mystique and bad boy to the band that is sorely needed, plus he keeps them straight with rock songs. I hold Eric Car(god rest his soul) as more of a original member of Kiss than Peter Criss, he also brings a heavier metal style to his drumming, Peter Criss is a jazz drummer, I wouldn’t at all argue if they just brought back Ace and left Peter out and just kept Eric Singer in.
Could the RS reporter throw more gas on the fire…….let them have the moment without trying to start an infight between the 4. Let us all bask in the glory that is KISS HOF 2014 then enjoy them all onstage together smiling.