Yesterday (March 29th), original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was guest on Eddie’s Sirius/XM show, Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, where he discussed comments that Paul Stanley made on The Howard Stern Show, calling the original line-up, PISS.
Frehley stated, as per blabbermouth.net, “You know what it is? It’s Paul’s frustration and insecurity that he has to use backing tapes. And we’re only six months apart, and I can still get up there and belt it out and hit the keys, and he can’t. And it’s very unfortunate. And I’m very sad [about] the fact that he’s using backing tracks. It’s cheapening the brand, which affects my bottom line, because I still get paid from KISS on merchandising and whatever else they do. And I’m pissed off about it.”
He added, “Those guys have been badmouthing me since I quit the very first time in 1981, 1982, calling me a drug addict, calling me an alcoholic, saying I’m unemployable, I’m undependable. And then, when we did the Unplugged thing for MTV, all of a sudden I’m offered millions of dollars to come back to the band. Oh, what happened? Now I’m not a drug addict and I’m dependable and you’re willing to take a shot at hiring me again? In fact, they offered me more money than they offered [original KISS drummer] Peter [Criss].”
“The reunion tour was one of the most successful tours KISS ever did,” Frehley continued. “It grossed over 250 million dollars the first year. It was the largest-grossing tour of that year, by any band in the United States and Europe. And I got paid, and I said, ‘Okay, I’ll see you guys. I’m going back to my solo [career].’ And then all of a sudden they said, ‘No. We’re thinking about doing a farewell tour.’ I said, ‘Okay. What kind of money are we talking about?’ And it was acceptable. And I said, ‘Why not make a few more million dollars?'”
Returning to Stanley’s comments about him, the guitarist said, “Let me tell you something, my brother and the fans. Nobody knows this, but when I was living in San Diego with my [then-]girlfriend, I got a phone call from Paul, Doc[McGhee, KISS manager] and Gene. We did a conference call, and they were asking me to play with them on stage. They wanted me to play. They wanted to do it. And I said, ‘I’m not getting up on stage with Tommy [Thayer, current KISS guitarist] if he’s wearing my makeup. You expect me to wear makeup. There will be two Spacemen. Are you crazy? I’ll do it if it’s just us four — the original founding members who created something very special.
For the last 15 years they’ve had other people playing what Peter did, and Tommy’s copying every solo I ever wrote, and trying to copy my moves, and trying to be cool on stage, but unsuccessfully [laughs] — unfortunately. But with all the bombs and the smoke and mirrors, they’re getting away with it. Personally, I don’t give a s–t as long as I’m getting paid by them.”
“But as far as what he said on Howard Stern, I’m going to make a statement to Paul Stanley right now,” he said. “And Paul, if you’re not listening, I’m sure one of your associates in the KISS group are. And I’m telling you that I want my formal apology for what you said and a retraction and an apology within seven days. And if I don’t get that within seven days, I’m coming back on Ed Trunk‘s show and I’m gonna tell some dirt that nobody knows about Paul and Gene that I’ve always kept to myself because I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t talk about this. I like to talk about the positive stuff.”
“You’ve read my book. You’ve read Paul’s book. You’ve read Peter’s book. A lot of times those guys are just throwing people under the bus,” Frehley noted. “I mean, in Paul’s book, he even threw Gene under the bus. What I tried to do was have a fun, entertaining book with interesting stories, and this is the way I am. I’m not the kind of guy who kisses and tells. When it comes to negativity, and we’ve all done things that we regret over the years — it’s there. I have a 120-page manuscript that I wrote after I finished my book. My attorney has it in a safety deposit box. God forbid anything happens to me. My attorney is instructed to release it to The New York Times, Rolling Stone, API [sic], everybody. So they can’t intimidate me with trying to hurt me or say, ‘You’d better not say anything about me live on the radio.’ Because then they’re totally screwed. Their careers will be ruined.”
Despite everything that has been said between him and his former bandmates, Frehley acknowledged that would still be willing to share the stage with Stanley and Simmons when KISS plays their final shows in New York City this December. “I was actually hoping that maybe they’d invite me to come back for a third time, not because I really wanted to play with them because we created something really special and I’m the best fit in that band,” he said. “Always ways, always will be. You think Tommy Thayer can do what I can do? Impossibility.”
34 Responses
All of you just shut the F up and end 12/2/23 with Paul, Ace, Peter and Gene. You all are in the public eye and rich because of people like me. Otherwise you’d still be cutting sandwiches and driving cabs. Enough.
I’d love to hear what Ace has on these guys. But they’ve already made their money and it’s too late to ruin their careers unless it’s some kind of God-awful crime like rape, murder, etc. If I was to speculate I’d say Ace has dirt on both of them having dozens of children that they did not want involved with and paid off whomever the mother is. Maybe there have been sexual assault cases against these guys that never made the news or the courtroom because they have the money to make problems go away kind of like that jackass Desean Watson. Maybe Paul really is bi and Ace has photos! Maybe Gene really did like farm animals?? All speculation on my part. 120 pages is pretty damning if he’s completely telling the truth 100%. Injust hope he isn’t bluffing and I hope it isn’t a money grab. You know damn well Paul is not apologizing to Ace for anything.
Ace, and Peter, have every right to be upset at Paul’s comments. Personally, I’m sick and tired of both Paul’s and Gene’s continued pathetic attempts to dis Ace and Peter to justify the current band and to try validating Tommy and Eric impersonating the Spaceman and Catman characters.
Tommy and Eric may be better bandmates and musicians than Ace and Peter, but they are not the Spaceman and Catman. They are scabs impersonating legendary characters created by others and they have brought no originality to KI$$. Paul should be ashamed that his band continues to fleece its fans.
I would love if during any Kiss interview someone would call out stanley on his B.S.
He seems like a mean spirited vindictive A- hole –
ACE does deserve an apology
Ace is correct that Tommy tries mimic his playing style, but that is on orders from Paul. I like Tommy as a person and guitar player when he is not impersonating Ace. It is definitely cringe-worthy watching Tommy try to move and bend like Ace – he has no flexibility! Stiff as a board! Good luck, Ace, trying to get an apology from Paul. His apologies are a web of back-handed compliments that actually end up doubling down on the original insult. Keep rockin’ Ace!