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 TimesRolling StoneAPI [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

  1. I’ve seen some comments on Kiss fan sites alleging that Ace cannot be sober and that he was intoxicated either by alcohol or drugs during this rant. I sure hope that isn’t the case because it would certainly make Paul & Gene look good.

    It is very sad and pathetic that these, at least physically and biologically, grown men STILL have to argue and fight in the public eye. I do not understand why Paul and Gene continue to bash Ace and Peter multiple times per year in various interviews. I can understand the bitterness when the original band began to fall apart in the late 70’s and then again in the late 90’s. But move along already and this is it, supposedly, as far as the end of touring is concerned.

    I think all three of these guys should be ashamed of themselves. Peter has kept quiet and I admire him for that. Also, as a lifelong Kiss fan, I can honestly say that Tom Thayer is no spaceman. Yeah he’s a nice guy and he can play Ace’s solos but so what! So can I and so can thousands of others. There is nothing special about Singer other than he has great vocals. But so did Peter! As far as im concerned nothing will tarnish the legacy of the original lineup and hell even the non make up years. But after the final show with the originals in South Carolina everything since has been a complete and utter disgrace to the history of the band and most ultimately the fans. We deserve much better than what we’ve got especially the rock n roll hall of fame and the sorry lip syncing. Paul and Gene, if you are your little troll Doc read this, you should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves. Yeah, you may be filthy rich and have every single physical thing you could ever want, but I’ll keep my integrity over your money and things. Both of you are a complete and utter disgrace!

  2. It’s stunning paul would say playing with ace & pete would sound like piss…paul turn off the tape …. sing for real ….now that can legitimately be called…PISS

  3. All I can say is, bands with drama, for example, Cheap Trick and Bun E Carlos, managed to put it aside to play at the RN’R Hall of Shame, same with Priest and KK. Imagine of those band members said, “No, he can’t play with us, or we be called ‘Cheap’ (use your imagination) or ‘Judas’ (use your imagination).” They just wanted to play with their fake Ace and Peter.

    In all honesty, every member, who at least played on one album, should have been inducted. I have nothing against Thayer. I liked Black N’ Blue in the day, and Eric was in Kiss prior to the Reunion, and has been in Sabbath and Badlands. It seems that Gene and Paul think that if they played that one time there would be big money demands for a reunion If you want to celebrate Kiss, it should be all aspects and eras, kiss isn’t just makeup.

  4. KI⚡⚡ didn’t turn into PI⚡⚡ until the charade started in 2002 when they started parading Tommy and Eric around as Ace and Peter! That was when KI⚡⚡ turned into PI⚡⚡!

    1. That is a close contest as both as equally amusing

      Glad you like the name

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