KISS main men Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons refused to regroup the original KISS line-up for a performance at the band’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction because they were afraid fans would demand a reunion tour, according to guitarist Ace Frehley.
Stanley and Simmons pulled the plug on a performance at induction in April after the Hall of Fame bosses refused to honor their current bandmates alongside original members Frehley and drummer Peter Criss, so the live spectacular fans had hoped for was nixed – and now the group’s original guitarist tells WENN the KISS army will never forgive his old bandmates.
He explains, “After 40 years, you think they could have given the fans 15 minutes that night. Peter and I wanted to perform, the Hall of Fame wanted us to do it, but Paul and Gene shot it down. It was a moment in history that was lost and some of the fans will never forgive them for that.
But I’ll tell you why Paul and Gene didn’t wanna perform with me and Peter – they were afraid of history repeating itself. When me and Peter performed with them on the MTV Unplugged sessions in 1995, the place went completely crazy and they had to scrap their album that they had just recorded with Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer and they had to do a reunion tour.
They’re on tour right now with Tommy (Thayer) and Eric (Singer) and they didn’t want anything to overshadow that. They were afraid that everyone was gonna demand a reunion again if we played.”
And Frehley has used his new WENN interview to respond to fresh criticism from Stanley, who recently stated his former lead guitarist was not fit “to wear the uniform,” explaining, “If you no longer can uphold your end or live up to the stature that we set for ourselves in the beginning, if you are compromised by drugs or alcohol, if you’ve lost sight of how lucky we are to be in this position, then you no longer deserve to wear the uniform.”
Frehley insists he was never as bad as his former bandmates paint him – and he hopes his new album Space Invader, due August 19th and his first solo album in five years, will prove he’s still got what it takes.
He adds, “It’s a joke. In concert, I always delivered, and 95 per cent of the time I delivered on record. It’s there, it’s history. All they’re trying to do is discredit me, so it validates the new line-up. They’ll look foolish when my new album comes out.
“I think they’re just cranky that every time they go on the Internet they have to read fans saying, ‘Get Ace back’.”
source: express.co.uk
187 Responses
U.S. vinyl?
Kiss’ s last two albums were ok nothing groundbreaking anomoly was far better no new kiss fans or cool aid drinkers or drunkerds will admit. it was a little deeper but the ace haters will never admit it paula and gene don’t deserve ace he is much better off without them the make up thing it’s used up and irelivent in 2014 in 75 it was ,not today it’s a joke , the hof thing would have been awsome with no make up, I gave my tickets away for the woodlands show to my 18 year old neighbor because he don’t know anybetter I would rather see ace in a small venue than those clowns in msg .
I posted this originally on blabbermouth in response to why KISS is selling more than ACE. Like that is even a measure of talent these days.
Yeah, people who want a good night out. People who want to show their kiddies what it was all about. People who like fireworks. They have a lot to draw from. ACE however gets people who truly love music and still appreciate what he contributed to that band. Can any of you honestly tell me that if Gene, Paul, Eric or Tommy went out on solo tours….without the costumes….without the stage show….that THEY wouldn’t draw the same crowds as ACE? I’m of the opinion that beyond the initial WTF factor, the only one who would come close is Paul. And with his voice now, I even doubt that. The crowds would dwindle mighty fast. ACE however, despite all his issues, continues to this day, all these years later, to be able to draw a crowd. And that crowd is there for the musician. Not the pyro, costumes, or the other band on the bill. They are there for ACE FREHLEY. Slam away.
They’re a big draw because they are still great, so don’t kid yourself. I saw them on The Tour with Motley and both bands were excellent. If you look for weaknesses you will find them–and then you have the option of blowing those weaknesses out of proportion, as many on this site have, or use a bit of common sense and admit they are still great. This is not a scam–people keep coming because they like KISS. There is no tricking the audience. To sum up KISS draw power in a few sentences (fireworks, good ol days, etc…) and then build up Ace and say people come for his music? Are you saying the fans don’t come to hear KISS play music? Now your’re starting to sound like one of the early 70’s critics.
On another note, I am very much looking forward to Ace’s new album. Go ahead and slam KISS if you need to, but you’re argument was not convincing–not even close.
Another great point…Ace hasn’t put out ANYTHING relevant since Kiss…I love the original band, based on Aces track record his albums pretty much suck…not nearly as bad as Peters stuff, but maybe one or two listenable songs at best oer record…And hey Ace enough with the space man cliches for song titles…
The lead vocal of a band/song is more important than the guitar solo, that is a fact for the great majority of the people in the audience or in front of the radio/hifi. So critizing Paul’s deteriorated voice is not blowing it out of proportion, on the contrary, it is realistic because it is a vital aspect of the show because P is the lead singer of the majority of hits. I have alway liked Gene’s voice better, but there is no denying that Paul’s voice is a vital ingredient of the Kiss sound and therefore of the pleasure when going to a concert. If he fails, and he fails more every year, the show suffers. So it is not one of minor “weaknesses” you may find in every band’s performance , it is a major flaw. And to Steve, I totally agree, the maybe 400 people that attended Ace’s concerts over here a few years ago when promoting Anomaly definitely came for the man and his music, expecting nothing more or less than a club gig with classic rock’n roll, so it is a totally different kind of concert, both are enjoyable, but it is pointless to compare Ace’s and Kiss’s tours/shows just focussing on the attendance and the earnings. people ave always and stilll love Ace for his guitar playing and for his persona, he will be able to draw on that as long as he manages to put out a new album every few years. I also believe that he is -. and must be – past the point that money is the most important thing whereas looking at Kiss and their despearet efforts to stay on top I doubt it.
Nothing to slam here…it’s all true. Stanley toured a few years ago on his solo album and cancelled the Milwaukee show (claimed he was sick) and didn’t sell out the Chicago show at small theater. This is the reason they won’t take the makeup off again. The Revenge tour bombed, which was a shame with how strong that album was. People want to see the Kiss ‘show’. However , even this is dwindling as shown by the fact that they have to tour with bands like Aerosmith, Motley and Def Leppard. As sad as it is, it’s not about the music with this band when it comes to general society. Ace will come out a strong album and play HOB’s, just like Paul did. So what…at least he’s still alive and we can still see him kick ass.
Once again, idiots on this board posting inaccurate information. I was at that Chicago Show and it WAS sold out.
Doesnt matter what line-up kiss puts out there or what songs they sing…this tour is selling out all over!
Maybe that in this modern digital world of mediocrity and superficiality people accept (or even understand or mistake) something mediocre and past its prime for something great because especially those still young cannot compare to a time when quality meant quality.
Hey Curly, I really hope the new album silences all the doubters. I’m a HUGE KISS fan but mad at them right now after RRHOF fiasco. I refuse to buy Paul’s book new; will buy used. I know I will eventually forgive them and start throwing money into the KISS money furnace again. But I will forever hold Ace on a pedestal because he is the reason I picked up a guitar back in ”76 wanting to copy every Ace lick off of Alive!–just like Tommy did I’m sure. Amazing is the fact he’s making a living doing that same thing today…