PAUL STANLEY SAYS ORIGINAL KISS BAND MEMBERS, ACE FREHLEY AND PETER CRISS, REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MAKING OF A&E’S DOCUMENTARY “BIOGRAPHY: KISSTORY,” SAYS THE DRUMMER WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO USE “BETH” IN THE FILM
KISS frontman Paul Stanley spoke with Ultimate Classic Rock about the lack of involvement of original band members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley in the band’s new A&E documentary Biography: KISStory, which will air the two-night event on June 27th and June 28th from 9 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET. The singer says that Frehley’s and Criss’ sound bites come from archival interviews because both wanted to be paid and have “final editing rights” in order to be part of the project. In addition, Criss would not grant permission for the documentary makers to use the song Beth — which he co-wrote — in the film.
“It’s sad, but that kind of fits into the whole dynamic,” Stanley said. “We did the best we could. We tried numerous times in all different ways to have them be part of it, but this idea of final editing and money and this and that. … It was like, ‘No, your involvement doesn’t warrant that.’ And who ultimately loses out in a situation like this? They do.”
“I don’t really want to trash those guys,” Stanley continued, “because we wouldn’t be here today if they hadn’t been in the band, and we wouldn’t be here today if they still were.”
Last September, Frehley confirmed during an appearance on SiriusXM‘s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk that he had been approached by the band’s documentary producers about participating in the film. “They offered me a small fee to be involved with it, and I turned them down,” he said. “I thought the fee was embarrassing, because I know how much money they’re gonna make on it. So, either share the wealth, or c’est la vie. So, I decided not be involved. But they have plenty of old footage of me, and they’ll probably use that and get by. But it won’t be the same as if they get current footage. Unfortunately, I decided the money that they offered me wasn’t anywhere near what I felt I deserved, so I turned it down. The footage you’re gonna see of me in this documentary is only gonna be old footage.”
To read more details about Biography: KISStory, and to view a trailer, please go here.
Bands that split the money evenly (I believe Aerosmith an RUSH did) seem to last the longest and have the least friction (though certainly some friction is normal). I also think that different people have different recollections of how things went down, so with KISS I could see several wildly different versions of how things happened. That being said, I certainly would like to hear Ace and Peters versions as well, regardless of how they conflict with Gene and Paul’s version/recollection.
This is all business; they have enough footage of them already, they are not going to let them have editorial control (which is way more important than the money)…it was a non-starter. For fact’s sake, the blame for their initial breakup is shared equally; there’s plenty of blame to go around. I just hope Paul and Gene throw themselves under the bus just as much as the other guys…if they did that I will respect them. If not, then it’s just a final attempt to “set the record straight.” I have to add another detail, which is no disrespect to anybody; every young kid, from 9 to 23, that I’ve met prefers the original lineup. They’ve watched youtube.
Shannon, I don’t think I’ve ever agreed with you more! Of course there are some kids who don’t care about who the real KI⚡⚡ is or played and sang on what song, or the KI⚡⚡tory of the band, but most people (young and old) do care! I know a few young people myself that love watching old KI⚡⚡ videos, and not only prefer ’70s and ’80s KI⚡⚡, and the reunion/Psycho Circus era, but have no interest whatsoever in this current shadow of their former selves/greatness.
Paul spins everything in a negative light with ace & pete because he knows how beloved these guys are- they have been clean and sober now for over 20 years or so , and he knows he cant use that angle anymore – so he makes it look like they are the bad guys by saying they refuse to be in this bio pic and the media is helping them do it , they didnt refuse to be involved paul and gene didnt want to pay them as they say jack squat ….
Members of the music media start calling them out on their BS . Paul needs one helluva wake up call , call em out on it all , my big question is why isn’t anyone willing to ask them tough questions ??
Hi Shannon
Those kids aged between 9 & 23 that you’ve met certainly know a good thing when they see it.
The original band has this magic to it that cannot be replicated; no matter how hard anybody tries. I was lucky enough to see the original line up at Wembley Arena in 1999 – after that came the chance to see the current line-up in 2013.
I didn’t go; my thoughts were: “Why do I want to pay £35 for ticket to see what is essentially a tribute band to themselves when I’ve seen the real deal?”
KISS ended in 2001 – and I’ve never “Accepted substitutes”. 🙂
I had a ticket for the Dynasty tour in Portland OR, but they cancelled it because the Fire Marshall prohibited their pyro. I didn’t see Kiss until the Creatures tour in Knoxville TN; my first time ever seeing the “Egyptian Warrior” was that night. There was only about 5000 of us there. The Plasmatics got booed by the crowd. Gene spit blood over the first ten rows…he was acting really weird…this was not the cuddly Gene we see now.
I get him not wanting to be in it, but he should’ve let them use “Beth;” you just have to forgive and let it go at some point.
you would think ,its the end for kiss,godforbid gene and paul share this and the bio pick evenly .no no no.also they do not want peter or ace to have any say in the final mix.because it wont be the vision the sir paul wants to re create .so sad…..this will be yet another gene and paul dog and pony act…passssss
i was just listening to gene on some show a few days ago,and he is still saying that peter and ace are fkd up on drugs or whatever,so you see the set up right,unreal…
It was within Peter’s legal right to withhold the use of “Beth” from the documentary. It was within reason for Gene/Paul to offer what THEY thought was a reasonable amount for Ace and Peter’s participation in the doc (Gene/Paul, after all, are the original/current members of the band). It was within reason for Peter and Ace to decline to participate. So I don’t see how anyone is necessarily “wrong” here.
The “final editing rights” is laughable self-entitlement and delusional on the part of Peter (definitely!) and Ace (possibly).
Same applies to guesting on the farewell tour. Gene/Paul are entitled to make whatever offer they feel is reasonable. Ace/Peter are entitled to accept/decline the offer. No harm. No foul.
As for the fans, watch/don’t watch the documentary (but I know you will, regardless!). Go see them/don’t see them on the farewell tour.
Bottom line: KISS is a permanent fixture in American pop culture. Gene/Paul are making plenty of money. Ace and Peter are doing well enough to make uncompromising decisions. The fans have the music, the memories, and the option to make new memories if they so choose.
I agree with most of your comment , but if ace and peter were to be involved, they absolutely have a right to tell their side of the story, just as gene, and paul, have the right to defend their character in the editing process. I can safely guarantee paul and gene knew that they would defend themselves and there was no way they would allow it , that’s why they did not make a decent offer , they knew ace and peter would decline it. Now, I can also guarantee paul and gene will spin the story their way and paint ace and pete with same brush they have always used.
Well said…finally someone who has been paying attention for the last 45 years or so..