Former KISS bandmates Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley shared a stage last night for the first time in 16 years. Watch their performances of Parasite, Cold Gin and Shock Me below.
Frehley guested with Simmons’ solo band at a fundraising show for victims of Hurricane Harvey in St Paul, Minnesota, a bill that also featured Don Felder and Cheap Trick.
As Frehley walked onstage, Simmons told the crowd, “Before you were born, 1973, this guy and I, the two of us, put together the band.” When Simmons introduced the original Space Ace, the guitarist took a bow as his former bandmate added, “He still looks great, doesn’t he?”
Frehley left KISS in 2001 after a second stint that lasted six years. A great deal of acrimony followed, but relations warmed up again in recent times. There had been some speculation in recent months that Frehley could rejoin Kiss this year on either a permanent or temporary basis.
Even though Frehley and Simmons co-wrote two songs for an upcoming Frehley album, and Paul Stanley also collaborated with him on a track, that looks like it might be the extent of their reunion. “I have the connection and the re-connection, and to celebrate the good things we’ve done together is terrific,” Stanley said in February. “I have no thoughts of revisiting the past. I am happy to do whatever i can for anyone who has helped put me where I am – but that doesn’t include getting hitched again to somebody I unhitched from.”
source: ultimateclassicrock.com
30 Responses
Both Gene and Ace seem like they are having a great time for a great cause. I hope this leads to Ace’s return to KI$$ and goodbye to that Tommy “Faker” guy….Paul will eventually change his mind cuz I think this version of KI$$ has virtually run its course, so it’s time to change it up again to get the cash before calling it a great career….
Rattlehead,
I agree that Gene and Ace seem to having a great time, and it’s great that their doing it for charity. But why do you have to bring up the whole Tommy Thayer hate stuff? Ace and Peter sold their rights to the Spaceman and Catman characters years ago to Gene and Paul of their own free will. Gene and Paul decided to hire Tommy T. and Eric S. to play those characters in KISS. Whether anyone agree with that decision or not, it has worked out for the band, as they have been able to continue as KISS (making plenty of money) for quite awhile. Tommy T. has actually been a member of KISS just as long as Ace was (both 15 years)! I personally wish that they had never went back to wearing the makeup, and had kept going as the band they were during the REVENGE tour. That wasn’t my decision, however. Tommy and Eric have both done a great job in the roles that they were given in KISS. I hope that Gene and Paul recognize that it’s time to end the band, and that ALL of the former members of KISS are given the chance to participate in the final shows. Of course, Ace and Peter should be given their due respect as original band members. But to keep hating on Tommy T. and Eric S. because they aren’t the original Spaceman and Catman characters is just wrong, in my opinion.
Keith, I am a purist and passionate about things I enjoy. KI$$ was the first band I loved, and no band ever came close to the passion I had for the original era of KI$$…the makeup, characters, stage show, etc… I don’t care what musician performs as an imposter in KI$$, and I don’t care if original members made the business decision to sell rights to their makeup, and I don’t care if Ace made his own decision to leave the band, but today’s tribute version of KI$$ is not my KI$$. And while Tommy and Eric have been in this tribute version of KI$$ longer than Ace and Peter, the music they primarily play and show performances are what was originally created by Ace and Peter.
Yes, Tommy and Eric have both done a good job imitating Ace and Peter. I saw Tommy also do a good job performing as Ace when he was in his former KI$$ tribute band Cold Gin…and he still plays in a KI$$ tribute band today!
I know this is a very polarizing topic and everybody has their own opinions on the matter. My opinions are based on my loyalty to the original version of KI$$. I still love KI$$, just not this version of the band, regardless of what musician is impersonating an original character.
Funny, as I am typing this, I’m listening to KI$$ Dressed to Kill.
As I’ve stated previously, Gene doesn’t get enough credit for the charitable work that he does. In addition to this particular charity, he does a lot of work for the military and their families. The guy can be an a–hole sometimes, and he has an over-inflated ego, but let’s give credit where credit is due. Great to see him and Ace on stage together, again! I still stay that the end of KISS is coming soon, and I sure hope that everyone that has contributed to the band, including Ace, will be invited to participate in some of the final shows.
So cool to see two old friends jamming together again! Come on guys, whaddya say? One more tour?! Do it for us old fans that have supported the band since the beginning! Starchild, Demon, and the REAL Spaceman, and the REAL Catman! Even if it’s just for 1 more show, end it the way it began, with the original KISS!!!!
Three great train wrecks in a row. Ace is a bulldozer on guitar, and really he is the guitar, he puts his whole body into it. I am just very happy that they’re friends again, that means a lot to me, in fact, I actually prayed to God that they would stop being mad at each other.
I know the die-hards don’t want to hear this, but….KISS is a visual band. Ace Frehley 2017 looks very different from Ace Frehley 1977 – or even 1997. Yes, everyone gets old and some people pack on a few pounds, but Ace in Space-Man makeup today would look like the middle-aged fans with four chins and missing necks who show up to KISS shows in full makeup (think: Peter Griffin from “Family Guy” in KISS makeup). I’ve got to agree with Paul Stanley. It’s nice that these guys are friends again. It’s even nicer that they write songs together and occasionally play together. However, the clock has long since passed for a full-make-up reunion.
A visual band? I don’t know about you, RTunes, but I got into KiSS even way before the first time I saw them live in ’75, and before I saw that first album cover in ’74. I remember walking into my brother’s room and asking him what he was listening to, and he said it was this new band called KISS. I walked in the middle of “Firehouse,” thinking wow, sounds really good. So after Firehouse he started the album back from the beginning, “Strutter.” I was hooked, it wasn’t until after the last song, “Black Diamond” of course, that he showed me the album cover. So it wasn’t the makeup/visual image that got my attention, it was the MUSIC! And the rest is KISStory!
Doug, I don’t want you take this the wrong way…but I love you.
I agree, RT. I would rather they drop the whole makeup schtick, and just play without the costumes. I’ve been over the makeup thing since LICK IT UP! Once they dropped the makeup the first time, the mystery was gone. I know I’m in the minority, but I enjoyed their shows in the 80’s without the makeup more than the times I saw them with it on. To me, they acted more like musicians having a good time, instead of the characters that the makeup supposedly represented. The shows in the 80’s proved that KISS can still put on a HELLUVA show without the makeup. We all know what all of these guys look like under the face paint, so what’s the point? I love KISS for their music and their live shows. Let them finish their career as the musicians and performers they are without them looking like 60+ year old guys in clown makeup.
I get your point, Doug R. I’m a fan of their music above their visuals as well, but no one can deny that the “big draw” for KISS’ mass appeal is their visual. If that weren’t the case, then no one would have an issue with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer wearing Ace and Peter’s makeup/costumes. In terms of musicianship, Tommy and Eric are just as good – if not technically better – than Ace and Peter.
I agree, RTunes, the visual aspects of KI$$ is a big draw. That is exactly what Gene and Paul were trying to create when they envisioned KI$$ in the beginning. It’s almost like being at a circus with a music soundtrack. And I agree that both Eric and Tommy are technically more proficient on their instruments than Ace and Peter, but Eric and Tommy are not the original Spaceman or Catman.
Umm… Yeah, okie dokie, okay clown, thanks… 99 bottles of beer on the wall… Wait, make it 97, I already had 2… Cheers!
RTunes, I f–ked up, please see page 3 for my response. 😉