The KISS saga has continued, with a back-and-forth erupting between bassist Gene Simmons and former guitarist Ace Frehley.
Back in January, it was revealed that KISS’ Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons had opened up about the possibility of reuniting onstage with former members of the band during their farewell tour.
However, when it came to the topic of seeing the likes of Ace Frehley or Peter Criss as full-fledged members again, Simmons was rather clear that such a thing was off the table.
“Ace and Peter [Criss] have gotten three chances,” Simmons began. “They were in and out of the band — fired — three times. For drugs, alcohol, bad behavior, being unprofessional … they weren’t carrying their load.”
“So the short answer to your question is we’d love to have Ace and Peter join us here and there. And if they don’t, it’s not going to be because of us. But they’re never going to be in KISS again.”
However, Ace Frehley soon took issue with these statements, posting a lengthy rant on Facebook that decried Gene Simmons’ comments, and accused the KISS bassist of sexual misconduct towards his wife.
“Gene, your memory is really incorrect!” Ace Frehley began. “I was NEVER FIRED from KISS, I quit twice (not 3-times) of my own free will, because you and Paul are control freaks, untrustworthy and were too difficult to work with!”
“Your slanderous remarks about my bad habits over the years has cost me millions of dollars and now that I’m over 12-years sober you’re still saying I can’t be trusted to play a whole nights show!”
“Well that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the last 12-years with different configurations of ‘The Ace Frehley Band’ to you and Paul’s dismay!”
Check out Ace Frehley’s Facebook post:
While KISS kicked off their End Of The Road tour that very day, fans were wondering if Gene Simmons was going to respond to Ace Frehley’s remarks or clarify his own comments. Now, three weeks on, Simmons has offered up a response of sorts.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Gene Simmons noted that he didn’t want to address Frehley’s comments directly, choosing instead to offer up a more measured and diplomatic response.
“I’m not gonna say anything in print other than I love Ace and Peter and I thank them forever — they’re every bit as important as Paul and myself for launching the band,” Simmons explained.
“I’m not going to make any guesses of why the emotions are so volatile, but it’s happened before.”
As Blabbermouth pointed out though, KISS frontman Paul Stanley had also recognised Ace Frehley’s comments recently, noting that he has “no comment”, and standing by Gene Simmons’ statement that Frehley is “never going to be in KISS again”.
“This is in no way or should be a reunion tour – that would negate everything that came since,” Stanley explained to Billboard. “The band is in the best shape it’s ever been, and built on a foundation of everything that came before it and built that much higher by us.”
“This is a celebration of KISS and of all eras and everything that’s happened. It doesn’t even make any sense to me to talk of a reunion.”
“We’re happy to invite people who have been involved in the band to come join us at some point for a song or whatever. If it doesn’t happen, it wouldn’t be by my choosing.”
KISS are set to kick off the Australian leg of their End Of The Road tour later this year in November. Check out all the relevant details below.
Check out KISS’ ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlSFmotba2I
KISS End Of The Road Australian Tour 2019
Saturday, November 16th
RAC Arena, Perth, WA
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Tuesday, November 19th
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide, SA
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Thursday, November 21st
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Friday, November 22nd
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Saturday, November 23rd
Supercars Newcastle 500, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Tuesday, November 26th
QUDOS Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Thursday, November 28th
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
