Ace Frehley played with KISS for the first time in 17 years this past fall, joining Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley for four songs on last year’s KISS Kruise. That doesn’t mean, however, that Frehley will join the band on its upcoming End Of The Road Tour. Neither he nor original drummer Peter Criss were invited on the trek, which, while not a huge surprise considering the band’s decades worth of mutual disdain, must still sting in light of it (allegedly) being KISS’ “final tour ever.” Fold in some new, dismissive comments from Simmons and, well, Ace isn’t having it.
In a recent interview with Guitar World (via Blabbermouth), Simmons decried Frehley and Criss for not “carrying their load,” definitively stating that “they’re never going to be in KISS again.” He did, however, invite them to join the band onstage “here and there.”
Ace and Peter have gotten three chances. 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.
Three times is the charm; “I promise I’ll pull out” doesn’t work. It’s the boy who cried wolf: “Oh, I’ve been straight for a million years.” Terrific! Have a good life!… Would we welcome Ace or Peter to jump up onstage for a song or two? Of course. Could we depend on either Ace or Peter to do a full set night after night? Not on your fucking life.
Harsh.
Well, it didn’t take long for Frehley to offer his own retort. In an open letter posted to his Facebook page, Frehley disputes Simmons’ version of events and accuses Simmons and Stanley of attempting to “derail my solo career multiple times over the years unsuccessfully.” He also calls Simmons “an asshole and a sex addict” before bringing up the fact that Simmons is being sued for sexual battery by an employee at one of his restaurants. Frehley also accuses Simmons of groping his wife, adding that the only reason she didn’t sue him is because Frehley asked her not to.
That said, Frehley would, um, still like to be in the band? Apparently? He writes, “Without a complete and heartfelt apology, an offer to give me my old job back, and removing Tommy [Thayer] from the Throne that I created… THE SHIT WILL HIT THE FAN AND THEY’LL BE NO STOPPING IT-IT’S ON!!!”
Something tells us that probably won’t be happening.
Read Frehley’s full post below:
My Reaction to Gene’s Post Today
…Gene, your memory is really incorrect!…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!
…I’m also the most successful solo artist to come out of the original KISS lineup , and proud of it!…You and Paul have tried to derail my solo career multiple times over the years unsuccessfully.
…I’ve tried to be nice and friendly by inviting you and Paul to perform on my past albums for eOne Music, give each of you guys one of my prized Gibson Les Paul 59’ models, but today’s comments have made me realize you’re just an asshole and a sex addict who’s being sued by multiple Women, and you’re just trying to sweep it all under the carpet!
…The icing on the cake was when you groped my wife and propositioned her in Los Angeles at the Capitol Records building behind my back, when I was trying to help you out at one of your “Vault Experiences” which I only found out about several weeks later…she was planning on pursuing a suit against you, but I told her to call it off!!!
…Well now the gloves are off after your terrible comments today and I’m thinking that this really may be “The End Of The Road Tour” for you guys!!!
….Without a complete and heartfelt apology, an offer to give me my old job back, and removing Tommy from the Throne that I created… THE SHIT WILL HIT THE FAN AND THEY’LL BE NO STOPPING IT-IT’S ON!!!