Gene Simmons has admitted that he wished his ex-bandmates Ace Frehley and Peter Criss would have been part of the KISS “farewell” cycle that concluded final yr, however added that it was their very own actions that prevented it from taking place.
In a brand new interview, Simmons bemoaned the truth that he wasn’t more durable on his bandmates about their previous affinities for alcohol and medicines, which he believes led to each Ace and Peter exiting and rejoining KISS a number of instances throughout the band’s five-plus-decade run. As Simmons instructed YouTube channel Backstage Cross, as somebody who didn’t bask in these vices, he discovered it troublesome to narrate.
“Properly, I’m unhappy on reflection — you already know, hindsight’s 20/20 — I’m unhappy that I wasn’t extra arduous on Ace and Peter, the 2 unique guys who performed guitar and drums within the band,” mentioned Simmons when requested if there was something he may return and alter in regards to the previous 50 years. “I’d by no means been excessive or drunk and by no means smoked cigarettes, so I’ve all the time been an outcast in that manner. The remainder of the world gave the impression to be drug-fueled.”
Talking extra on the legacy of the unique KISS lineup, Simmons continued: “Ace and Peter… have as a lot credit score for the start of the band as Paul [Stanley] and I do. There’s no query it was that chemistry. And so they each had distinctive voices, distinctive personalities and all that. And they need to have been right here with us 50 or 55 years later and having fun with the fruits of their labor.”
He added, “However sadly, they’re not. And it’s their very own doing. They had been out and in of the band three completely different instances. They had been let go three completely different instances due to the identical outdated factor. It’s not even distinctive. Go to virtually each band [and] you’ll discover individuals ingesting stuff greater than the bum on the road nook, besides they’re richer they usually can afford to ingest extra. It’s unhappy.”
As KISS approached the ultimate reveals final December, rumors swirled in regards to the potential for Ace and Peter to don the make-up one final time for a remaining reunion of the unique lineup. However, typical of the band, feuds befell as a substitute, with Frehley and Stanley buying and selling barbs within the media, culminating with Frehley making an attempt to upstage KISS’ victory lap by concurrently dropping his personal solo materials. Sadly, issues had been by no means reconciled earlier than that remaining gig in New York Metropolis.
Under you may hearken to the complete interview with Simmons.