Gene & Paul Bashing / The Ace Situation
By: Jason Houston

I've been a KISS fan for many years now and have enjoyed all the albums and videos that the band have put out. But what has been puzzeling me the last few years is all the Gene and Paul bashing. I mean from my perspective they are the 2 members of the band who have been there since day one. Many people seem to bash Gene and Paul simply because they appear to make the most money of all the members in the band, but I think all the Gene/Paul bashers out there have overlooked a few key factors.

1. KISS is Gene and Paul's band
2. They write the bulk of the material so naturally they sing lead on most of the tracks.
3. While Ace and Peter had failing solo careers in the 80's, Paul and Gene kept KISS going strong through the 80's w/all the various lineup changes.

Paul and Gene have kept the band going strong for over 20 years now so in my mind they must be doing something right. The only real complaint I have about the band since Ace & Peter's return is the band's refusal to play any 80's material. I hope when the band hits the road again that they do indeed play material from all throughout their career as has been widley rumored latley. Maybe Peter and Ace weren't in KISS in the 80's but Gene and Paul were, and being that KISS is their baby anyways isn't it fitting that they'd play material from throughout their entire career?

One final question for all you Gene/Paul haters out there: I wonder how many of you out there wouldn't want to be the millionaire rock stars they are if you could trade places with them?

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Recently, thanks to rumors started by Ace Frehley who announced that the Psycho Circus tour would be KISS's farwell tour, there has been much speculation in regards to the future of KISS. Ace also annouced that he was frustrated over the fact that he only had one song on Psycho Circus, which is why he's decided to record a solo album. If the solo album gets released great, I'll be one of many fans to go out and buy it.

I read somewhere recently where Gene stated that if Ace decides he wants to leave they'll just replace him. I don't have a problem with that. I mean Ace seems to forget how tough things got for him after leaving KISS. After leaving KISS Ace put out 3 solo albums, was dropped from his label, and eventually all his solo albums went out of print. After being dropped by Atlantic Records Ace played small clubs and couldn't get a record deal. It was only after re-joining KISS that Ace & Peter's solo albums were re-released.

If Ace is no longer interested in being in KISS, maybe he should give another solo career a shot because then he'd get to sing lead on all the tracks. I feel unlike Ace, Peter Criss remembers all too well how bad things got for him after leaving KISS and would think twice before leaving again.

But, just like all the other breakup stories over the years I won't believe this is KISS's final tour until Gene and Paul say so.

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