KISS front man Paul Stanley goes into detail about the state of his relationships with his fellow Kiss co-founders, drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley, in his new book, Backstage Pass.

While the Starchild writes he’s grateful for his rekindled friendship with Frehley*, he indicates that he has no misgivings about his lack of a relationship with Criss.

“Peter unfortunately is a different story,” Stanley writes (per Ultimate Classic Rock). “I don’t think Peter has any life. He seems consumed by some kind of reality that his wife tells him. He’s always been negative and always maintained an us-against-them mentality.” I don’t want that in my life.”

Stanley called it “nice” to get to work with Frehley on his 2016 solo album, Origins Vol. 1. He added that he knows he has “differences” with both the Spaceman and Criss.

The reason he and Criss can’t get beyond those issues, in Stanley’s opinion, comes down to the drummer’s attitude.

“It’s Peter’s overall sense of anger and resentment and feeling like a victim,” Stanley writes. “He needs to acknowledge his participation and then change things. I think Peter’s life is probably very one-dimensional, uninteresting, un-stimulating — which is a result of seeing the world negatively and seeing everyone from the band members to the hotel service people as disrespectful.”

Stanley, who has openly struggled with feelings of insecurity in his own life and career, concluded that he wants no part of a life like the one he perceives Criss’s to be.

Criss retired from live performing in 2017. Last year, he took part in a warm reunion with Kiss bassistGene Simmons during one of Simmons’ Vault Experience events in New York City.

“I’m feeling great,” Criss told the room of Kiss fans at the event. “I had to come and say hit to my bass player from my old band, Kiss (laughs). No, really. Gene sent me a wonderful invitation that I couldn’t resist.”

Backstage Pass is the follow-up to Stanley’s 2014 memoir, Face the Music. Get more information on the new book here.

*It’s likely the Backstage Pass manuscript was turned in well before Frehley lashed out at Kiss in January as the band’s ‘End of the Road’ tour began.

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