Jeff Giles | 103.7 The Loon

Brenda Chase

You could fill half a dozen documentaries with behind-the-scenes stories from Kiss‘ career. Unfortunately, now that there’s an official movie in the works, ongoing bitterness will keep two former members from sharing their Kisstory.

Classic Rock Magazine reports that Alan G. Parker, director of the band-sanctioned upcoming film ‘You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best,’ has had his interview requests turned down by guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss.

Founding members of the band whose stormy on-again, off-again tenures have coincided with some of the most successful music in the Kiss catalog, Frehley and Criss are important parts of the group’s story, but their ongoing feuds with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are keeping them from participating.

“There’s been so much bitchiness down the years, and so much said about and done to Ace and Peter, that they interpreted the request to be in the movie as a favor to Gene and Paul,” explained Parker. “Because of that, they won’t go anywhere near it. The negotiations were interesting, to say the least.”

Fortunately for Parker, current guitarist Tommy Thayer happened to turn up some older interview footage with the duo, so they won’t be totally absent. And whatever happens, Simmons promises the movie “Won’t be sugarcoated. Alan has 100 percent freedom to present us the way he sees fit, and if that makes us look like capitalist pigs then so be it.”

Speaking of capitalism, one of the more recent Kiss-related branding ventures, the Rock & Brews Bar & Grill located in the Delta terminal at LAX Airport, is open ahead of schedule. Bravewords reports that the early opening came at the request of the airport, and includes a shot of the restaurant courtesy of none other than former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick — who happens to be pals with Frehley. Perhaps he can offer a little ex-guitarist diplomacy to help get Ace on board for the movie?