In his long-awaited autobiography, “Face The Music: A Life Exposed”, KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley wrote that former KISS members Ace Frehley (guitar) and Peter Criss (drums) once believed the band was “unfairly manipulated by money-grubbing Jews,” a reference to Paul and fellow KISS co-founding member Gene Simmons. Then, in an interview with the New York Post last week, Paul went on to say that based on his history with the guys, he believes Ace and Peter are anti-Semitic.
VH1 Radio Network‘s Dave Basner caught up with Frehley earlier today (Monday, April 7) and asked him for a comment on Stanley‘s latest claims.
“We say good things about each other and we say bad things about each other [in our memoirs], but it is what it is,” Frehley said. “It’s rock and roll. I mean, if all we did was pat each other on the back for every book, people would say, ‘That’s a boring book.’ They want to hear the dirt. I’ve got plenty of dirt.”
Frehley, who himself released an autobiography called “No Regrets” in 2011, is working on a follow-up book and spoke to VH1 Radio Network about whether he plans on responding in it to all the latest claims by Gene Simmons and Paul.
“I’ve been working on my second book since once I finished ‘No Regrets’; I already started writing stories for the next one,” he said. “I mean, I could write five books on my life, it’s that interesting.”
He continued: “I don’t want to go tit for tat, because that’s not what I’m about. I like to lay it out and just tell it like it is, you know. If my memory isn’t as good as somebody else’s, so be it.”
With all the back-and-forth in the media, it will likely be pretty awkward when the guys are all together in one room, at one table, at Thursday’s (April 10) Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
induction ceremony.
Asked if he thinks it will be uncomfortable seeing his former bandmates later this week, Frehley said: “No. You know why? Because, believe it or not, every time the four of us get together, even though it’s been a long span of time, we’re still brothers in rock and roll. At least that’s the way I feel. If it’s not going to be that way, I’d be surprised.”
All four members of the current lineup of KISS will attend the band’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony. They will be accompanied at their table by guitarist Bruce Kulick, who played in KISS during from 1984 to 1996.
Simmons and Stanley have chosen to have current KISS members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer dress up as Peter Criss‘ and Ace Frehley‘s respective “Spaceman” and “Catman” personas (designs owned by Simmons and Stanley).
Frehley left KISS after the band’s 2002 “Farewell” dates, saying afterwards that he took the word “farewell” seriously.
Criss claimed that his contract with KISS wasn’t renewed in March 2004.
Both charges have been disputed by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.
The 29th annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 10 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The television broadcast will premiere on HBO on May 31.