Classic Rock
Ace Frehley recalls ‘the beginning of the end’ for Kiss’ original line-up
Kiss was formed in New York City back in 1973 by Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Paul Stanley. That classic line-up made the band one of the biggest acts in the world in the following years and it came to an end when Peter Criss left the group in 1980 and Frehley would also leave the band in 1982. Both of them reunited with Gene and Paul in 1996 but it lasted only a few years.
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In an interview with Guitar Tales Podcast (Transcribed by Ultimate Guitar), Ace Frehley recalled, in his opinion, what was the beginning of the end for the band’s original line-up.
Ace Frehley recalls ‘the beginning of the end’ for Kiss’ original line-up
“In the early days, me and Gene used to room together in a Holiday Inn. Then after ‘Alive!’ hit, we each had our own suites. Everybody was going in their own direction, and it was kind of the beginning of the end. I saw it happening.”
“And plus, with the success of my solo record (“Ace Frehley – 1978), I realized I was a lot more creative away from Paul , Gene and Peter than I was around them.”
“When I was in Kiss, for example, Paul and Gene would not associate with the roadies or the truck drivers. They had their nose in the air. I used to sit and play poker with the truck drivers. And hang out with my roadies, and we’d go to pawn shops together. I was accessible.”
“Because I grew up on the streets, and I know what it’s like not to have money. So I don’t judge people by how much money they have. It’s about their character and their personality and whether or not they’re good people,” Ace Frehley said.
Ace Frehley was part of Kiss from 1973 to 1982 and from 1996 to 2002. In the late 80s he released two studio albums with his band Frehley’s Comet and as a solo act he already released 8 studio albums, the most recent one being “10,000 volts” (2024).
