Kiss star Gene Simmons says one in all his greatest regrets will not be being more durable on Ace Frehley and Peter Criss over the substance abuse issues that led to the gifted pair being axed from the band.
Kiss’ decades-long profession got here to an finish late final yr with a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden to wrap up their epic Finish Of The Street tour.
However guitarist Frehley and drummer Criss weren’t a part of the farewell, as guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer joined Simmons and Paul Stanley within the four-piece lineup. Thayer changed Frehley completely in 2002, whereas Singer joined the band completely a couple of years later.
Reflecting on Kiss’ 50-year stretch, Simmons says he has one large remorse.
He tells Backstage Move: “I am unhappy on reflection. You recognize, hindsight’s 20/20. I am unhappy that I wasn’t extra exhausting on Ace and Peter, the 2 unique guys who performed guitar and drums within the band.
“Ace and Peter have as a lot credit score for the start of the band as Paul and I do. There is not any query it was that chemistry. They usually each had distinctive voices, distinctive personalities and all that. And they need to have been right here with us 50 or 55 years later and having fun with the fruits of their labour. However sadly, they don’t seem to be.”
Regardless of his regrets, Simmons insists Frehley and Criss had themselves in charge.
He says: “They have been out and in of the band three totally different instances. They have been let go three totally different instances due to the identical previous factor,.
“It isn’t even distinctive. Go to virtually each band and you will find individuals ingesting stuff greater than the bum on the road nook, besides they’re richer and so they can afford to ingest extra. It is unhappy.”