Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, according to KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons, would not be able to perform a complete concert on the legendary group’s farewell tour due to health limitations.
The COVID-19 epidemic forced KISS to postpone their farewell tour in 2020. Originally slated to end in New York City on July 17, 2021, “End Of The Road” has now been prolonged until at least early 2023. The band originally started their farewell tour in January 2019. After KISS performed the band’s iconic song “Detroit Rock City” on “America’s Got Talent,” the tour was revealed in September 2018.
Fans openly questioned in the months following KISS’s “End Of The Road” announcement if original members Frehley (guitar) and Criss (drums) would be playing on the tour, particularly in light of the seeming recent amity between Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Ace. Two of the songs on Frehley’s most recent all-original album, “Spaceman,” which he named after Simmons, were co-written by the two. Following their successful Australian summer tour, Frehley sacked his own backup band and brought in Simmons’s.
Simmons was asked if Frehley and Peter would be involved in any way in KISS’s farewell show in a recent interview with Finland’s Chaoszine. He replied, as BLABBERMOUTH.NET translated, “We’ve tried. I keep attempting. Paul and I met with Ace in an attempt to persuade him to return. I want this, he said. That’s what I desire. That’s not something we can do, though. I asked Ace and Peter to appear in the June 2021 A&E documentary “Biography: KISStory.”
They said no, saying they might do it if they had total control over the edit. I said, ‘We can’t do that, because even we don’t have that. But I won’t control what you say; you can say whatever you want.’ The answer was no — from Ace as well as Peter. I said to Ace, ‘Come out on tour. We’ll get you your own room and everything. Come out on the encores.’ Ace responded, ‘No. The only way I’ll come out is if I’m the Spaceman and you ask Tommy [Thayer, KISS’s current guitarist] to leave.’ I said, ‘Well, that’s not going to happen.’ First of all, I care about Ace, but he can.
Gene said, “Look, we’re concerned about them.” “They were unquestionably as crucial to the formation of the band as Paul and I were when we started this together. However, as time passed, Not every person is built to complete a marathon. Certain individuals are destined to play in bands for a year or two, or several years, at which point their options become limited. Additionally, the two of them have played in the band three times. How many opportunities do you receive in life? I just know that I was burned the first time I put my hand in the flames and that there was no second or third opportunity.
The door is always open, Simmons remarked, so that’s the solution. “It would be great if they could come on stage at any moment and perform the encores with us. But no, neither Eric [Singer, the current drummer for KISS] nor Tommy will be let go. Actually, the best things that have occurred to us are Tommy and Eric. Because they were fans first, they gave us new vitality and a fresh respect for what we do. And every now and then, Tommy or Eric will spin around and exclaim, “Whoa! Isn’t this wonderful? And it helps us recognize that, “Yeah! Whoa! Isn’t this wonderful?
In addition, Gene was questioned about if he had seen any of the video footage from the performances by Criss, Frehley, Bruce Kulick, and other former members of KISS at last month’s Creatures Fest in Nashville. “Someone showed me about 30 seconds, yeah,” he replied. It was quite depressing. I was depressed for Peter. Peter’s health isn’t where it should be, so I contacted to extend an invitation for him to appear in the documentary. As it pertains to his private life, I won’t be overly detailed. However, he wouldn’t be able to accomplish it physically. Ace wouldn’t either.
Ace responded, “I think it would be great if Peter was involved,” when asked if he would still consider going on the tour without Criss. It would be obvious that he couldn’t perform a two-hour show at this point in his life. However, I think it would be entertaining if we could arrange for Peter to perform three or four songs in the conclusion, including “Beth,” “Black Diamond,” and a few more.
Before “End Of The Road” was released, Stanley and Simmons weren’t overly excited about the idea of working with Vinnie Vincent live. Stanley told Guitar World, “Now Vinnie, that’s one exception, and for so many reasons.” “I would say that’s not someone who I want to celebrate.”
Simmons added, saying, “It’s important to note that Vinnie has filed 14 lawsuits against the band and has lost each time. I’m not here to make any negative remarks. He is a gifted man. He joined the band for that reason. But would I really expect him to step onto the stage and take any action? Nevermind. Is he able to attend the shows? Naturally, of course! Anyone is able to. However, onstage? Never.