During a recent interview with Backstage Pass, Kiss bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons shared his thoughts on the band’s 50-year history, specifically expressing regret over its treatment of original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. Speaking candidly, Simmons revealed his sadness at not being stricter with his bandmates, especially when it came to their substance abuse issues.
“I’m sad looking back – I’m sad I wasn’t tougher on Ace and Peter, the two original guys who played guitar and drums in the band”, Simmons said. He highlighted Frehley and Criss’ significant contribution to Kiss’s early success, describing their unique voices and personalities as integral to the group’s chemistry. Despite this, their recurring problems with drugs and alcohol led them to leave the group three times.
Simmons, who never indulged in drugs, alcohol or tobacco, often felt like an outcast in the world of rock and roll. “The rest of the world seemed to feed on drugs”, he remarks. His disciplined lifestyle contrasted sharply with that of his teammates, leading to a divergent trajectory that ultimately prevented Frehley and Criss from enjoying Kiss’s long-term success.
Recalling how he managed to avoid the pitfalls that beset so many of his peers, Simmons emphasized the importance of the word “no.” He expressed his disdain for the effects of drugs and alcohol, stating: “From simple observation, I have never seen a drunk person display wit or intelligence. And you ? People who are high talk like aliens. And people who smoke stink like ashtrays.”
Simmons’ aversion to substance abuse is explained by practical considerations and a desire for control. He recounted his early experiences at teenage parties, where he would watch others get drunk and then take advantage of their inebriation. “I was waiting for the guys to get drunk to approach me and take all the girls I wanted”he remembers.
Despite the band’s tumultuous history, Kiss recently concluded its End Of The Road farewell tour with a final concert at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2023. The final lineup includes original members Simmons and Paul Stanley, as well as guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer.
