ACE FREHLEY On KISS: 'The Four Of Us Did Have A Chemistry That Was Unique To The Four Of Us'

Jaan Uhelszki of The Morton Report recently conducted an interview with original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

The Morton Report: Did you feel your talent was undervalued when you were in KISS?

Ace: Well, it seemed like it. Paul [Stanley] and Gene [Simmons] never wanted to give me the credit that was due. It was like in a lot of instances they tried to bury the fact that I did A, B, C, and D. I can't remember Paul or Gene ever saying, "Wow, that was a great solo." On some of my classic guitar solos that were on their songs. But what goes around comes around. They have a new album coming out and I have a new album coming out, and you know what's going to happen. People are going to compare the two. That's all I'm going to say about that.

The Morton Report: I think the world is broken down by who is your favorite KISS member. There's even a Facebook quiz, "What KISS Member Are You?" You ask people and they always say that you're their favorite member of KISS.

Ace: Well, according to Paul and Gene, that's not true.

The Morton Report: No, I think you're the most beloved member.

Ace: I don't think Paul and Gene ever got that. If they did, but why would they have replaced me with Tommy Thayer? And it was profitable in the beginning, but that was because nobody knew it was Tommy Thayer. They were kind of were burying that fact.

The Morton Report: Who do you think it's worse for? Do you think it's worse for Tommy Thayer to have to be you, or for you to see Tommy be you? He didn't even get his own persona, you know?

Ace: Well, he didn't get his own makeup because of all the whole merchandising machine Gene has in place with Sony Signatures. To create a new face just would be a big problem. So it all comes down to dollars and cents, and not what's really the right thing to do.

The Morton Report: As for you, what do you think your greatest strength is?

Ace: I think probably my greatest strength is, because I grew up in the Bronx and was a street kid, I have the survival instinct. And there were plenty of times in my life where I didn't think I was going to make it. Or just mentally didn't think I was going to make it. But I was able to draw from my childhood, my street sense, and that always carried me through tough situations. And also my belief in God. I do believe there's a greater consciousness that everybody's part of, that if you can tap into that, you can get to a higher place. I've written songs that I felt I haven't written. I feel like the words just get beamed into my head.

The Morton Report: Do you still feel a loyalty to them, to KISS as an entity?

Ace: I don't know if loyalty's the right word. I feel a connection. The four of us did have a chemistry that was unique to the four of us, but I think it might be gone at this point, or impossible to recapture.

The Morton Report: If the circumstances were right, could you do something with everybody at the same place, same time?

Ace: I think it's probably passed. It came and went. But that's okay. I did the reunion tour. I feel I was there for them when they needed me.

Read the entire interview from The Morton Report.