ACE FREHLEY: PAUL STANLEY Is 'Almost Becoming A Parody Of Himself'

Earlier today (Monday, August 18),Bo and Jim of the Dallas radio station Lone Star 92.5 conducted an interview with original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. You can now listen to the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame alongside the other members of the original KISS lineup:

Frehley: "That was a wonderful evening. My only regret was that we didn't perform."

On whether it was awkard being around KISS leaders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons at the induction ceremony after all the bickering in the press that preceded the event:

Frehley: "I've known those guys since the '70s and I think the press kind of amplified the bad vibes and the negativity that runs between us. But when all is said and done, we're all friends. [It's like brothers.] You get pissed off at your brother and you say one thing about this and then he comes back and says that. But when you're face to face, you kind of forget about all that nonsense."

On which member of KISS is more difficult to deal with: Paul or Gene:

Frehley: "Well, it used to be Gene, but now it's turning out to be Paul. I saw some [recent] concert footage [of KISS], and [Paul is] almost becoming a parody of himself. [Laughs] I don't think Gene takes himself as seriously as Paul does these days. You know, I never took myself seriously, and I was like the funny, silly 'Space Ace.' But, you know, some people are different. What can I tell you?"

Frehley recently said that he wants Gene Simmons to appear on his planned collection of cover songs which he intends to record sometime soon. Frehley told VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner, "I was thinking of asking Gene to play bass on one track, and I'm not going to say which one. That'll be a surprise."

Asked if he thought Simmons would accept after all the barbs that were passed back and forth between Frehley and the KISS camp leading up to the Rock Hall induction, Frehley replied, "I think he'd consider it. I don't know if he'd do it. Maybe Paul won't let him. Who knows?"

Frehley has also indicated that he would like to have Slash, PEARL JAM guitarist Mike McCready and Lita Ford among the guests on the record.

In a recent interview with The Tampa Tribune, Simmons was asked if KISS would ever consider reuniting with Frehley and original drummer Peter Criss "if they ever cleaned up their act." "Not a chance," he replied. "We've already danced that dance three different times. No way will we reunite. It wouldn't be fair to [current KISS members] Tommy [Thayer, guitar] and Eric [Singer, drums]. It wouldn't be right."

Although all four original members of KISS came backstage at the Rock Hall induction for photo ops, Frehley was the only member to come back and talk to the press. Asked how he felt about Ace speaking to the media after KISS posed for photos as a group, Gene said: "His demons are his own. He leads a Jekyll-and-Hyde sort of existence. He has a new album coming out, and I wish him well. I wish Peter well, too."

"Space Invader", the first new solo album from Frehley in five years, will be released in North America on August 19 via Entertainment One Music (eOne Music). The CD, which was made available in Europe on August 18 (three days earlier in Germany and Scandinavia) through SPV/Steamhammer, includes 11 brand new original songs as well as a cover of Steve Miller's "The Joker".