ANTHRAX's SCOTT IAN Has A Message For KISS Fans: Stop Questioning GENE SIMMONS And PAUL STANLEY

Scott Ian has defended Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons's decision not to resurrect KISS's original lineup, explaining that "those guys know what's right for their band."

During a brand new interview with Florida's 99 Rock radio station, the ANTHRAX guitarist was asked if he thinks Stanley and Simmons should reunite with former KISS members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. He responded: "Look, I'm a lifelong fan of that band. But the bottom line is, and what people need to understand is, look, it's Gene and Paul's band. They are the guys that have worked their asses off since 1973 to keep that band, that business moving forward all the way into 2016 and still on the level that they're doing it."

He continued: "I know a lot of fans get pissed off — 'Oh, those guys are being dicks' or whatever — and it's, like, you have no idea. You have no idea what it takes to make a band last that long at the level that KISS is. So it's their band and it's their decision.

"As a fan, I would love to see Ace Frehley play one more time in KISS. And I'm gonna be completely honest, and this is no knock on Peter, but the last time I saw them with Peter, on the KISS/AEROSMITH run, like thirteen years ago or something, whenever that was, the tempos were terrible; everything was just way too slow. So if that's the case, no, I don't wanna see that; I wanna see stuff played at the right tempo. If [Peter] could play it at the right tempo, then more power to him, and I would love to see that; of course I would. But, you know, it's not my band. It's Gene and Paul's band, and those guys know what's right for their band; they've proven it. Stop questioning Gene and Paul."

Rumors of a KISS reunion with Frehley gained strength earlier this year when Stanley reconnected with his former bandmate for a cover of FREE's "Fire And Water" for Ace's solo covers set, "Origins Vol. 1". Stanley subsequently dismissed the speculation, saying that "It doesn't need to, and won't, lead anywhere in terms of… Why would we change the [current KISS] band? The band is great. KISS is great the way it is. And it's great to be in contact and texting and speaking with Ace. He's in great shape. Psychologically, you know, he's clean and sober, and he's one of a kind. He can be a strange apple, but that's what makes him so cool. And I'm glad I took up the opportunity to be on his album and also shoot a video with him."

ANTHRAX is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "For All Kings", which sold 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart.