PAUL STANLEY Didn't Want To Risk People's Perception Of KISS Just To Create A Moment Of Nostalgia

In a brand new interview with New Zealand's The Sound radio station, KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley once again spoke about his refusal to perform with fellow KISS founding members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss during the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in April 2014. He said: "It really was so political. And, unfortunately, because of the political aspect that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame brought to the table... Now, here's a group of people who refused to acknowledge us for fourteen years and ultimately inducted us only because they were beginning to look absolutely absurd. But then, upon wanting to induct us, they started telling us what we could and couldn't do and what they would discuss and wouldn't discuss with us. And I was, like, 'Wait a minute. I've been doing this forty years. Our point of view was, 'Let's bring Tommy [Thayer, current KISS guitarist] and Eric [Singer, current KISS drummer]. Let's play as the band is today, because this is a band that works many months of the year. And then let's bring out Peter and Ace.' But they wouldn't hear of it. And for that reason, we decided not to do it. Look, I'm not gonna risk people's perception of the band just to create a moment of nostalgia for some people who didn't wanna induct us in the first place."

After weeks of bad-mouthing each other in the press, the four original members of KISS were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2014 by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello, with all four — Stanley, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss and Gene Simmons — delivering warm, nostalgic and even sweet-natured speeches that put aside the simmering tensions for at least 12 minutes.

Frehley last year slammed Simmons and Stanley for refusing to perform with the original lineup at Rock Hall, telling Guitar World magazine: "I was, like, Jesus Christ, after 40 years of support you can't give the fans 10 minutes? The fans wanted it, The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame wanted it. But Gene and Paul didn't. It's sad. They definitely lost some fans because of this decision."

He continued: "I think the reason they didn't want to get together with the original members was because they're afraid of history repeating itself. When we did 'Unplugged' in 1995, you saw what happened: because the fans were so excited about me and Peter playing with those guys, they had to scrap their last record [with then-current members Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer] and do a reunion tour [with Frehley and Criss in 1996]. Although at this point I don't think Peter could do a two-hour show and a full tour. But I still got the chops. I definitely blow Tommy Thayer off the stage."