PAUL STANLEY: "KISS Fans Are Free To Come And Go As They Please"

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has all but admitted that various members of the group were credited for performing on many of the band's albums even when session musicians were used to complete the projects instead.

When asked for the reason guest musicians were never credited for their performances on the group's albums, Stanley replied that "although someone might say otherwise, in fact everyone wants fantasy over reality. Whether it applies to people wanting to believe Gene [Simmons] and I co-wrote all the songs our names appear on (we didn't, we often did little more then help each other finish them) or believed everyone put in the same amount of time and effort (that too is ridiculous),the effort was always made to let people see KISS in a way that would be most appealing. Nothing was ever done, then or now, out of fear of the fans' reaction. Fans are always free to come and go as they please. It is my job to be true to myself at all costs. What I believe everyone has always loved about KISS is that we did things our way regardless of opposition or falling out of favor. My job has always been to make the best albums possible, do the best shows possible and be the best KISS possible. At times I've heard misguided comments such as 'Why didn't Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss] have equal songs on the albums?' The answer is because those songs weren't good enough! Would you rather have had some material that more than likely wouldn't have stacked up, at the expense of losing songs you have come to know and love? You can look at the albums and figure it out for yourself."

In response to a fan's assertion that no other musicians (i.e. Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer) should ever perform with the group while wearing Ace and Peter's makeup, Stanley was equally defiant: "The individual makeup and outfits in KISS are viewed by most as a collective uniform of the team. That is why, when circumstances make an alternative impossible, even if it's not what you like, the world as a whole views the four characters as KISS. I'm not talking about who's under the makeup or in the costume, I'm talking about the collective image. I understand your point of view. I don't share it. I have never and will never let anyone decide when I should stop doing what I want. It all ultimately comes down to, we don't end the ballgame because someone doesn't want to play anymore. The uniform doesn't have to change, but if necessary the name of who wears it will. Please realize that this is coming from someone who from day one has always hoped and believed that the original members would see this through to the very end. I'm still here."

Stanley also reiterated his previous comment that he would love to see KISS continue without ANY of the original members. Said Paul: "I would still like to believe that at some point with the right members and a firm understanding of the band, that it would be possible to continue without any original members. I don't think that's something I see happening tomorrow, but at some point there is a reality that everyone must face. Including me."