In a recent video posted on his Instagram, former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley made a move towards mending fences with his former bandmates Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss.
Marking the 50th anniversary of KISS on February 8, Frehley took the opportunity to congratulate his old friends and captioned the video:
“50 Years of KISS! February 8. Congratulations to Paul, Gene, and Peter. What a ride!”
He said the following in his video message:
“I just thought of something and I wanna take this moment. Look it’s February 8. The Library of Congress said It’s KISS’s 50th anniversary. And I wanna congratulate Paul, Gene, and Peter. Hi guys, congratulations.”
A History Of Tension And Attempts At Reconciliation
This gesture comes after a period of public disagreements and conflicts between Frehley and the other members of the band. A notable incident occurred when Stanley made a controversial comment suggesting that if Ace and Criss were to join the band on stage for their farewell performance, the group should be renamed ‘Piss.’
Frehley expressed his dissatisfaction with Stanley’s remarks in a new interview with Classic Rock. However, he still views the relationship as brotherly, as he said:
“I consider myself friends [with Simmons and Stanley]. We’re just like brothers. Brothers have arguments, brothers have misunderstandings, they curse each other out, and then they make up.”
Recent Gestures Of Goodwill
The guitarist’s video wishing Paul a belated happy birthday is another example of his efforts to bridge the gap between them. He said the following to his former bandmate in a previous Instagram post:
“Hey, Ace Frehley here. I’d like to wish Paul Stanley a belated happy birthday. Paul, good luck with all your projects and endeavors in 2024. Keep on rockin’, and God bless.”
In addition to his recent gestures of reconciliation, Frehley also shared reflections on his time with KISS, hinting at a desire for more recognition from Stanley and Simmons. Frehley, in conversations about the band’s early days and recording sessions, has indicated that despite his contributions, he felt his efforts were often downplayed.
You can watch his video here.
