Gene Simmons Explains Why Ace Frehley And Peter Criss Didn’t Take Part In The New KISS Documentary

KISS co-founder and bassist Gene Simmons replied to a fan’s comment about being lack of former band members, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in the new KISS documentary film and explained the true reason behind it on his Twitter account.

Despite the KISS’ success, fame, and popularity, the band started to fall apart in 1979 because of the personal problems between the members. Criss’ sabotages such as stopping to play during the performance and attacking Simmons with a champagne bottle made others vote to fire him from the band. After Criss, Ace Frehley decided to leave the band due to the different artistic direction and being disenfranchised.

A&E Network announced the new KISS documentary film entitled ‘Biography: KISStory’ which tells the history of the legendary band. It was directed by D. J. Viola. The founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley along with other current members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer shared the band’s journey of becoming a rock legend. Also, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, the band’s manager Doc McGhee and music producer  Bob Ezrin were the special guest stars.

The four-hour, the two-night event will start on Sunday, June 27 and Monday, June 28 from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. After the announcement of A&E Network on Twitter, some of the fans asked why ex-founder members of KISS Ace Frehley and Peter Criss didn’t take part in the document. Also, they wondered how they can tell the history of the band neglecting the contributions of them to the band such as Frehley’s original guitar sounds and iconic voice of Criss.

Gene Simmons answered this question emphasizing that he invited Frehley and Criss to take part in ‘Biography: KISStory’ however ex-members of KISS declined his offer. According to Simmons, the reason behind it was not a  deliberate action but their own decision.

Here’s what wrote:

“Re your text:… Step 1: You do the decent thing and invite everyone to be in the documentary…Step 2: They declined to be in the Docu, so you respectfully move on and do it anyway. See?”

You can see the original post below.

Re your text:… Step 1: You do the decent thing and invite everyone to be in the documentary…Step 2: They declined to be in the Docu, so you respectfully move on and do it anyway. See? https://t.co/ftsn99VJcy

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) April 28, 2021