Eddie Trunk, a radio show host and close friend of Ace Frehley, recently commented on claims made in a YouTube video about Ace losing $15 million during the KISS reunion deal. Trunk shared his response on X (formerly Twitter).
The video was shared by the YouTube channel Ace Frehley: The Untold Legacy. It alleged that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley’s lawyers orchestrated a contract that resulted in Ace receiving half of what the original members earned during the lucrative reunion tour. However, Trunk questioned the video’s credibility early on.
The video reported, “1996, in a backstage room at Madison Square Garden, 45-year-old Ace Frehley was staring at the contract in his hands. His signature, Ink Still Wet, had just formalized one of the biggest heists in rock history. That night, as he walked onto stage, 18,000 fans celebrated the return of Space Ace. But Ace had to accept a new reality. The Kiss reunion tour would become one of the most lucrative rock tours in history, but he would only receive half of what the original members were getting. Jean Simmons and Paul Stanley’s lawyers had stolen $15 million from Ace through a masterfully crafted contract trap, and that money would never be paid back.”
A KISS fan commented on the video and asked, “Can anyone confirm the information in this video? I thought Ace made a lot more money for the reunion tour than what’s mentioned here. If true, that’s terrible how that went down.”
Eddie Trunk responded to the claims, saying, “As we know, people can literally make up anything online and post it. And sadly a TON do.” He added, “I didn’t listen to this all through, but it lost me 2 minutes in when it says Kiss fired Ace. They didn’t. He left. So right there I’m out as far as legitimacy.”
Trunk’s response highlighted a factual discrepancy in the video’s narrative. His critique suggests that the claims lack credibility based on inaccuracies about how Ace’s departure from KISS occurred. To understand the context of this dispute, it’s important to examine the actual details of Ace’s involvement in the 1996 reunion and Trunk’s standing as a KISS authority.
Ace Frehley rejoined KISS in 1996 for the reunion tour, marking the first time all four original members performed together since Peter Criss left in 1980, according to KissFAQ.COM. During this reunion, Ace and Peter were not equal partners but were hired as employees. Each initially earned $40,000 per show. This employment structure contradicts the video’s narrative of a deliberate financial conspiracy orchestrated by Simmons and Stanley.
Ace’s compensation evolved during the reunion tour. Per KissFAQ.COM, Ace later renegotiated his contract to $50,000 per show and eventually up to $90,000 per show plus a percentage of merchandise sales. These figures suggest that Ace had leverage to improve his financial terms. They would be inconsistent with the claim that he was trapped by a “masterfully crafted contract trap.”
Eddie Trunk brings significant credibility to his critique. Ultimate Classic Rock notes that Trunk is a well-known radio host, author, and longtime KISS expert who has interviewed members of the band extensively. He is considered a trusted voice in the rock community. Trunk has written books on KISS and has been a frequent commentator on the band’s history and business dealings, making his factual corrections particularly noteworthy.
Trunk’s skepticism about the video’s accuracy reflects broader concerns about misinformation in online rock history narratives. His immediate identification of the “fired versus left” discrepancy suggests that the video’s foundational claims warrant further scrutiny before being accepted as factual accounts of KISS’s business practices.
