Ace Frehley Blasts KISS Members Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley Over “End of the Road” Exclusion

KISS bass player/vocalist Gene Simmons has always said he’d quit rock ‘n’ rolling all night by the time he turned 70-years-old. And with that date fast approaching, the band has embarked on an “End of the Road” tour. Sure, they’ve gone on other “final” tours in the past, but something about this one feels real—and perhaps it’s time for the boys to hang up their platform boots.

Of course, it won’t feel like an official final tour unless the band reinstates lead guitar player Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss. The four founding members regrouped in 1996 for a series of extremely successful reunion tours, but Ace and Peter were each axed a few years later. Since their departure, Frehley has been replaced by Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer took over drumming duties from Criss.

Hopes for reconciliation were dashed a few years back when Simmons and Paul Stanley refused to reunite with Frehley and Criss for a performance celebrating the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. Still, fans have been hoping against the odds that cool heads will prevail so that this “End of the Road” tour can feel truly legit.

So, what are the chances? Here’s what Simmons told Guitar World Magazine:

“Would we welcome Ace and Peter to jump on stage for a song or two? Of course. Could we depend on either Ace or Peter to do a full set night after night? Not on your fucking life.”

Boo!

To Frehley, them’s fighting words, and the world-class guitarist (who’s been producing the best original music of his career over the past decade–fact) took to Facebook to lambast Gene and Paul. It’s a full-on war of words, folks! Here’s a choice bit:

“Your slanderous remarks about my bad habits over the years has cost me millions of dollars and now that I’m over 12-years sober you’re still saying I can’t be trusted to play a whole night’s show! Well that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the last 12-years with different configurations of The Ace Frehley Band to you and Paul’s dismay!”

You can read Frehley’s entire post below, HERE.

Here’s are the current dates set for KISS’s “End of the Road” tour:

January

31 – Vancouver, BC, Canada – Rogers Arena

February

1 – Portland, OR – Rose Garden Moda Center

2 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome

4 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena

7 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena

8 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Cente

9 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center

12 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center

13 – Glendale, AZ – Gila River Arena

15 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena

16 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum

19 – Corpus Christi, TX – American Bank Center

20 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

22 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center

23 – Memphis, TN – FedEx Forum

26 – Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake

27 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center

March

1 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum

2 – Chicago, IL – United Center

4 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center

6 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premier Center

7 – Omaha, NE – CenturyLink Center

9 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena

10 – Moline, IL – Mark of the Quad Cities

12 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center

13 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena

16 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena

17 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena

19 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

20 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

22 – Uniondale, NY – Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

23 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena

26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

27 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

29 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

30 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena

April

2 – Quebec City, QC – Videotron Centre

3 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre

6 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena

7 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena

9 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

11 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena

12 – Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Aren

13 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC

August

6 – Sunrise, FL – BB&T Center

8 – Charleston, NC – North Charleston Coliseum

10 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

11 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

13 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater

14 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

16 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

17 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

20 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center

21 – Hershey, PA – HersheyPark Stadium

23 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater

24 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

27 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview

29 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

31 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center

September

1 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

3 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena

5 – Little Rock, AR – Verizon Arena

7 – Bossier City, LA – CenturyLink Center

8 – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center

9 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

11 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

12 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center

14 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre

16 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena

What do you think KISS fans? Should Gene bring Frehley and Criss back into the fold? Do you believe this is really the “End of the Road”? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

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