If KISS’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley could go back in time and do it all again, they most likely would choose to replace original guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss with current members Tommy Thayer (guitar) and Eric Singer (drums). In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, Gene said, “”I want to go on record: Eric and Tommy have revitalized the band, made Paul and myself realize what lucky bastards we are to be in KISS and to have each other. And this should have been the lineup of KISS from the beginning.”
Gene was later asked if he hears any complaints about Ace and Peter being out of the band. “When you have 3-year-old and 5-year-old fans showing up to our concerts — or even 30-year-old fans — they don’t know about Ace and Peter,” he said. “I mean, next year is going to be our 40th year. We’ve been touring longer than most of the people who come see us live have been alive. Who’s Ace and Peter? By the way, bless ’em both — what I just said doesn’t mean that Ace and Peter weren’t every bit as important as Paul and myself in the beginning of the band, but not everybody has the same DNA. Some people shouldn’t be in a marathon race. They’re just not designed for it. Some people are good for short runs.”
Added Paul, “I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again — we couldn’t be here today without what Ace and Peter did in the beginning, and we couldn’t be here today if they were still in the band.”