KISS' GENE SIMMONS: ACE FREHLEY Is Still In The Band

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons recently conducted an interview with Metal Edge magazine for their October 2002 issue in which he was asked point-blank to confirm that guitarist Ace Frehley was no longer a member of the band.

"No, [he isn't out of the band]," Simmons told the magazine. "Statement of fact, statement of intention, statement of belief, statement of dogma: Ace and Peter will always be in KISS. Period. My family is no different than your family — we argue like cats and dogs about all kinds of things. And when we agree on stuff, we get up and do them because everybody's straight, of like mind, and we go out there professionally, show up on time, and do a great job because we care about ourselves, and most importantly, the fans. When you mess up in a football team, you're asked to go sit down — you're dropping the ball too much, you drank too much last night, whatever. Sit down, but you're still on the team. Whoever's on the field playing for the team, that doesn't mean they're the only team. The people on the sidelines still get to get up sometimes and still rejoin the team. I like that relationship, instead of some black-and-white set of rules — once you're out, you're out. And I've got lots to say about Ace and Peter — I love them as straight human beings — I do. They wouldn't hurt a fly. But when they get high, I can't stand the ground that they walk on… By the way, I'd say the same thing about my father, my mother, or anybody. If you don't have enough self-respect to love yourself, don't come to me for anything. You must love yourself first to be a healthy human being, because if you can't love yourself, how can you love me? I'm not here to tell anybody what to do — if you want to jump off a building, do it, just don't affect me in the process. I love life. I don't want to be part of anybody's insanity. KISS and Make-up — the New York Times bestseller, by Gene Simmons, the powerful and attractive guy — told some of the truth. The whole thing would be too much to say. It's like finding out too much about how mom and dad weren't all that they were cracked up to be… In my real life, I try and lead the same kind of life I do professionally and otherwise — full disclosure. What you see with Gene Simmons is what you get. I'm a God-damned whore, and I'm proud of it. Because a whore is an ethical person, she'll tell you before how much it will cost you. You know exactly what you're getting into. 'You want a blowjob? I'm the one to do it, I want $75, and at the end of it, that's it, it's not love.' She's ethical. So when I say I'm a whore, I'm ethical. Because I refuse to lie, I get bumps. You get people who get upset. 'What do you mean there's no Santa Claus?' Well, I don't think there is, no… But if I go sleighriding in the sky with a fat guy in a red suit, I'll let you know!"