Paul Stanley Shoots Down Ace Frehley Rejoining KISS; ‘There Is Just the Joy and Satisfaction in Reconnecting’

Tensions between current and former KISS members have been well documented over the years. This year, however, frontman Paul Stanley and former KISS axeman Ace Frehley reconnected as Stanley provided guest vocals on a track off Frehley's Origins Vol. 1 covers record. Fans were quick to cling on to hopes that this would lead to Frehley rejoining the group, but Stanley has nixed that idea.

"I don't see it," Stanley said while co-hosting the Phone Booth Fighting podcast (audio below). "And, to me, that makes it even better," the 'Starchild' continued. "The fact that you can have people in your life and maybe who they are and what they are in your life changes over time. Because I'm happy to see Ace and would love to see him… We text. He was on the radio last week, and I texted him, 'I'm listening.'"

Stanley quickly followed up, "It doesn't need to go further than that, but the fact that it's there is a terrific thing. Reading into it, and where's it gonna lead, and maybe…? There is none of that. There is just the joy and satisfaction in reconnecting — in a different way, perhaps. But it doesn't negate our differences, and that's okay. You can have people in your life." Seemingly content with their past disagreements, the frontman offered, "There are things we don't agree about and never will, [and] that's okay. Maybe it goes back to what I said earlier: the best relationships understand the limitations of the relationships."

Speaking about reconnecting on Frehley's cover of Free's "Fire and Water," Stanley detailed, "When Ace called… You know, we have a huge and deep history together, and for all the things that we may not agree on, to miss out on an opportunity that could have been really positive and do something together, it would have been a loss. And it turned out, yes, I would have missed out on something really great." He also said, "To reconnect, it's not even about closure; it's about just opening the door again."

KISS will be embarking on a lengthy headlining tour this summer,s tarting on July 9 and extended through Sept. 10. Direct support will be split between Caleb Johnson and Dead Daisies, with Johnson dropping off and Dead Daisies assuming the opening slot. A full list of tour dates can be found at our 2016 Guide to Rock + Metal Tours.

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