Ace Frehley is credited as the most important member of KISS, while Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons lose some of their significance
Eddie Kramer, a former producer for KISS, recently appeared on the Jay Jay French Connection podcast. During their conversation, Kramer discussed Ace Frehley, a former member of the band. Kramer commented that Ace Frehley was the band’s “heart and soul.” He began his explanation by saying, “Ron Johnsen was their producer, and I believe that at that time he was also managing the Electric Lady studios.” In the wake of the disastrous release of the Wicked Lester record, which was a complete and utter failure, he called me up and said, “Listen, Gene and Paul, they came up with this concept. I am interested in forming a rock and roll band; would you be willing to perform a demo for me?'”
In addition, the producer stated that Frehley was the member of the band who was the least appreciated: “So, on the designated day, Gene, Paul, and Ace… Simply observing these individuals enter the studio was one of those moments that stood out to me. Ace appeared to be in a state of extreme malnutrition when he entered the studio. He was operating a taxi in the Bronx at the time. And because he was so thin, you wouldn’t even be able to see him if he turned his body to the side. But what a delightful… As far as I was concerned, Ace was the genuine heart and soul. An extremely talented guitarist who, in my opinion, is not given nearly enough credit by many people.
Frehley has contributed to eleven studio albums since he departed KISS permanently in 2002. He has also left for other projects. Despite the fact that he made contributions, Frehley believes that Simmons and Stanley never truly recognized the work that he did in the studio. According to what the guitarist had previously stated to Guitar Tales, “They would stifle my creativity.” It is highly unlikely that they would acknowledge a fantastic guitar solo that I performed in the studio. It’s been fine. It was completed by us. How about we move on? On the other hand, I never received the praise that I would have offered to other people. I have never had the impression that they valued me, and that is not a pleasant sensation.
“Paul and Gene disregarded me on a number of occasions. Lara, Frehley’s ex-girlfriend, responded to my statement by saying, “The best way to get back at them is not to have a name-calling thing.” I expressed my opinion to Lara. Simply create a fantastic record. He continued by saying, “They haven’t released an album in twenty years.”
Over the course of their careers, the three individuals have engaged in continuing feuds and have been critical of one another. at spite of the fact that Frehley had previously sent out a public birthday message to his “one and only” former bandmate Stanley, he later expressed his dissatisfaction with Stanley’s singing and expressed his disappointment at not being invited to KISS’s performance at Madison Square Garden. Additionally, he did not approve of Stanley’s remarks that were made on “The Howard Stern Show,” in which Paul discounted the possibility of Ace and Peter Criss returning to the band to perform.
Frehley went on to say that Paul was envious of his success as a solo artist and that he was uncertain about Stanley’s reception to his new record, titled “10,000 Volts.”