Ace Frehley Recalls The Exact Moment KISS Fell Apart

Ace Frehley, the original guitarist for Kiss, believes the band’s success contributed to its downfall. Frehley was part of Kiss from 1973 to 1982, a period that saw the band rise to international fame with some of their most successful albums. However, by 1982, tensions within the band, fueled by creative differences and personality clashes, led to Frehley’s departure.

Reflecting on his time with Kiss during an appearance on the Guitar Tales podcast, Frehley shared his thoughts on the band’s journey. He said:

“We created something that will endure way after we’re all dead and buried.
“I try to let the negative stuff go and focus on the positive memories. We had a lot of fun. We used to really be very closely knit. And we’d have weekly band meetings and get the stuff off our chest that was bothering us.”

Ace Frehley Calls Wealth the ‘Start of Kiss’s Downfall’

However, Frehley noted that the dynamics within the band changed as they achieved success. He admitted:

“Once we became rich, we all became millionaires, everybody started going their own way.
“Everybody had their own limo. Everybody had their own bodyguard. So, you know, nothing can last forever.”

Frehley also recalled the early days of Kiss, when the band members had to work regular jobs to make ends meet. “Paul [Stanley] worked in a sandwich shop. I delivered liquor. I was a postman for six months. We did all sorts of jobs before we started making the big bucks,” he shared. He reflected on how things changed after their album Alive became a hit:

“In the early days, me and Gene [Simmons] used to room together in a Holiday Inn. And then after Alive hit we each had our own suites. That’s when the band started, you know, everybody was going in their own direction. And it was kind of the beginning of the end.”

Although Frehley returned to Kiss from 1996 to 2002, he didn’t join them for their 2023 farewell tour, despite speculation from fans.