In a candid conversation with Chaoszine, former KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley didn’t hold back in expressing his opinions on Paul Stanley’s recent vocal challenges, even going so far as to suggest that he believes he is a better singer.
Addressing his absence from KISS’s final show at Madison Square Garden, an event where he, along with Peter Criss and Bruce Kulick, was expected to appear, Frehley expressed bewilderment:
“Just six or seven months ago, during the ‘End of the Road’ tour, Paul and Gene spoke warmly of Peter, Bruce, and me. They even hinted at us joining them on stage for a few farewell performances, citing a sense of brotherhood. But that narrative changed dramatically.”
Frehley pointed out the drastic shift in tone when Stanley appeared on the Howard Stern Show:
“After the concert tickets were sold out, Paul’s tune changed. On Howard Stern’s show, he made a disparaging remark, insinuating that having Ace and Peter on stage would downgrade the band. This was a complete reversal from his earlier sentiments, and it left me feeling betrayed and angry, to the point where I refused to attend.”
Taking the opportunity, Frehley asserted his superiority over Stanley in terms of musicianship:
“Despite the insult, even if Paul had reached out personally, I wouldn’t have joined. I believe I’m a superior guitarist and vocalist compared to him, and I don’t rely on pre-recorded tracks.”
The discussion surrounding Paul’s vocal abilities has been an ongoing topic. Some critics and fans have suggested that he mimed his performances during KISS’s ‘End of the Road World Tour.’ However, KISS’s manager, Doc McGhee, staunchly defended Stanley, maintaining that he performed live, albeit with backing tracks for support.
Stanley himself addressed these lip-syncing rumors in a Berlin soundcheck video from June 2023, dismissing them outright. Nevertheless, questions regarding his dependence on additional vocal support have persisted.