KISS' final concerts do not include their original members, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, and Gene Simmons recently revealed that his former bandmates wanted it that way.
KISS originally scheduled the band's farewell tour in January 2019; however, like other musicians, they suffered due to the effects of COVID-19 on the industry and ended up putting their plans on hold. They soon expected to end on July 17, 2021, before they moved it again to its current expected culmination.
Despite "End of the Road" being the rockers' final trek, it does not include original members at all.
Ace Frehley, Peter Criss Did Not Want To Join KISS Again
Simmons shared further details about KISS' farewell tour in an interview with Barbara Caserta of Linea Rock. The musician was asked about the possibility of the original KISS members joining the band's final concerts at Madison Square Garden in December, and he immediately thrashed the idea.
He said the new fans never knew about the two members since they never saw them perform.
"Well, I asked both Ace and Peter a few times: 'Do you wanna come out for the encores? Do you wanna do some shows?'" Simmons said, adding, "And they both said 'no.' So, I don't know what to say about that... But it's always welcome."
Instead of forcing them to rejoin the band, the co-lead singer shared how it might be the best thing to do to end things the way they started.
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His revelation somewhat contradicted what Frehley told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" in April, during which he said he was open to playing with KISS at their final shows in New York City because "money motivates him" and that it can change his mind.
On the other hand, he insisted he would need to receive at least $250,000 if KISS and fans want him to wear his trademark Spaceman makeup while his replacement, Tommy Thayer, dons the same.
Far from what Simmons said, Frehley said (via Blabbermouth) that he never received a formal invitation to join his former bandmates in the sold-out concerts.
Ace Frehley, Peter Criss Have Demands?
Previously, Simmons mentioned n his June 2022 interview with Finland's Chaoszine that they met Frehley to have him involved in the final concerts, but the original member reportedly told them they wanted to have some things before he came back - something KISS members disapproved of.
"I said, 'We can't do that, because even we don't have that," Simmons went on. "But I won't control what you say; you can say whatever you want.' The answer is no - both of them."
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