Gene Simmons thinks Ace Frehley and Peter Criss no longer have the stamina to play a full Kiss show

Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley sharing a mic onstage in 1978

(Image credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

Gene Simmons has expressed doubt over former bandmates Ace Frehley and Peter Criss' abilities to take on the physical demands of a full Kiss show in 2022.

Speaking to Finnish site Chaoszine, the bassist once again discussed the possibility of the ex-Kiss guitarist and drummer rejoining the band for their final world tour, reiterating that he had offered them the chance to join the shows for the encores, but adding that he didn't believe they have the "stamina" to last a full gig.

"I asked Ace and Peter, 'Come out on tour. We'll get you your own room and everything. Come out on the encores,'" Simmons states. "Ace said, 'No. The only way I'll come out is if I'm the Spaceman and you ask Tommy [Thayer, current Kiss guitarist] to leave.' I go, 'Well, that's not gonna happen.' First of all, I care about Ace, but he's not in shape — he can't play that way and doesn't have the physical stamina to do that."

When asked whether he felt Criss was in good enough shape for the shows, Simmons responded: "No. When I called to invite Peter to be in the documentary, his health isn’t what it should be. I don’t want to get too specific because it’s part of his private life. But no, physically, he wouldn’t be able to do [a full show]. Neither would Ace."

Ace Frehley recently took a pop at Kiss guitarist/singer Paul Stanley over accusations of miming after a technical blip at a Kiss show in Belgium went viral. As it stands, it seems any chance of seeing Frehley and Criss on stage at a Kiss show once more is very much unlikely.

Merlin moved into his role as Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has previously written for the likes of Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N' Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.