Kisstory! Tonight!
Hey, it’s Rich Dale. A&E will be covering the history of KISS in a two-part Biography special, airing tonight (Sunday) and tomorrow night.
Biography: Kisstory will focus on the partnership of cofounders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, and include interviews with band members, producer Bob Ezrin, and famous KISS fans like Dave Grohl and Tom Morello. It has already received the approval of Stanley, who called it “really terrific”.
There are a couple of flies in the ointment. Paul Stanley told Ultimate Classic Rock that Peter Criss did not give permission for “Beth” to be used in the documentary. Stanley also revealed that Criss and Ace Frehley wanted to be paid and have “final editing rights” in the involvement with the documentary.
“We did the best we could. We tried numerous times in all different ways to have them be part of it, but this idea of final editing and money and this and that,” explained Stanley. “… It was like, ‘No, your involvement doesn’t warrant that.’ And who ultimately loses out in a situation like this? They do.”
I can see where he’s coming from. Peter and Ace are missing out on free publicity for their “brands”. But whatever. They’re making their point — I guess.