Kiss was conquering the world during their first go-round in the 1970s, and the band appeared to be more of an equal proposition between all four band members. And as such, each contributed to the band.
However, after Ace Frehley and Peter Criss jumped ship during the early ’80s, it was Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons who solely called the shots for the remainder of the decade, and beyond. But as the ’80s went on, it was clear that Simmons’s focus on the band was getting blurred: due to an acting career in film and TV, launching a record label, managing other artists, etc.
During an interview on The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan, Paul Stanley opened up about feeling betrayed and hurt during a rough period in KISS’s history, when he was left to carry most of the band’s workload while Gene Simmons pursued solo projects. Despite Gene still receiving compensation, Stanley felt abandoned and resentful, admitting the experience was emotionally painful because of their long-standing brother-like bond.
“I felt betrayed. “No secret. I felt that he was leaving me to do the heavy work, but continued to get paid. So, trying to have the best of both worlds: go off and do your own thing, and have the success in any level that there was success and the monetary compensation, which I’m not sharing in, but you’re abandoning ship, and you’re still my partner.”