As KISS approaches their 40th anniversary next year, the inevitable reunion question has recently surfaced: if the band would ever consider performing with guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss again.

KISS bassist/singer/tycoon Gene Simmons answered, "No. Ace and Peter were great for the beginning of the band, but it would be the death of the band today. Not everybody is designed in their DNA to be a marathon runner. They were short-distance runners and that was great for the beginning of the band. But we have to take it to the next level.

"We've been doing this for 40 years. Physically, neither of them could do what we do. It's very physically demanding, and also, the musicality. You've gotta be there with no dark clouds over your head, no drugs or alcohol in your system. They were fantastic for the beginning of the band, and that's the chapter they should be in."

Last week KISS released their 20^th studio album, “Monster” featuring Tommy Thayer on guitar and Eric Singer on drums…both of whom wear the signature makeup designs of Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. But those guys aren't important to this chapter of the band at all, are they?

 Let's just see about that...

 Sounds perfectly acceptable to me...you JUST can't fool with the original, boys...