Peter Criss Says He Doesn’t Hate Jews

Bassist Gene Simmons, drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Paul Stanley of Kiss perform at Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom on June 22, 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Peter Criss Says He Doesn’t Hate Jews

Bassist Gene Simmons, drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Paul Stanley of Kiss perform at Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom on June 22, 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The members of Kiss are scheduled to appear together Thursday at a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame roundtable in honor of their induction. That event might be ridiculously awkward now that Paul Stanley (far right, guitar), in a memoir released just today, has accused bandmates Ace Frehley (not pictured) and Peter Criss (center, drums) of anti-Semitism. According to The New York Post, in Stanley’s book Face The Music: A Life Exposed he accuses Frehley of owning Nazi memorabilia and says Criss used to mock the waiters at Chinese restaurants. Stanley’s book also suggests that Criss and Frehley’s prejudice against Jews fueled resentment toward Stanley and Gene Simmons (left, bass), both of whom are Jewish. In a separate interview with The Post, Stanley affirmed that he believes Frehley and Criss are anti-Semitic. Here’s an excerpt from that story:

Even more shocking are his accusations of anti-Semitism against the pair. Noting that Frehley owned a collection of Nazi memorabilia, and that some of his earliest experiences with Criss involved the drummer racially mocking waiters at Chinese restaurants, Stanley writes that Frehley and Criss resented him and Simmons for controlling the band’s creative output — which Stanley says occurred because Frehley and Criss’ songwriting contributions “just didn’t amount to much.”

“Ace and particularly Peter felt powerless and impotent when faced with the tireless focus, drive and ambition of me and Gene,” Stanley writes. “As a result, the two of them tried to sabotage the band — which, as they saw it, was unfairly manipulated by [us] money-grubbing Jews.” Stanley reiterated to The Post that yes, he does believe that Frehley and Criss are anti-Semitic.

STANLEY ALSO ACCUSES FREHLEY OF STASHING DRUGS “IN THE BAGS OR POCKETS OF CREW MEMBERS — WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE — SO HE WASN’T ON THE HOOK IF THEY WERE FOUND.”

“Yes, I do,” he says. “It’s based on years and years of interactions. It’s not pulled out of thin air.” Frehley and Criss did not respond to requests for comment.

Criss has since responded to the allegations, telling TMZ that everything Stanley accused him of is false. Here’s part of that report:

But Criss tells TMZ, all of Stanley’s claims are bogus.

Criss says he’s always been a loving supporter of all religions, including the Jewish faith — in fact, Criss tells us his favorite aunt was Jewish. He also denies being a racist in any way.

Although Criss says he’s spoken to a lawyer, he says he has no plans to pursue legal action against Stanley.

I think it’s fair to say that panel Thursday will be, ahem, hotter than hell.

Check out this video that explains some of Stanley’s comments about his bandmates:


[Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage.]

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