Original KISS members Ace Frehley and Paul Stanley have not been on the best of terms in recent years. The two have trashed each other through the press, with Stanley, who is Jewish (as is Gene Simmons), going so far as to claim in his autobiography, Face the Music: A Life Exposed, that Frehley is anti-Semitic, a claim that Frehley has vehemently denied. Frehley has repeatedly expressed anger over current KISS lead guitarist Tommy Thayer dressing up in his "Spaceman" outfit and makeup while performing live; the original KISS lead guitarist has said that some fans have told him they saw KISS in concert in recent years and thought it was him performing with the band instead of Thayer, which could understandably be frustrating.

Along with many KISS fans, Frehley was also disappointed that the original KISS lineup could not set aside their personal differences and perform at their 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction. Original KISS drummer Peter Criss remains estranged from Stanley and Gene Simmons, who have both repeatedly bashed both Criss and Frehley for their past alcohol and drug abuse while they were members of KISS.

Apparently Frehley and Stanley have kissed and made up, though, as surprising as that sounds with all of the animosity the two have demonstrated toward each other in the past. Stanley has recorded vocals on a song for Ace’s new album, called Origins Vol. 1, which is scheduled to be released on April 15 and features a collection of cover songs from artists who inspired Frehley throughout the years. It should be noted, however, that Starchild and Space Ace did not record in the same studio together. Frehley and his band recorded the music for "Fire and Water," a song by English classic-rock band Free, and mailed it to Stanley, who then recorded his vocals and sent them back. 
Will these baby steps lead to Ace rejoining KISS in the future? Only time will tell, but in the meantime he returns to Houston to perform at Scout Bar this Friday; hopefully Ace will not keep the KISS Army waiting this time, as he did the last time he played the venue. In December of 2014, he initially angered many in attendance by not going onstage until 11:30 p.m. on a Tuesday night. Frehley also talked a little trash about his former KISS bandmates at that show; in particular, after the performance of "Strutter" with drummer Scot Coogan on vocals, Ace exclaimed, "You sing that shit like Paul used to sing it!" It seems as though Ace has a better opinion of Stanley’s vocal prowess now, at least for the performance he recorded for "Fire and Water," which Frehley has praised.

Ace also recorded cover versions of songs with other guests on Origins Vol. 1, including The Troggs’ "Wild Thing,” with Lita Ford on vocals; Jimi Hendrix’s “Spanish Castle Magic” and a remake of KISS’s “Parasite” with Rob Zombie guitarist John 5; Thin Lizzy’s “Emerald” with Slash on guitar; and a remake of KISS’s “Cold Gin” with Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. Ace also covered classics from Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Steppenwolf and The Kinks for the LP. His last album, Space Invader, was well received; released in August 2014, it debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, making it the guitarist's highest-charting album ever.

Ace Frehley performs at Scout Bar on Friday, February 26 with local supporting bands Tame Fury, Smokin Aces, and Love and War; doors open at 7 p.m.