would do is to get up on stage and just play with ace and peter because that's running a race looking backwards. >> and there was worry frehley and criss wouldn't perform to their standards. >> you won't be disappointed. >> to go up with peter and ace dressed as they once were regardless of how they play or how they look is a risk i don't want to take. >> criss and frehley wouldn't comment to cnn, but backstage at the ceremony, ace frehley was disappointed. >> i wasn't my choice. i wanted to do it. but bottom line is we're still brothers in rock 'n roll. >> in the end, they were all there, singer and thayer in the audience, the original kiss members accepting their award together. >> let me hear ya! [ cheers and applause ] >> i want to thank paul, gene, and peter. it's great to be home in brooklyn. this is my home. [ cheers and applause ] >> i never thought this would this could happen in my life. >> this is vindication. >> vindication for the band that's been around for four decades. >> we are in the glory days of kiss. to think that 40 years on our plate is more full than ever. >> and spilling over the top with their next venture. >>

oh, yes. >> the feuding between band members would escalate. >> peter criss was the first to join the alliance with paul and gene, and ace would join the band in december 1973. >> they began to build a following. it paid off in 1975 when they broke through with mega hit "rock 'n' roll all night." >> kiss alive, which captured what the band was. and then all the other albums suddenly caught on. >> selling six platinum albums in three years with hits like "shout it out loud." >> i would say by 1977, kiss were probably the most popular band in the world. >> within a year and a half, we are headlining anaheim stadium. i remember opening up the curtains and the place was packed. and my sense was, we're on the roller coaster. you better hold on because we're going up. and the ride's about to begin. >> momentum was high, but by the late '70s, the ride came to a crashing halt. >> good night, detroit! >> there was fighting within the band. and disco fever in the air. ♪ i was made for loving you baby ♪ >> kiss had a big hit with a disco rock song "i was made for loving you." it alienated their