Ace Frehley "wants to be involved" in KISS' final tour - but he "hasn't been asked".

Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley

The 67-year-old rocker was a co-founding member of the legendary band and their original lead guitarist, and while he hasn't hit the road with the group since 2000, he would love to re-join the 'I Love It Loud' hitmakers after they recently announced their upcoming 'End of the Road World Tour' would be their final run of gigs.

He said: "I haven't been asked. Hopefully next year, what all the KISS fans really want to happen will happen. I'm hoping. I want to be involved, especially for the fans.

"It's not like my dream job, because I've done it a couple of times and quit, but I really want to do it for the fans if it's going to happen."

Ace insists his solo career is a success, so it would be "different" joining up with original KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons - who make up the current line-up with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer - but he would be happy to tour with his former group for "$5 million or $10 million".

He said: "I'm doing fine on my own. My career is on an upswing; I'm having a ton of fun, I like producing my own records. I don't like anybody standing over my shoulder telling me what to do.

"I've had a lot of freedom, and working with Paul and Gene again, it would be different. But then again, I'd probably make $5 or $10 million, so I might consider that."

The guitarist insists it "doesn't seem right" that KISS are set to hang up their tour instruments after their upcoming run of shows, and he has been "falling off [his] bed laughing" with all the fan ideas about what the group should do on their final tour.

Speaking at Hollywood's Musicians Institute, he is quoted by Blabbermouth as saying: "I had a meeting with those guys several months ago, and they talked about retiring to me, and that didn't seem right either.

"Who knows what's going to happen? I read comments on the internet, and I fall off my bed laughing."

KISS announced their final tour on last week's 'America's Got Talent' finale, and claim the forthcoming run of gigs will be the "most explosive, biggest shows we've ever done".

They said: "This is going to be our last tour.

"It will be the most explosive, biggest shows we've ever done. People who love us, come to see us. If you've never seen us, this is the time. This will be the show."

They added in a statement on their website: "All that we have built and all that we have conquered over the past four decades could never have happened without the millions of people worldwide who've filled clubs, arenas and stadiums over those years.

"This will be the ultimate celebration for those who've seen us and a last chance for those who haven't.

"KISS Army, we're saying goodbye on our final tour with our biggest show yet and we'll go out the same way we came in... Unapologetic and Unstoppable. (sic)"