KISS frontman Paul Stanley (pictured below) says Steven Tyler is "full of himself" and "needs a reality check" after the AEROSMITH singer called his former tourmates a "comic-book rock band."

In an interview last week with a Tampa radio station, Tyler stated about contemporaries KISS, "They've got a couple of hits, but they're more, they're comic book — you see them in their spackled faces." He added, "It is different: a KISS lick, a Joe Perry lick — two different worlds, and sometimes depending on the time of day get offended. I hear that and I go, 'Yeah, that's alright. Do they really mean it? And what's this all about?' And that's why I think AEROSMITH has been around forever, we really do take ourselves seriously." Tyler revealed that he "hated" KISS ever since one of their crew members got into a knife fight with an AEROSMITH roadie back in 1976, but added, "Since then I've gotten to know Gene [Simmons] and Paul, and they're beautiful people."

During KISS' appearance on tonight's (Monday, October 15) edition of the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline", host Bob Coburn asked Paul Stanley if he had a response to Tyler's comments. "Well, you know, look, I love Steven… and Joe [Perry, guitar]… and AEROSMITH is a great band," Stanley said. "Maybe Steven's feeling a bit full of himself because he's got an album coming out. But the reality is, in 2003, we did a co-headlining tour and everything was 50/50, but Steven wanted very much, he insisted that they close the show. I really don't care, because as far as I am concerned, one way or another you're going to have to come up on the stage, so you can go on before us or after us. And that being said, he certainly had a chip on his shoulder back then about… There is some sort of… I don't know… ambivalence or just looking down his nose a bit towards KISS. So I have to say that seeing him go on after us and play to an underwhelmed audience and see people walking out didn't feel too bad to me … No matter who you think you are, don't wish for something that may come true.

"Make no mistake, I've been doing this as long as he has, and I take myself every bit as seriously as he does. And at the end of the day, I think that the tale got told. So when their album comes out, I wish it the best and let's put 'em both on and let the music do the talking."

Stanley concluded: "Steven may have been a little overenthused and maybe needs a reality check."

(Thanks: KissFAQ)