Peter Criss--the drummer who co-founded KISS [ tickets ] in the '70s, left the group in the '80s, came back in the '90s, left again in '01, and came back in '03--is out ... again.

In a turn of events almost identical to those surrounding Criss' 2001 departure from the group, KISS co-founders and mainstays Gene Simmons (bass/vocals) and Paul Stanley (vocals/guitar) will head to Japan this year for a series of shows that will feature former KISS drummer Eric Singer decked out in Criss' signature costume and makeup.

In a March 2 message posted on his official website, Criss wrote: "I have been receiving thousands of fan mail as to what is going on with KISS. Today, my contract ran out. No one, again no one has called me, or my attorney about an extension for future touring. As a founding member I find this to be disrespectful to me, and to the fans that have made us one of the biggest bands in the world. You will always get the truth from me, I have no reason to lie to the people that gave me such a wonderful life. And that's the god’'s honest truth."

At press time, KISS's management had not returned a call for additional information.

Following the aforementioned 2001 falling-out, Criss rejoined the group early last year for a one-off show in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, which spawned a concert CD and DVD. He remained on board for the group's 2003 co-headlining tour with Aerosmith, which wrapped up late last year.

In addition to Simmons, Stanley and Criss, the tour featured replacement guitarist Tommy Thayer, who impersonates original guitarist Ace Frehley. Frehley announced last year that he was resuming his solo career, citing his belief that the group's 2000 Farewell Tour was, in fact, just that.

Despite plans to retire the group after that outing, Simmons and Stanley had a change of heart, and are apparently moving on without Frehley and Criss. A KISS summer tour is in the works, and the group is in the process of securing opening acts, the shortlist for which reportedly includes Poison [ tickets ] and Motley Crue [ tickets ] and/or Brides of Destruction, Crue bassist Nikki Sixx's current project.

According to a message that Sixx posted on the Crue's official website, neither of his groups will be on board if Poison is.

"No way in f---ing hell would we (Brides of Destruction or Motley Crue) ever, ever tour with a f---ing band like Poison," he wrote. "We have had talks with KISS and I told them very clearly that we would not do the tour if they used Poison. That would be the death of us. I will not be attached to that kind of fake bulls---."