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Music Preview: Ace Frehley kisses his old band goodbye with no regrets
Thursday, May 01, 2008
By Scott Mervis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Ace Frehley: “I wake up every morning and thank God I’m alive, ’cause there were a lot of times where I almost didn’t make it.”

Let’s just cut to the juicy part and then work backward.

How does Ace Frehley feel about seeing someone, namely Tommy Thayer, strutting around the stage with Kiss wearing the Space Ace get-up with the silver stars on the eyes?

“It is what it is,” he says on the phone, sounding like one of Tony’s boys on “The Sopranos.” “From what I read on the Internet, the fans aren’t too happy about it. I don’t want to go there …” he pauses, then adds, “Am I crazy about it? Nah, not really. It is what it is.”

Rather than donning his patented Kiss outfit and playing to thousands of screaming fans with explosions going off behind him, the 57-year-old Frehley will play to several hundred at Mr. Small’s Sunday with his four-piece band.

According to Frehley, it’s his choice.

The guitarist from the Bronx was an original member of Kiss, the last one to join in 1973. He was the band’s guitar wizard and best musician throughout its heyday, up until 1982 when he left due to a combination of musical differences and substance abuse.

Frehley then rejoined Kiss for a reunion tour in 1996 and stayed with the band through its badly named Farewell Tour in 2002, all the while still struggling with alcoholism.

Why did he leave that time?

“I just got tired of the nonsense,” he says. “I got into rock ‘n’ roll because it was fun. In the early days we had a lot of fun with Kiss. We were all out there to just do it. When it became this big business machine, it kinda took away the spontaneity of the whole thing. Then, I did the reunion tour in ‘96 and it started out great. It was almost like old times. By 2001, I basically had enough and wanted to go back to my own stuff.”

His own stuff is a solo career that is arguably the most successful among the fab four. When Frehley, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss released simultaneous solo albums in 1978, Frehley’s sold the best and was the only one to score a hit (No. 13 for the Russ Ballard-composed “New York Groove”).

After leaving Kiss, Frehley released three more solo records and toured as Frehley’s Comet, but it now has been 19 years since his last album, “Trouble Walkin’.”

The good news for Frehley fans is that the long-awaited follow-up is just about ready. It was supposed to drop this month, but has been pushed it back till summer.

“The stuff sounds real good,” he says, “but everyone’s been waiting for this record and I’m just trying to make it better. There are like two more tracks I want to cut, just to round things off.”

His biggest inspiration and his template for the new record, Frehley says, is that 1978 debut.

“It’s probably more like the first record than anything else. Most people cite that as the best Ace Frehley record and I’ve been listening to it and trying to figure out why. I’m trying to recapture some of that. I want this record to be extra special.”

In advance of the release, Frehley is on the road fronting a band that features second guitarist Derek Hawkins, drummer Scott Coogan (ex-Brides of Destruction) and bassist Anthony Esposito (ex-Lynch Mob).

While they all contribute with vocals, most of the burden is on Frehley, who historically has been shy at the mike.

“To me, singing is a necessary evil,” he says. “I consider myself a guitar player and a songwriter, and because I write these songs I gotta sing them. I remember last year when I was thinking about putting the band together, some people were saying, ‘Ace, you should get a powerhouse frontman.’ But a lot of these songs I’ve been singing for years, either solo or with Kiss. What’s this front guy going to do when I’m singing lead? Play a tambourine,” he says, cracking up.

The set list consists of songs from the old solo albums, as well as Kiss classics like “Cold Gin,” “Deuce” and “Love Gun,” but he’s holding back on the new material because he doesn’t want it to turn up on YouTube and kill the surprise before it’s released.

As for Frehley’s signature flashy guitar work, we’ve seen him doing much of it with Kiss under the influence. He has been sober since leaving the band in 2002, and he says it shows in his playing.

“I think I’m a little more accurate and more focused. When I drink and perform, I was maybe a little more animated, but there were more clinkers and I played sloppier and stuff. I’m just more focused now and more in charge.”

Like most metal stars from his generation, including Ozzy himself, Frehley isn’t too big a fan of the modern, heavier bands.

“There are some good bands out there,” he says, “but some of the screaming stuff lacks melody. I mean, if I have to choose between the two, I’ll take something where I can pick out the melody — something where when you walk away from it, you can hum, something that will recirculate in your brain. Some of the best guitar solos are the slower ones. You can’t really hum something when you’re playing 3 million notes per second.”

For inspiration, he reaches for the classics.

“I listen to a lot of the old stuff I used to listen to — Hendrix, Zeppelin, The Who, Cream, Jeff Beck — the stuff I grew up on. It still works today, whereas a lot of music when you play it today it really sounds really dated. A lot of the groups that influenced me, they still sound good.”

Does he put Kiss in that category?

“I guess some people might,” he says. “I don’t like critiquing my own work. Let other people do it.”

Scott Mervis can be reached at smervis@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2576.
First published on May 1, 2008 at 12:00 am

The KISS comic-book storyline now continues as a web only version and can be found by clicking the banner below:

Will Ace Frehley make a guest appearance with Kiss at Download?
The prospect of both Kiss and Ace Frehley playing the Download festival on the same day – June 13 – has raised a tantalising question among the Kiss community.

To wit:

Could Kiss mainmen Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley be persuaded to allow their former guitarist to guest with them on stage at the festival? Like, during an encore on something?

Classic Rock’s Geoff Barton recently quizzed Simmons and Stanley about this very subject.

Read on…

Paul Stanley: Would I ask Ace get get up on stage with us? No. I’d certainly invite him to watch the show, but appear on stage? No way. There are four members of Kiss. Always have been. Tommy Thayer is our guitarist now. That’s the way it is. So there’s no room for a fifth guy on stage, not even Ace.

Gene Simmons: I actually called around and asked the promoters if Ace’d like to play on the bill. I love Ace dearly, he’s just a pure character, a true rock’n’roll rebel spirit. Unfortunately his worst enemy has always been Ace.

Ace should have tens of millions of dollars. And of course I can hear you saying in the background: “Is that all that’s important?” Well, it would be nice, wouldn’t it? It would be nice to be filthy rich after putting in 35 years of playing your axe, instead of going around playing in clubs and trying to make ends meet. It’s a sort of rock’n’roll tragedy, if you will. But everybody wishes Ace the best. I certainly do.

But to quote Ace, the reason he quit the band and left touring was that he was ready to commit suicide. Not once, not twice. Often. Not everybody is designed to be on the road. Hopefully Ace has surrounded himself with people who won’t let him get away with any shit. “I’m just going to the bathroom to comb my hair.” “No, no, no, you’re not going by yourself.” Once an alcoholic, you’re an alcoholic for life. The same goes for drug addiction. Ace is going to be a drug addict and an alcoholic for the rest of his life, and every day I hope he fights the fight and wins, because he deserves a better life.

To answer your question about inviting Ace on stage at Download… probably not. It would raise the wrong sorts of messages. But he certainly deserves credit, every bit as much as I do or anybody else does, for starting the band. No one would ever take that away from him.

But this is the Olympics, baby. When the fans pay their hard-earned money they’re not interested in excuses. “I clipped my toenails, I’m sorry, I forgot to tie my shoelaces…” nobody gives a shit. They want you to get out there on stage and kick it out. If you can’t cut it, get off the team.

As far as Gene Simmons is concerned, I certainly belong there. “Based on what?” you ask. Based on history.

Go to GlamMetal.com for more great features!

We here at GlamMetal had the privilege to sit down with one of the nicest guys in the music business, Anthony Esposito. The interview took place in his hotel room before the second night of back to back shows for the Ace Frehley band at the Bears Den inside the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls New York. Even with all the commotion going on in his room, Anthony took the time to tell us everything from what the plans for the Ace Frehley band are to what he thinks of Ace’s guitar playing. Let’s hop onto this Rocket Ride and see where this takes us shall we??Gus: How did you get involved with Ace? Anthony: It was a buddy of mine Frankie Gibson, who happened to pass away about a year ago. He was a killer jewelry designer. He designed all of Ace’s jewelry. He was the one who introduced me to Ace. We went up to his house and played and that was it. We jammed and one of Ace’s friends Jeff (who was a truck driver) played drums. So it was me, Ace, and the truck driver. I was really nervous that I didn’t play well because the drummer wasn’t a pro guy. But it was great! Everything was great!

Gus: How long ago was that? Anthony: About 2 to 2 and a half years ago…Frankie was still alive then.

Gus: Was there any idea at that time about starting a band? Anthony: He had all of these songs that were already written. Then he wanted to record and then it was possible down the road for a tour. He just really wanted to play. It was more like a jam.

Gus: What are your contributions to the upcoming solo release by Ace? Rumor has it the title for the new CD is called “Pain in the Neck,” do you know when it will be released? Anthony: It’s not called “Pain in the Neck” that’s just a name of a song title (wouldn’t reveal what it was called though). It’s about 85% done. I play bass on the record, and Ace wrote all the songs. It was all his deal. Just trying to be there for him and do whatever he wants and let him be him.

Gus: Who else contributed to the new CD? Anthony: Scott Coogan and Anton Fig on drums, Ace on guitars, and me on bass.

Gus: How was it working in the studio with the guitarist who is revered by millions of people?

Anthony: He is the most amazing player I have ever played with! He is a naturally great lead gifted musician! He is really open to everybody’s ideas. Then he thinks and chooses. He is really wise and his decisions are always on. He has great instincts and he’s a great songwriter!

Gus: How do you think the songs will be received by the public? Anthony: I think the fans will love it but that’s not what Ace is doing it for. He is doing it for (Gus interjects: Him.) Exactly! He is very conscious that this is the best work that he can do right now. You know what I mean?

Gus: Growing up in Coney Island just outside NYC, who were you listening to? Anthony: I actually grew up in Staten Island but close. I was born in Brooklyn, but moved to Staten Island when I was very young. Well, Kiss was my first show at the Gardens in ‘78 I think?? (Anthony then turns to guitarist Derrick Hawkins who was also in the room and asked what year was it?) Derrick says, “1979 on the Dynasty tour.” It was at the Garden and I was in the last row. I still have the slides on my fucking laptop. My Dad passed away last year, and I took all the slides that my Dad had and I scanned them in so my Mom can look at them on the computer. I came across the slides that I took from being in the last row at the Garden. Ace is like an inch and a half big from where I was sitting and now we’re going up to his house to practice. It’s the biggest trip! I listened to Kiss a lot but I also listened to the Ramones, The Sex Pistols, and The Clash. I was like a punk rocker dude. I like Ozzy. I listened to rock. There was Iron Maiden. Steve Harris was great! I think with bass playing I’ve always been a simple guy. I like Cliff Williams a lot. I like Ian Hill from Judas Priest, who is a simple guy. They let the guitar players do what they gotta do on top.

Gus: Can you tell us about your studio? Is it still in operation? Anthony: It’s gone (laughs)! It was open but they wanted to triple my rent so I closed it. So now all my gear is up at Ace’s house.

Gus: Will you open up another one? Anthony: I don’t know. I don’t think so. The studio business is done. People record in their living rooms on their Macs now! Nobody goes to spend money anymore. There are no more budgets, no more record labels. So there are no more studio budgets.

Gus: What was your proudest accomplishment working in the studio? Anthony: I had Iggy Pop and Dee Dee Ramone writing songs in my studio.

Gus: That’s cool! Anthony: Yeah, that’s pretty much it right there! We also had the NY Dolls, Green Day, The Ramones, we just had so many great bands. We did the last Misfits record there. That record was Dez (Cadena) from Black Flag, Marky Ramone on drums, and Jerry (Only) from the Misfits. And we would never charge. We would be the cheapest thing in town.

Gus: That’s why you are out of business.. Anthony: (laughs) No, No. The landlord wanted to triple my rent because I had a 15-year lease.

Gus: What other projects are you currently involved in? Anthony: I play in a band called “Pisser.” It’s kinda like a fun thing on the side. It’s with Frank Ferrer, who plays with Axl (Guns and Roses.) I don’t do too much stuff. My other job (art and stage designing) takes up a lot of my time.

Gus: Playing with Lynch Mob was a big part of your past. Do you stay in contact with any of your former band mates or do you ever see a reunion with the former members? Anthony: I was asked to do a reunion tour this year, and I said no.

Gus: You have the Ace thing going. Anthony: Exactly! I would love to play with Oni (Logan)! I love Oni! I love Robert! (Mason) Robert is a great guy! I talk to him to once a month. Mick (Brown) I don’t talk to as much as I would like to. He tours and I tour and it’s hard. He’s out with Nugent right now. I spoke to George once in the last six years, and that was to say no to the reunion tour.

Gus: After this initial leg of the Ace Frehley tour, do you see the tour being extended? Anthony: I hope we tour for two years!

Gus: That long? Anthony: I’m sure those two guys will give you the same answer. Editors note: He was referring to both Scot Coogan and Derrick Hawkins who were both in the room as well.

Gus: So there will be a European tour too? Anthony: Without a doubt! We are already slated to do the Download Festival and the Swedish Rock Festival. We are doing London on April 11 and Sheffield on April 12. I think May dates are coming out for the Southeast. Once the record comes out, Ace wants to go everywhere! He wants to go to Japan, and we’re there! We want to work and this band gets along so great. It’s like; we don’t ever want to stop!

Gus: I saw the show last night and you guys were really tight! I also saw the show on Halloween night in New York City last year and you can see how you guys evolved as a band. Anthony: We got all our little things that we do and we’re growing together as a unit.

Gus: What are your experiences with Kiss fans? As you know they are the most dedicated, crazy, and loyal fans out there so how have your experiences translated so far? Anthony: 99% positive so far (laughs.) A lot of fans give us some credit for getting Ace back out. So they are kind of happy that he is playing again. I think when they see us they see us as a part of themselves like Kiss fans who are now on stage playing those songs. We value playing “Cold Gin.” We grew up listening to “Deuce” and “Cold Gin.” For us, it is the biggest thrill in the world! Like Derrick walked over to me when we are on stage and said, “Dude, we are playing back in the New York Groove with Ace Frehley!” You know it really means a lot! Generally, the fans know that and feel that. We don’t come off that we’re not on the same level as Ace. We’re backing Ace, which we honor! We take pride in ourselves in that we are doing good for him, because we want him to shine. We’re there and we got his back, and that’s the deal!

Gus: So you’re saying 99% positive, what about the other 1%? Anthony: One guy yelled out to Coogan the other night when he was signing autographs “Don’t ever sing ‘Love Gun’ again!” (Everyone in the room laughs) I think generally they know that we’re honestly enthused about playing these songs. Were not in it because we think it’s going to further our careers.

Gus: Any closing thoughts to our GlamMetal readers? Anthony: Definitely come out and see him play! It is a show that is definitely worth coming to see. He is one of the greatest guitar players ever to play guitar. He doesn’t get 1/10 of the credit that he deserves as a guitar player. His solos are fucking amazing! It’s definitely worth coming out to see! He smokes live.. literally (laughs!)