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Ace Frehley

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Paul Daniel Frehley, aka Ace Frehley, is an American guitarist best known as a founding member and lead guitarist for the rock band KISS. Frehley played with the group from its inception in 1973 until his departure in 1982.

After leaving KISS, Frehley embarked on a moderately successful solo career, which was put on hold when he rejoined KISS in 1996 for a highly successful reunion tour. His second tenure with KISS lasted until 2002, when he left at the conclusion of the band's Farewell Tour. He has since resumed his solo career, although to date he has not released any new music.

Contents

Early years

Ace Frehley was born and raised in The Bronx, and was the youngest of three children. The Frehleys were a musical family, and Ace received an electric guitar as a Christmas present in 1964. Frehley immersed himself in music, and later stated that guitar playing prevented him from getting involved with drugs or local gangs. Frehley has cited guitarists such as Pete Townshend and Jeff Beck as his major musical influences.Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography, Warner Books, 2003. ISBN 0446530735

When Frehley's band, Cathedral, starting earning a series of paying gigs, Frehley dropped out of high school. At the insistence of his family and girlfriend, Frehley eventually returned and earned his diploma. After graduation, Frehley held a string of short-term jobs—mail carrier, furniture deliverer, messenger, and liquor store delivery boy.Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography, Warner Books, 2003. ISBN 0446530735

Music career

KISS

Insert poster included with the 1978 Ace Frehley album.
Enlarge
Insert poster included with the 1978 Ace Frehley album.

Frehley spent the early 1970s in a series of bands, none of which achieved any success. In January 1973, he spotted an advertisement for a lead guitarist in the Village Voice. He answered the ad and auditioned for the trio of Paul Stanley (rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (bass guitar) and Peter Criss (drums). Frehley (who showed up wearing one red sneaker and one orange sneaker) was less than impressive visually, but the band liked what they heard from his playing. About three weeks after Frehley auditioned, the new group named him their lead guitarist. By mid-1973, the unnamed band decided on a name - KISS. Frehley designed the band's unique, double-lightning-bolt logo.It has been speculated that Frehley was inspired by the Nazi SS logo when designing KISS's logo. Frehley has consistently denied this. The band quickly decided to paint their faces for live performances, and Frehley decided to start painting silver stars on his eyes. When the group eventually decided to adopt stage personas to go with their makeup designs, Frehley became "Space Ace."

While KISS spent their early days rehearsing and playing in empty clubs, Frehley took a job as a part-time cab driver to pay his bills. In September 1973, KISS began to receive a salary from new manager Bill Aucoin that paid each member $75 a week. This enabled Frehley to quit his job.

KISS released their debut album, KISS, in February 1974—Frehley's sole songwriting contribution was "Cold Gin." Due to Frehley's lack of confidence in his own singing voice, however, the vocals were performed by Simmons. Frehley wrote or co-wrote several of the band's songs over the next few years but didn't record his vocals on a song until "Shock Me" (inspired following his near-electrocution, touching an ungrounded metal rail, on night one, in Lakeland, Florida, of their Rock and Roll Over tour) on 1977's Love Gun.Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography, Warner Books, 2003. ISBN 0446530735

As lead guitarist, Frehley was known for his frenetic, atmospheric playing, becoming one of the most admired guitarists in the 70s and spawning a generation of new players. Indeed, Frehley stated in the book KISS: Behind the Mask that many guitarists have told him his playing on 1975's hit Alive! prompted them to pick up the instrument.

Frehley, along with the three other KISS members, released an eponymous solo album in 1978. Frehley's was the best-selling of the four, and the album's lone single (the Russ Ballard co-written "New York Groove") reached the Top 20 in the United States.

Even as KISS's commercial success declined after 1978, Frehley's songwriting presence within the group increased. 1979's Dynasty and 1980's Unmasked each featured three Frehley songs (five original compositions, one cover). But even as his songwriting role within KISS was increasing, Frehley found himself increasingly at odds with the musical direction of the band. After Peter Criss left KISS in 1980, Frehley was often outvoted 2-1 in band decisions, as replacement drummer Eric Carr was not a partner in KISS and had no vote. Frehley's participation in the recording of 1981's Music from "The Elder" was far more limited than with previous albums. This was, in large part, due to his unhappiness with the band's decision to create a concept album rather than a straightforward rock album.

Exacerbating the situation was Frehley's escalating erratic behavior and substance abuse. In April 1982, Frehley was involved in a serious automobile accident (although Anton Fig was the driver). In May, he led police on a 90-mph car chase on the Bronx River Parkway. This incident led to a $600 fine and a six-month suspension of his driver's license.Gill, Julian. The KISS Album Focus, Volume 1 (3rd Edition). Xlibris Corporation, 2005. ISBN 1413485472 Although Frehley appeared on the covers for 1982's greatest hits album Killers (KISS album) and studio album Creatures of the Night, he had no involvement with either project. Frehley's last appearances with the band were the video for "I Love it Loud" and a series of European promotional appearances in November 1982.

Solo career

Although Frehley was no longer a legal member of KISS as of March 1983 (he was replaced by Vinnie Vincent for the start of the Creatures of the Night tour in December 1982), he retained a one-quarter share in the KISS partnership until mid-1984. Wanting to avoid any potential legal or monetary entanglements, Frehley did not actively begin his solo career until he was out of the partnership.Gill, Julian. The KISS Album Focus, Volume 1 (3rd Edition). Xlibris Corporation, 2005. ISBN 1413485472

In 1984, Frehley started his post-KISS solo career by assembling a band that included, among others, drummer Anton Fig (who had performed on Frehley's 1978 solo album and on two KISS albums). Bassist John Regan (who had worked with Peter Frampton), whom Frehley met in 1980, was also an original member of the band.Gill, Julian. The KISS Album Focus, Volume 1 (3rd Edition). Xlibris Corporation, 2005. ISBN 1413485472 The group, whose name alternated between 'Ace Frehley' and Frehley's Comet, recorded a series of demos throughout 1984 and 1985.KISS Related Recordings and Discographies - Ace Frehley]. KISS Related Recordings. Retrieved June 27, 2006.

After a few unsuccessful attempts at securing a recording contract, the group eventually signed to Megaforce Records and released their first album, Frehley's Comet, on July 7, 1987. The album was co-produced by Eddie Kramer, who had produced not only a number of KISS albums, but Frehley's 1978 album and some of his 1984-85 demos. Before Frehley's Comet's release, Anton Fig left the band to become the in-studio drummer for David Letterman's late-night television show, but did perform on the album.

Frehley's Comet, a mixture of hard rock and pop metal, was a successful return to the music scene for Frehley. The album peaked at #43 on the Billboard 200 (selling nearly 500,000 copiesGill, Julian. The KISS Album Focus, Volume 1 (3rd Edition). Xlibris Corporation, 2005. ISBN 1413485472), and the single, "Rock Soldiers," reached #27 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "Rock Soldiers" was an autobiographic song, written partially about Frehley's April 1982 car accident. The video for "Rock Soldiers" received moderate airplay on MTV, particularly on Headbangers Ball.

Despite the positive reviews and healthy album sales of Frehley's Comet, Frehley was unable to maintain much commercial momentum. Two 1988 Frehley's Comet albums—the live EP Live+1 and sophomore studio album Second Sighting peaked at #84 and #81, respectively. A pair of tours in support of Alice Cooper and Iron Maiden ended prematurely, with the band claiming lack of payment in both cases.["KISS Chronology"]. KISSFAQ.com. Retrieved June 27, 2006.

In order to reverse his band's declining commercial fortunes, Frehley made a number of changes for 1989's Trouble Walkin'. First, he dropped the Frehley's Comet moniker and issued the album under his own name. Frehley also fired keyboardist/lead vocalist Tod Howarth, whose contributions to Frehley's Comet were more much more pop-influenced than Frehley's more hard rock-based compositions. Despite the return to a more traditional hard rock style, Trouble Walkin' continued the pattern of declining sales, and peaked at #102.

One notable aspect of Trouble Walkin' was the guest appearance of Peter Criss, who provided vocals for the track "2 Young 2 Die." It was the first time Criss and Frehley had performed together on an album since KISS's 1979 album, Dynasty, although Peter had shown up briefly at a Frehley's Comet show in Los Angeles in 1987, playing drums on a final encore of "Deuce". In contrast to the somewhat adversarial relationship Frehley had with KISS (particularly Gene Simmons) throughout the 1980s, he and Criss had maintained good ties during the decade. In June 1995, Frehley's and Criss's bands embarked on the "Bad Boys Tour." The shows ended with Frehley and Criss joining each other to perform "Nothin' to Lose" and "Rock and Roll All Nite."["KISS Chronology"]. KISSFAQ.com. Retrieved June 27, 2006.

KISS reunion and beyond

The beginning of the "Bad Boys Tour" was followed a few months later by Frehley and Criss both performing with KISS for their August 8, 1995 appearance on MTV Unplugged. It marked the first time the original members of KISS had performed in public since the end of the Dynasty tour in 1979. Fan response was overwhelming, and rumors of a full-fledged reunion circulated. By December, the paperwork for the reunion was completed, although no official announcement was made at the time. In January 1996, Frehely underwent plastic surgery in preparation for the upcoming reunion.

On February 28, 1996, the original members of KISS appeared (in makeup and costumes) at the Grammy Awards, to a standing ovation. On April 16, KISS officially announced their reunion and plans for a tour during a press conference aboard the USS Intrepid. The Alive/Worldwide Tour kicked off on June 28 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. The tour lasted through July 1997 and was a financial windfall for the group, earning $43.6 million.Associated Press. (Dec. 30, 1996). ["Kiss is top concert draw of 1996"]. USA Today. Retrieved April 16, 2006.

The reunited KISS issued Psycho Circus in September 1998. Frehley's lone song on the album, "Into the Void," was performed during the subsequent tour. The Psycho Circus tour commenced on November 12, 1998 was followed by the "Farewell Tour" beginning in March 2000. Frehley, expecting that the tour would be KISS's last, chose not to remain in the band when it ended. His last performance with KISS was on February 24, 2002, during the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Frehley was soon replaced by Tommy Thayer, who had served in a variety of roles for KISS and had helped Frehley relearn some of his guitar parts for the Alive/Worldwide Tour. Since KISS owned the copyright to Frehley's makeup and costume designs, Thayer became the second "Spaceman."

Frehley's guitar style was influenced by Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, but he's just as familiar for his visual effects, such as the smoke bomb hidden in his guitar pickup, sparks and rockets fired off from his guitar head, and others. Frehley has been a significant enough influence on the hard rock and heavy metal guitarists who followed him. In the mid-1990s, Gibson struck a special-edition model of its Les Paul guitar for Frehley (who has played Les Pauls since the beginning of Kiss), with his famed Space Ace face in the head and the Kiss-style lightning bolts in the fretboard inlays.

Frehley has also had a stab or three at acting (not counting a walk-on in Millennium or his part in the ancient Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park), making his debut in 2005 in Remedy, an independent crime drama. Believed to be sober once again for several years (according to Eddie Trunk KISSmass special 2005, at [eddietrunk.com]), Frehley is said to be working on a new solo album, scheduled tentatively for a 2006 release.

In an appearance on Howard Stern's pay-per-view program in 2005, Ace said that he left KISS at least partly because Gene and Paul wanted KISS to open for Aerosmith, who had opened for KISS in the 1970s. He also said that Thayer's use of the character he created "didn't matter" because "I created the character."

Frehley had gone on Stern's show thinking that he would mostly be talking about the DVD release of his movie Remedy, but when Stern continually talked about KISS, Ace's business manager called the show, stating that the continuous mentions of KISS were "upsetting Ace". Also, Stern continuously tried to get Ace to admit that he hated Gene Simmons; Ace responded with "Not true; I love Gene."

Ace Frehley appeared with Rob Zombie, Tommy Lee, Scott Ian, Slash, and Gilby Clarke on VH-1's Rock Honors special on May 31, 2006. This supergroup played KISS's "God of Thunder."

Trivia

Discography

KISS

Solo/Frehley's Comet (studio & live)

Solo (compilation)

Guest appearances

Notes and references

External link

KISS
Gene Simmons - Paul Stanley - Tommy Thayer - Eric Singer
Peter Criss - Ace Frehley - Eric Carr - Vinnie Vincent - Mark St. John - Bruce Kulick
Discography
Albums: Studio - Live - Compilation
Singles: "Rock and Roll All Nite" - "Detroit Rock City" - "Beth" - "Hard Luck Woman" - "I Was Made For Lovin' You"
"Sure Know Something" - "A World Without Heroes" - "I Love It Loud" - "All Hell's Breakin' Loose" - "Forever"
"God Gave Rock 'N Roll To You II" - "Psycho Circus"
Filmography: KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park
Related articles
Anton Fig - Bob Kulick - Band timeline - Wicked Lester

 

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