Following ACE FREHLEY's departure from KISS in 1983 the guitarist retreated back to his 'Ace In The Hole' home studio in Connecticut and cut himself off from the outside world. The guitarist decided to re-emerge with a hand picked new band and a variety of demos recorded with producers like long-time KISS associate Eddie Kramer, Vini Poncia and Chris Kimsey. And, despite most fans anticipating Frehley to unveil his un-made up face on his debut post KISS solo outing, the guitarist chose to do so in an advertisement for Laney amps, printed in 'Guitar Player' magazine in 1985.

Frehley's band, dubbed FREHLEY'S COMET, predictably enough, included long-time friend Anton Fig. The ex-SPIDER and SHANGHAI, South African born drummer had first come to notice drumming on Ace's 1978 KISS solo album.

Joining Fig, Frehley swiftly established a line-up that also comprised bassist John Regan, (whose pedigree included SCANDAL, PETER FRAMPTON and JOHN WAITE's 'No Brakes' band as well as having sessioned for DAVID BOWIE, the ROLLING STONES and BILLY IDOL), New York born guitarist RICHIE SCARLET and keyboard player Arthur Stead.

Whilst Frehley had originally started working with the aforementioned Eddie Kramer, Ace suddenly decided to go in a different direction musically. He reportedly cut half an album's worth of material with Vini Poncia (who had produced KISS' 'Dynasty' and 'Unmasked' albums) before recording a selection of demos with producer Chris Kimsey.

Not particularly satisfied with the results so far, Ace and company then self-produced four more songs, cut another four tracks with Tony Bongiovi at Power Station Studios and then returned to Eddie Kramer, whom Frehley finally decided to engage as producer of the band's first record.

Gaining a deal from Johnny Z's rising Megaforce empire -who had just signed a major distribution deal with Atlantic Records -prior to the recording of the debut record, Richie Scarlet left the band and was replaced by former 707 member Tod Howarth who had more recently toured with TED NUGENT.

debut FREHLEY'S COMET album passed the gold status sales mark after prolonged touring. The track 'Calling To You' is actually a re-written version of the 707 track 'Megaforce'.

After the release of the album, FREHLEY'S COMET lost Anton Fig. The drummer, having played a few dates on the band's American tour, departed to fulfill prior TV commitments on the David Letterman show (a very lucrative gig!) and in his stead came Billy Ward. FREHLEY'S COMET supported ALICE COOPER on an American tour in late 1987, after which Billy Ward was supplanted by ex ERIC CLAPTON band drummer Jamie Oldaker.

The 1988 mini album 'Live + One' comprised of four live tracks recorded in Chicago (featuring Anton Fig on drums) including 'Rip It Out' (from his KISS solo album) and the KISS track 'Rocket Ride', with the addition of one studio song 'Words Are Not Enough'.

1988 was a busy one for the band. Prior to the release of second album 'Second Sighting' (featuring a cover of Canadian act STREETHEART's 'Dancing With Danger') a live video was recorded at London's Hammersmith Odeon and FREHLEY'S COMET spent mid 1988 touring America once more, this time as guests of IRON MAIDEN. At a headlining show at New York's Limelight Club in July, Frehley was spectacularly joined on stage by his former KISS band mates GENE SIMMONS and PAUL STANLEY for an encore of 'Deuce'!

For 1989's 'Trouble Walking'' album Frehley dropped the FREHLEY'S COMET title and the album was issued as an Ace Frehley album.

Frehley finally rejoined his erstwhile colleagues in KISS to reform the classic line up for a record breaking 1996 world tour.

In 1997 Megaforce Records cashed in on the success of the KISS reunion by releasing '12 Picks', a compilation album featuring six tracks culled from the FREHLEY'S COMET albums and six live tracks from Ace's Hammersmith Odeon show in 1988. The album was put together by John Regan.