ACE FREHLEY

Rockdetector Biography

« Back to Artist Page

Having released his first solo album on the same day, September 18th 1978, as his fellow band mates in KISS, the guitarist scored a sizable coup over his comrades when the accompanying single, 'New York Groove', penned by RUSS BALLARD and previously a hit for British Pop Rock outfit HELLO, rose to number 13 on the US Billboard chart, giving him the highest showing up to that date for a KISS single. The 'Ace Frehley' album peaked at number 26 in the USA.

The idea for solo records had arisen due to friction developing within the band during the making of the movie 'KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park'. Frehley had even expressed a desire to leave the band to pursue a solo career. In an attempt to save the band from disintegrating there and then manager Bill Aucoin suggested that all four members of KISS record solo albums. Frehley chose to work with producer Eddie Kramer for a record that would ultimately spawn the biggest hit of the four albums, go on to sell over a million copies and become the blueprint for future projects. 'Ace Frehley' was tracked at The Mansion in Sharon, Connecticut and Plaza Sound Studio in New York.

He worked with South African born drummer Anton Fig, at the time a member of Aucoin stablemates SPIDER, and performed a good deal of the non percussive instrumentation himself. Other contributors in the studio included bass player Will Lee, drummer Carl Tallarico plus backing vocalists Bill Scheniman, David Lasley, Larry Kelly and Susan Collins. Anton Fig would in later years provide ghost drum duties for KISS. Both Anton Fig and Will Lee went on to become permanent members of Paul Shaffer's CBS Orchestra band on 'The Late Show with David Letterman'.

Ace Frehley's departure from KISS in early 1983 led to the formation of FREHLEY'S COMET. With the release of 1989's rather aptly titled 'Trouble Walking' album Frehley chose to dispense with the band name and thus the record came out as an Ace Frehley album.

The 1989 'Trouble Walking' album featured the track 'Five Card Stud' written by ex-KEEL guitarist MARC FERRARI. Guests included KISS drummer PETER CRISS, ex-REX, RIOT and ADAM BOMB drummer Sandy Slavin and backing vocals by ex-BALANCE man Peppy Castro, DRIVE, SHE SAID's Al Fritsch and members of SKID ROW, namely SEBASTIAN BACH, Rachel Bolan and Dave Sabo. 'Trouble Walking' charted at number 102 on the US charts.

'Trouble Walking' would be the last Ace would record with Megaforce / Atlantic, the guitarist and labels parting company at some point after its release. Without a deal, Frehley toured with a succession of musicians. His 1989 band included Regan on bass, Slavin on drums and guitarist RICHIE SCARLET.

In 1992 the Ace was on the road with Scarlet and erstwhile WHITE LION rhythm section of bassist James LoMenzo and drummer Greg D'Angelo. Scarlet remained with him the following year but bass was now in the hands of ex-LAST CHILD, WILD BUNCH and SHOUT man Mark Normand with drums handled by Steve B. Warner. Sal Fabano had a stint on bass in 1994 and the ever fluid also featured PHANTOM'S OPERA guitarist Karl Cochran, later of VOODOOLAND.

A 1995 trek, dubbed the 'Bad Boys' tour, found Frehley co-headlining shows with former KISS colleague PETER CRISS. Frehley had previously guested on the 'Criss' album.

Following Frehley's inevitable decision to take his rightful place in the reunion of the original line-up of KISS in 1996, Richie Scarlet began working on an All-Star project dubbed WISE GUYS, featuring SEBASTIAN BACH and former FREHLEY'S COMET colleagues John Regan and Anton Fig. Scarlet was also playing in the Las Vegas based, female fronted TYGERR'S LAIR comprised vocalist Tygerr, bassist Andy Abenne and drummer Paul Stanzo. Both LoMenzo and D'Angelo joined OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist ZAKK WYLDE's band in 1993. LoMenzo would also figure in PRIDE & GLORY and SLASH'S SNAKEPIT. Warner was later to be found on the 2000 SINOPOLI album.

With the full blown KISS in make up reunion of 1996 Megaforce Worldwide issued the ACE FREHLEY '12 Picks' album. Although a compilation the record would feature a batch of previously unreleased live tracks from a London Hammersmith Odeon show.

In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks Frehley put together a band involving guitarist Richie Scarlet, bassist Karl Cochran and Steve "Budgie" Warner on drums for a benefit show at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom on November 28th. Frehley would rub shoulders at the event, designed to raise funds for the Fire and Police departments families, with other big apple acts such as TWISTED SISTER, ANTHRAX and OVERKILL.

As 2001 closed it would become apparent that Frehley was no longer part of the ever extended KISS reunion as guitar tech, management employee and former BLACK N' BLUE member Tommy Thayer- complete with 'Ace' make up, took over the role. Frehley did however unite with former "unaccredited" KISS member drummer ANTON FIG, guesting on his 2002 solo album 'Figments'.

The guitarist scored a role as the character 'Johnny' in the 2005 movie 'Remedy'. That same year Ace put in a guest performance on GO-GO'S bassist Kathy Valentine's solo debut 'Light Years', featuring a solo on the track 'Bad Choice'. As work on a solo album commenced, Ace took time out to guest onstage with PEARL JAM at their 1st October Atlantic City stop to perform a rendition of the NEIL YOUNG classic 'Rockin' In The Free World'.

Ace was a surprise inclusion at the first annual VH1 'Rock Honors' televised show, to "salute the groundbreaking bands of rock, the once-in-a-lifetime events and the influential people who made a lasting mark on the history of hard rock", held on May 26th at the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Events Center to pay tribute to the achievements of KISS, QUEEN, DEF LEPPARD and JUDAS PRIEST. To honour KISS, the event assembled an all-star band consisting of Ace, ROB ZOMBIE on vocals, the GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER credited Slash on guitar, Scott Ian from ANTHRAX on bass with TOMMY LEE of MÖTLEY CRÜE on drums to run through 'God Of Thunder'.

2007 album recordings were conducted with Anton Fig on drums and LYNCH MOB bassist Anthony Esposito. Frehley announced a return to live action with an October 31st performance at New York City's Hard Rock Café, as part of DJ Eddie Trunk's annual listener Halloween party. Tickets for the concert rapidly sold out.