More KISS And Tell With Ace Frehley

More KISS And Tell With Ace Frehley
Source: Magnet Magazine.com

It could be argued that Ace Frehley was the most influential guitarist of the ’70s. When Kiss hit its commercial peak, there was no rock band more entrenched in the minds of America’s youth. Frehley teamed up with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss to form Kiss in New York City in 1973; they donned outrageous makeup and costumes and assumed comic-book hero personas. Though Criss wore the feline face paint, it’s Frehley who seems to have had nine lives. After leaving Kiss in 1982, Frehley embarked on a solo career, releasing three albums and compiling a laundry list of troubles that included drug and alcohol addiction, bankruptcy and high-speed car chases with the police. The now sober Frehley is set to release Anomaly, his first solo album in two decades. Read our Q&A with him.

Ace Frehley: On Harley-Davidson: is the leader in choppers in America. Riding is my way of getting away from the everyday bullshit. On the road, I can think and relax. There’s nothing better than a beautiful spring day in New York and me and some of my friends on the open road! Believe it or not, after a good ride, I feel creative. I’ve owned some Harleys in the past and am always looking for something new.

Ace Frehley: On Les Paul: What can I say about the Les Paul guitar? It’s part of my sound. Nothing comes close to a Les Paul, in my opinion. I’m always asked how I get my classic sound. It’s pretty simple. Get a Les Paul and a Marshall amp, then turn that Marshall up to 10, and there you have it! I’m proud to have had Gibson make my own Les Paul Ace Frehley Signature guitar in 1997. It was one of their fastest sellers. My new signature guitar comes out in a few months. It’s gonna have a blue flame top and was designed by me. I’m sure I’ll be using it on my world tour this fall.

Ace Frehley: On Tokyo: I still have fond memories of the Kiss tour of Japan in 1977. We felt like the Beatles! A lot of great shopping out there. I can’t wait to go back and see all the fans again. I was last there on the Kiss Farewell Tour in 2001. There was always a connection with Japan with the kabuki makeup. I recommend everyone visit there at least once in their life.

Ace Frehley: On the Rolling Stones:At one time, the Rolling Stones were the essence of what a real rock ‘n’ roll band should be: swagger, great licks, controversy and confidence. Keith Richards was a big influence on me, and on the 1979 Kiss album Dynasty, I paid respect to Keith and Mick by covering their song “2000 Man.” It became a signature song for me, and some fans to this day think it was a song I wrote! When I see those guys still touring and going strong, it inspires me to get it together and tour. The Stones still got a few years on me!! Video after the jump.

Ace Frehley:On On Classic ’50s Sci-Fi Movies: Still love watching those classic black-and-white movies: The Day The Earth Stood Still, Invaders From Mars (that one’s in color), The Crawling Eye, The Monolith Monsters. The new remakes just don’t seem to have that atmosphere that made the original movies so cool. Video after the jump.

Ace Frehley: On Pro Tools: The way records are made these days! Almost all of Anomaly was recording using a Pro Tools rig. It’s incredible that I can edit songs on my laptop in my hotel room or on a plane! A great example of the use of Pro Tools was how Marti Frederiksen and I recorded the cover of Sweet’s “Fox On The Run.” With Marti programming a drum beat and a bass line, I got the lead and rhythm guitars and my vocals done. We had what turned into a working demo in just four hours! Marti’s a wiz at working Pro Tools. I’ve never seen anyone work so fast.