4/7: RECAP OF ACE FREHLEY VISIT TO MY RADIO SHOW TONIGHT
Had a great hang with Ace Frehley tonight on the SiriusXM show. Ace was in great spirits and said all the Kiss drama would not take down his fun finally going into the HOF this Thursday. I’m sure the audio will be everywhere on Youtube and elsewhere soon if not already. It will also be on the SiriusXM On Demand app likely by tomorrow. A few highlights:
*His new album Space Invader will be released June 24th. He did record a cover of Steve Miller’s “The Joker” as one of the tracks. He will also assemble a new live band to tour behind it.
*He still wishes there would have been a performance for the HOF, wanted to play with another band, but HOF would not allow. Joked he might do a solo “NY Groove” during his speech. He has no plans of wearing a Kiss costume or makeup.
*The individual speeches have been cut from 3 minutes each to 2. He and Peter speak between Gene and Paul who start and finish in the speaking order. Said he likely would not use a teleprompter and just go for it.
*Said the recent anti semetic claim by Paul is absurd and noted his fiance is Jewish. Was aware of recent photos of Paul himself in Nazi regalia and said he can’t figure out what’s going on with Paul these days.
*Did not rule out jumping up and joining in the all star jam at the end of the night but wasn’t sure.
*Said he can’t speak on other members not being inducted into the HOF with Kiss since he has nothing to do with the decision and there are precedents for both scenarios.
Ace answered everything that was thrown at him including a ton of calls for the listeners. I will be sitting with him and Peter at their tables for the big night Thursday and will provide info as I it happens when I can via Twitter @EddieTrunk More soon no doubt. Appreciate him coming in. He really was in a great mood and committed to having a fun week in NYC and not letting all the sniping dim this event as you will hear in the audio.
Hey Eddie,
As an old school KISS fan (born ’66), after listening to the interview with ACE I had a couple of questions/statements.
1. When the one caller mentioned ACE going into the HOF as a solo artist you kind of laughed it off. I don’t see why that would be so ridiculous. I’m not saying KISS is on the level of the BEATLES but using them as an example, ACE may not be Lennon or McCartney; but his catalogue is much more influential than say Ringo! Rock Soldiers, Into the Night, Trouble Walkin, Shot full of Rock, Outer Space, the entire KISS solo album, all the fractured instrumentals. The standard is 25 years since first solo record? Check. Influential? Check. Who knows? Like ACE said if SPACE INVADER takes off, maybe another successful album after that.. I mean if you were setting a line in Vegas as to which member of KISS would make in as a solo artist…wouldn’t ACE have to be the favorite?
2. No one asked ACE to clarify the rights on the SPACE ACE makeup. Not that ACE needs it…he has TALENT! But with the recent remarks I would have asked him for clarification given the chance.
3. I was at the event you mentioned in reference to flip floppers! It was at ACE’s birthday bash in New Jersey on April 27, 2002. I have a lot of it on video. ACE was not in a good mood that day. He had just given a speech about Gene and Paul owing him a bunch of money and you were right the crowd was all in support of ACE. Then Gene walked in with the cake and the place went crazy. I hate to admit it but I went crazy as well. Being a kid of the seventies it was like seeing my superheroes up close! Ah yeah the memories. I remember there was a rumor that Paul was out in the Limo but wouldn’t come in cause he had heard the smack ACE was talking. I met you – Eddie Trunk that day and BILL AUCOIN who was very pleasant and shook my hand. Even Eric Singer was there. I do not support Gene and Paul in everything they do, I actually do support ACE. Never bought the others books, didn’t buy sonic boom or monster, but I did buy no regrets and anomaly. I didn’t go see the imposters but went to see ACE in New York on one of his 4 shows summer of ’12. Saw him in Vegas on the HOB tour year before that. I don’t consider myself a flip flopper, but man I get so starstruck around these guys! When I met ACE again in 2007 @ the KISS coffeehouse (he was in a much better mood that time) I got so nervous taking the pic with him I almost knocked the lighting down on ACE!
Love the show, the website and the great interviews Eddie, keep us posted as you always do as the week progresses. Oh and P.S. there’s a great story on Vinnie Vincent on Rollingstone.com you should check it out.
It may not be a laughing matter but, it’s doubtful any of the members of KISS will ever be inducted into RRHOF as a solo artist.
ace is the best…enough said …best of the best and glad im going to see him next month..
I think its time for Paul and Gene to retire… When you keep bitchin about the past then you can never live out today or the future… WTG ACE so glad you are moving forward. We all screw up in life one time or another but its called lessons learned.. Nobody is perfect..
Rich Cincinnati ” well said ” I didnt buy that book of lie’s by Paul .. from a hero to a zero in my eyes
So Peter’s book was truthful? Ace’s book…hell Ace can’t even remember half the things he did, he had to have people verify it…which in itself is ridiculous because nobody that was watching is gonna remember things the same way. Gene’s was a lie? How come all of a sudden it’s only Paul’s book that is full of lies? The fact is the truth is somewhere in the middle of all of their books. That being said, Paul’s is actually pretty good. It really has none of the dirt details like the others…yep, he speaks his mind. And he has some unflattering things to say about the other members. Again, I just find it pretty funny that fans are willing to listen to the other three and now that Paul is having his say…it’s an issue.
Hey I agree with a lot of things eddie says but Kiss is not one of them. If you run a business(and sorry folks it’s a business) and you show up for work late, wasted and you can’t do your job…well you know what happens. Even if they are sober now they are not quality players at this point in their careers. If you saw Eddie Trunks party it was just sad. Peter was the worst I felt bad for him..as far as the books go, Ace can’t recall a lot of what went down and he was not that malicious which was good, Peter’s book should have been called Sour Grapes or Poor me. It was a pathetic cry baby blame every one but myself book. Gene and Paul seem to have the facts pretty straight other than the anti-semetic stuff. Some of us need to except fact and not live in Nostalgia land.
Nobody wants a reunion including me, but there is also something called respecting the legacy of the band at some point. Why are so many accolades given to others that get sober but not Ace and Peter. Why doesn’t anyone talk about Paul’s vocal issues now but dissect Ace & Peter’s ability with age?
because Ace and Peter did it to themselves !! Paul just got old.
Actually, Paul admitted that by trying to “maximize profit potential” while touring a few years back, the corresponding effect was a deterioration of his voice. So, in essence, he did it to himself as well. He made a choice to press on, rather than allowing his voice time to heal, particularly given that age does play a part.
I’m happy Ace and Peter are sober. Shame they couldn’t have seen KISS to the end.