Greg Prato for Ultimate-Guitar.com spoke with guitarist Ace Frehley, excerpts from the interview appear below.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: Last year, you got to play with Vinnie Vincent and Bruce Kulick at Creatures Fest 2022. Was that your first time ever meeting Vinnie, and what was that like?
Ace Frehley: It was real interesting. Very few people believe that all these years, I had never met Vinnie Vincent. And it wasn’t because I was trying to avoid him or vice versa. It’s just somehow, somehow, our paths never crossed. But we got along famously. I didn’t realize he was a lot shorter than me. But other than that, he got there and played some nice guitar licks. We jammed together, and it was a fun night. I was there with Vinnie… and I think Peter Criss was there, and Bruce Kulick – I’m really good friends with Bruce.
It’s really funny – I’m friends with all the guys in KISS. Even Eric Singer is a dear friend of mine. And now I’m friends with Vinnie. I never had a problem with any of these people. But for some reason, [singer] Paul [Stanley] had a problem with a lot of them. And [bassist/vocalist] Gene [Simmons]. But I’d rather not even talk about those guys since they’re retired and their career is winding down while mine is taking off. So, that’s kind of nice.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: Would you ever consider doing a full tour with Vinnie and/or Bruce – as three former KISS guitarists?
Ace Frehley: I don’t particularly see that happening in the future. I kind of like to run my own show and have my own band. Because think about it – how many solo albums do I have out?…So, it would be really tough to work with other guitar players who also have songs that they’ve written. There wouldn’t be enough time – it would be a three-hour show. And at age 72, I don’t feel like doing a three-hour show. I’m much happier being my own boss…There’s no alcohol allowed backstage, and I surround myself with positive people. Any type of negativity… goodbye…
Ultimate-Guitar.com: What did you think of Vinnie‘s playing? Because he played on two KISS albums, Creatures of the Night and Lick It Up.
Ace Frehley: He’s a good guitar player. Even Paul has said in interviews that Vinnie is a really good songwriter. I never dissected any of his songwriting, but from what I understand, he was a really good songwriter. I think he’s a good guitar player…But Bruce is an excellent musician – he’s actually technically a better guitar player than me. I’d be the first to say that. But I have a certain style that I’ve developed over the years, that even if it’s a little sloppy, people always can recognize Ace Frehley solos. At least that’s what I’m reading when I read comments on YouTube.
I get it, because I’m a blues-based rock guitarist, and a lot of times, my solos – rather than playing fast like Yngwie, for example – I would rather play a slower, melodic solo that people can hum. Because if you’re playing like 50 notes in a measure, it’s pretty hard to hum. [Laughs]…
Read more at Ultimate-Guitar.com.
Frehley’s forthcoming album 10,000 Volts is due out February 23rd, to hear the title track, please click here.
37 Responses
I am happy that Ace continues to release new music. I could do without the Origins releases unless he got a good vocalist to sing every song kind of like Slash did a while back on his solo album. Granted that was mostly original songs but he wrote them in a way that catered to each vocalists sound and it was absolutely brilliant. Ace should do something like that for his origins releases. Perhaps even have the original vocalist sing if still alive and capable.
I think Ace would be better off scrapping most of the KISS tunes he performs live nowadays and replace them with his own original songs from the first three albums and a few from his latest solo albums from Anomaly to the present. I think people are sick of hearing KISS songs at this point lol.
Yes some of the comment written on this article were or are hateful. Calling Ace an asshole.
Some people can not take being called out. There is a difference between a discussion and just being hateful.
Some of these TMC like articles that are posted on this site do influence people to say these mean like things.
I will always defend Ace. He has put out a least 2 masterpiece solo releases!!
Okay, I don’t think calling someone an a-hole is nice, but it is FAR from hate speech. I think you need to do some research as to what is legally defined as “hate speech,” and not just what YOU FEEL defines that category. That is skewing your opinion, and emotion, with actual the actual law, and journalistic standards.
Also, I have never heard of TMC, do you mean TMZ? If so, I don’t agree. I always try and post both sides of a story, and let the readers decide. Just ask most KISS fans on this site, and they will agree, that I have posted many stories, where both, Gene and Paul, were slammed in the comments section, for their constant criticisms, name calling and lack of respect, for their former band members, mainly Frehley and Criss.
God Dana, do you have to be such a bitch all the time? You have spoken about how you dont like girl bands. And you made fun of Ace. How dare you! In a few years there wont be any legends left or great bands.
I would love you to go see Wolf Alice or Dead Sara or The Warning. Just to open your closed mind about great Woman bands.
Also Eddie has done a lot to help these older bands but he also has made a profit off of it. In ten years he will be looking for a new career. And yes Miss corrector TMZ.
George,
Wow, do you speak to your Mom, wife or sister in that tone?
Here you are, whining about people “hating” on Ace, calling him an a-hole, and then in turn, call me a b–tch-LOL!!! PRICELESS!! LOL!! I cannot stop laughing, as the irony of your sanctimonious hypocrisy, is completely lost on you. So much for practicing what you preach, and then throwing stones while living in a glass house, too much.
Additionally, I never made fun of Ace, you are being completely hyperbolic. I simply “stated,” that I never cared for his “singing” voice. I also mentioned, that I am not a fan of the talk/singing style, which is not unique to Frehley, alone. It also applies to “vocalists” such as Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, etc. I also wrote that I thought the music was good, but of course, you failed to acknowledge, that part of my comment.
Furthermore, so what, if I tend to not be, a fan of girl rock bands, who cares? It’s just my opinion, why does it bother you so much? There are plenty of female artists/singers that I love, even those whose genres of music, I don’t typically listen to, such as: Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, kd Lang, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera (own her Stripped album), Madonna (whom I LOVE, have many of her CD’s and saw her on tour once), Janet Jackson (have a couple of her CDs), Melissa Ethridge, etc. OMG, I forgot the Go-Gos, I LOVE THEM.
As far as female rockers go, I like Lita, Joan Jett and I do dig that one song by The Donnas, Take It Off. Sorry, if that isn’t good enough for you. Quite frankly, I don’t need to explain, nor get approval for my preferences, that is what they are, MY preferences.
You like what you like, I like what I like, and that is what makes the world go around. If you criticized Judas Priest, I wouldn’t admonish you over it. I might disagree, but you are entitled to have your opinion…sheesh…But, I will give those bands you suggested, a listen.
Finally the next time, you decide to make this personal, I suggest you email me offline. I don’t like having these types of “conversations” in a public forum, where it doesn’t belong.
Ciao.
Just listened to Wolf Alice, sorry, but it is not my speed. It is too mellow, and electronica, for my taste. Dead Sara was a marked improvement and The Warning, while good, again is just too poppy, for me.
I think it’s just timing, I would be open to something, if it truly kicked ass. I find that is lacking universally, whether it is a male, or female, rock band.
But here is something you might like…Nico Vega – “Beast” (Official Music Video).
Gosh, George, who pissed in your Cheerios this morning? There is absolutely no reason for name calling on this site, particularly of the moderator who volunteers her time for all us fans to have an opportunity to comment on hard rock/heavy metal topics. We fans are not going to necessarily have the same opinions on topics, including sharing your same points of view, but that does not mean you need to resort to unnecessary name calling. When you do, it minimizes your opinions on subjects and gives others a negative perception of you that I’m sure you’d prefer you didn’t…
Share your contrary opinions and be respectful of other opinions, particularly of those that may be contrary to you. We all don’t think the same and we may indeed have varying thoughts on things….and that’s cool and that’s part of the fun of this site that Dana works very hard at giving us fans a forum to share our thoughts…whether we agree with others or not, we need to be respectful of them.
And you can defend Ace all you want, that’s your right as a fan. I loved Ace….he was a guitar hero to me and countless others and is a great song writer……but IMO, today’s Ace has become a sloppy guitarist and performer, and that is not fair to the fans who attend his concerts and have paid their hard earned money for a ticket to, what should be, a kick ass rock and roll show.
I have been posting on this site for almost 10 years now, and I have never seen someone call Dana a b–ch! Disagreements yes, heck, even I’ve had a few respectful disagreements with her 😉 but to call her a b–ch just because you disagree with her? George, you owe Dana an apology! Most moderators wouldn’t even post your comment, in fact, you are lucky that Dana hasn’t banned you from this site!
Dana, you’re 100% a class act ~
Dana that George guy isn’t worth your breath.
Wow, I almost thought I was reading comments, from that site, that begins with a B. Talk about miserable people, there are a lot there.
I think Dana has done a fine job moderating the site, since I stared visiting here.
Thank you, Charles.
Hello all,
I would like to thank everyone who came to my defense (Rattle, Doug R., Robert and Real Paul Stanley), I truly appreciate all your kind words and support.
It is posters, such as yourselves, which make this community, great.
Dana, I’m sure I speak for virtually all posters on this site that we appreciate all you do. We have sadly read negative comments from posters who have been disrespectful to you for solely having contrary opinions. While it seldom happens, just one occurrence is one too many….Thank you for always “strapping on your armor” to shield you from the “haters” and providing us with topics, as well as your opinion, on all things hard rock and heavy metal.
As for George, I echo Doug R.’s recommendation that George does indeed owe you an apology….and it needs to be public, not off line, since that’s where he hurled his insult. George, if you are reading this, it would do you a lot of good to heed this advice. I’m sure Dana, Eddie, and the rest of us posters would welcome your opinions….after a public apology is extended.
Rattle,
I would expect no less from you, your comment was beautifully written.
Sadly, I have had to banish quite a few posters over the decades.
One specifically, who stands out was “Craig.” He not only referred to me as a b–, but added a racist term, before it. That was the final straw, I had warned him several times privately, and he chose to cross that line, with what surmounted to, as an actual “hateful,” as well as, a bigoted comment. He tried to come back as “Lord Of This World,” but I knew his IP address, and trashed all his comments. There are some suspicions that “George” could be “Craig,” as IP numbers, can change more often now, than they did a few years ago, but who knows?
I wouldn’t hold my breath for an apology, and normally I would have trashed his comment, and kept the matter private. However, I felt that it was important to show, how disrespectful, and intolerant, some can be of other’s points of view. Sadly, this is a microcosm, of the world we live in today and I loathe cancel culture. So, it takes a lot for me, to kick someone off the site. But my general rule of thumb is, two warnings, and by the third, you’re done.