Eddie Trunk interviewed KISS guitarist Ace Frehley for his podcast. Quotes from the interview, courtesy of blabbermouth.net, appear below.
Frehley discussing what he thinks about current KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer wearing his makeup:
“[Tommy is] not Ace Frehley by any stretch of the imagination, number one. Number two, what bothers me the most is that I know the new fans that KISS are getting don’t know it. A lot of people that see Tommy up there think he’s the original guy that created the makeup, that wrote great songs and wrote all those solos that he’s performing, but he’s not. He’s just a guy up there copying me and trying to move like me and trying to sing like me and trying to play like me. And that’s what bothers me the most. I mean, the real hardcore fans know. But the new fans, a lot of them don’t know.”
On the fact that he played with drummer Eric Singer who was wearing Peter Criss’ Catman makeup:
That was okay. I mean, Eric’s such a solid drummer, he’s a pleasure to play with, because you know the beat’s always gonna be there.” When asked if it was weird seeing someone else play in Criss’ makeup Ace said, “Well, you know, I don’t see as good as I used to, so when I look back, I can’t tell the difference. [laughs] Just like a lot of fans don’t know…I can’t tell you how many times I get phone calls and people say,’ Hey, Ace, I heard you’re playing here, I heard you’re playing there. Can you get me tickets?’ I go, ‘I’m not in the band anymore.’ Some people, still, are oblivious to that whole thing.”
To listen to Eddie’s podcast with Ace Frehley, please click here.
additional source: blabbermouth.net
137 Responses
He doesn’t seem upset about Eric wearing Peter’s makeup but I am, just as much as I don’t like it that Tommy is imitating Ace. All the gestures Tommy has been seen making, like giving the “thumbs” up is him playing role he was hired to do, sad but true. Ace, I know this stuff bothers you and you have every right to be bothered by it. But according to Gene, eventually there’ll be guys imitating him and Paul to. They look at Kiss more as a business, just a money making empire, than a band and that’s sad also. If I ever get to meet Ace, I feel like I owe him money for guitar lessons. When I was a kid, I sat in front of my stereo with my dad’s Fender Strat, that he eventually just gave to me because I always had it, and played along to Alive over and over. Drove my parents crazy in the process.
One comment I didn’t add to my first post is how many people can there actually be that don’t know Ace is the original Kiss guitarist but instead think Tommy is?
He’s full of shit on that one; I just went to see them on the recent tour, and there wasn’t ONE PERSON that I talked to – including my 13-year old daughter and some of her friends (it was her first Kiss show!) that didn’t know that was the original guy. It helps Ace’s story if it is a sham or a scam, but the reality is, IT IS NOT. Kiss is doing this with full disclosure.
Rag on Kiss all you want, but what I REALLY find sad is that he’s got a new album out and all he can talk about is Kiss…
I don’t think for a minute anyone that is a hardcore fan doesn’t know Ace is no longer in. But a TON of casual fans go see Kiss that honestly don’t care who is in and are there to see stuff blow up and hear R&R All Night. They have no idea. I hear from people like that all the time. Tons of people just go to these Summer shows to drink and party and have no clue. Not just Kiss, many shows.
Foreigner, Lake of the Ozarks, 4th of July. Not one fat, drunk soccer mom or jock had any idea that there wasn’t one original member.
They got me !! I live under a rock and thought it was Ace……
Bill ” I REALLY find sad is that he’s got a new album out and all he can talk about is Kiss”….hmm very interesting Bill considering Gene & Paul have done the same exact thing when they put out their last 2 CDs…..”this is big boy stuff, druggies and drunks should stay home”….and yes, that was said after the Sonic Boom release….
No doubt man, especially Paul calling him TOMMY through out the show. Again, there is no way that someone could actually have Aces personal phone number and not know he wasn’t in Kiss anymore unless they were a really old relative with dementia.
Well I was at a Kiss show recently in Hartford,Ct. and when I was at the merchandise booth I there was 2 young teenagers asking for Ace Frehley items.I had to tell them that it was Tommy,not Ace.They didn’t believe me until another 2 guys in line told them it was Tommy as well.They were like well if it isn’t Ace Frehley then why is he wearing his makeup?
‘That’s okay, because you know the beats gonna be there’. Well, with Tommy, so are the notes and solos. So it’s ok that Eric wears Petes makeup but not ok that Tommy wears his. And that my friends, sums up Mr. Ace Frehley. Loyal to no one. What a jerk. And for the record Tommy doesn’t act like Ace at all, at least not any more. He was incredible on the recent tour. Also Ace doesn’t blame Eric because ‘if it wasn’t him it would be someone else’. Really? What about Tommy? But, oh, Ace is cool with Gene, it’s just the press pitting them against each other. Well Ace, who pays Tommy to wear your makeup? And who the hell has Aces personal phone number and then calls him thinking he’s still in Kiss (12 years later)????????? This podcast actually really pissed me off. Glad you’re not touring Ace, it’s all about that guarantee, it’s all about the cash. Really, REALLY LAME.
Bravo post man.
Im not sure what the big deal is? Tommy wears the makeup, makes all the same hand jestures, hes imitating Ace’s part! We know this and I for one dont agree with it but its time to put this to bed…P/G could care less what people think…ive seen recent concert clips and pauls voice is just done..theres no debate about that…they have to tune way down live and the songs just dont sound the same…I wonder if spending all this time immitating Ace is gonna hurt him when kiss ends and hes looking for work?
Actually Eric, Kiss in St Louis a few weeks ago were amazing and Paul sounded fine. I was a little nervous going into the show but walked out completely shocked and surprised. Truly one of their best concerts. And I’ve seen them all, starting with Alive 2 tour in 77. They didn’t “tune down” and the songs sounded great.
Give me a break…..Ace loyal to no one……Loyal is not a word i,d associate with Gene and Paul either …they havnt set the world on fire with there LOYALTY…..MONEY cancelled out LOYALTY to Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer …….But this doesnt suit your argument does it….and all about the guarantee for Ace….are you so blinded?……KISS ….AKA Gene & Paul….Only know one language…and thats HOW MUCH $$$$$$ are we getting……get it….. Its always been about the CASH with KISS….and thats fine….but dont single out Ace for that…….just another Ace Frehley hater with an argument full of contradiction……Talktopeter …..i,d say Talktopeter if you want a onesided view
You’re full of crap. And I’m definetly not an Ace hater, met him twice last year. I’m just tired of all this crap. And in case you didn’t notice Eric is still in Kiss and they love Bruce, very much. What? did you expect them to continue on with Carnival of Souls in clubs vs a massive reunion tour?? Sometimes charity starts at home. Stop with the anger dude. Damn.
their was no anger in my response…….im full of crap?…..read your post a certain amount of cr-p right there …..im tired too…..of all the one sided cr-p some people seem to spew out …. ….WHAT? you expect Ace to tour with no guanrantee? but it ok for G&P to dump Bruce and Eric for the cash cow reunion gaurantee…..theres money before Loyalty right there…do you not see that…yet you bash Ace about his LOYALTY………they love Bruce that much…why isnt he back in KISS….?…and yes i know Eric is back in KISS….but both got shoved out the way when Gene and Paul needed Ace and Peter for the MONEY ……Ah LOYALTY……you contradict yourself in your statements and get pissed because somebody calls you out on it……you talk about Loyalty….complete rubbish……there is no Loyalty ….its every man for themselves in KISS ..as long as you tow the line G&P way……dont get me wrong I know Ace and Peter are their own worst enemies…..but i think all four have their good and bad points……. again no anger in my response …..no name calling or threatening words……but if you take it that way….you have a very thin skin Talktopete
talktopete: You know what bro, I guess I didn’t give enough of a thought about and didn’t comment enough on what he said about Eric wearing Peter’s makeup but the more I’ve thought about what he said the more it’s bothering me and I get where you’re coming from in your post. Don’t get me wrong, I love Ace because he’s my first ever guitar hero and the reason I started playing guitar in the first place. But him saying when he looked back at Eric he couldn’t tell the difference is really disrespectful to Peter and I would never defend a comment from him like that one. He should be every bit as upset about Eric wearing Peter’s makeup as he is about Tommy wearing his. You’re right, his loyalty (or friendship for that matter) with Peter after what he said about Eric is very questionable. I’m only hoping he has enough decency to retract what he said and, mainly, apologize to Peter.
Hey James, thanks a lot man. Big time. I know at times many of us come at this in a very heated way, including me. I love Ace too. How could one not? His history is legendary. I’m so glad the four of them were around during my youth (and today too). They were my heroes. I wish they could all just stop trashing each other.
Yeah, I hope all the B.S. between them stops too. At this point it doesn’t really matter if they play together again. I think that ship has sailed already. They just need to stop all the trash talking and taking shots at each other and just live their lives and deal with their own separate careers. They meant so much to me growing up and still do. If they could see how all this childish behavior looks through the eyes of their long time fans like us it’d be a shock to them, at least I hope it would.
It is what it is , enjoy the music people !
This website really makes me hate kiss.
Ace your embarrassing yourself with your own silliness. Good you sobered up but the damage is done. You here him lately UH DUH UM UM AHH. You’re done and your press people should protect you from yourself. In all fairness the new album is good, so maybe focus on that instead of Tommy Thayer who is better than you right now. Tommy would be copying you if he was a fat ex-drunk who stuttered staggered and spoke with a silly accent. Ace has a good album but he can’t even tour it because he falls all over the place and no one gives a damn about an ex-KISS member who had a good solo album pushing 40 years ago. In the words of your buddy Blackie Lawless SPLIT GOOFBALL.
Personally I believe Space Invader is by far Ace’s best record he’s ever done and it’s not even close! The 78′ album is good but I’ve always felt it got more credit than it deserved. It wasn’t THAT good. Paul’s solo record was better in my opinion.
Tommy Thayer may be in better physical shape than Ace at the moment but let’s not kid ourselves, he is not a better guitarist or song writer than Ace. Tommy does one hell of a good job playing Ace’s parts very well but please tell me what originality Tommy has brought to Kiss? Zero, nada other than a smirk I’d love to bitch slap off his face. I will say this, Tommy is a much much better actor than “call me mr Hollywood” Gene Simmons ever was or hoped he could be.