GUITARIST ACE FREHLEY EXPLAINS TO EDDIE WHY HE REPLACED THE MUSICIANS IN HIS SOLO BAND
Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley spoke to our very own Eddie Trunk on his SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation show about why he parted ways with the solo band that included: Richie Scarlet on guitar, Chris Wyse on bass and Scot Coogan.
“That was hard,” Frehley admitted [as per blabbermouth.net].
As for how the change happened, Ace said, “Well, I had performed with Gene’s [Simmons, KISS bassist/vocalist] backup band in Australia, and then Gene, for some reason, canceled his trip to Japan. So I went to Japan with his band and we did eight shows. And they’re super tight; they all sing lead — four-part harmony. I mean, I’ll never forget playing 2000 Man the first time with this band, and all of a sudden, I’m hearing all the harmonies that were on the original record done by Paul [Stanley] and Gene. I’m saying, ‘Great.’ So, after the last show in Tokyo, I said to these guys, ‘Are you available? Would you consider doing the [‘Kiss Kruise’]?’ And they said, ‘Yeah.’ They’re all fans of mine. And they’re cheaper than my band, and I’m trying to cut costs down. I cut one crew member… It wasn’t just about funds. I would have paid them what I’m paying my band right now, because they’re that good. But don’t let them know that.”
When Eddie inquired about how Scarlet, Wyse and Coogan took the news that they were being replaced, Frehley replied, “Chris took it really well. He’s been playing with the [Hollywood] Vampires, he told me he was doing solo shows with Joe Perry, and he’s one of the most sought-after bass players in Los Angeles. So Chris took it really well. Scotty didn’t take it very well. And Richie didn’t take it well, because his wife had just passed away [after battling ALS for many years].”
He continued, “It was a nightmare, because I kept procrastinating, because I said, ‘How can I call Richie and let him know I’m using another band when his wife is on her deathbed?’ And it was tearing me apart. Finally I just said, ‘I’ve gotta man up.’ So I called him and I told him briefly why and… and he hung up on me. [Laughs] He goes, ‘I can’t believe this s–t,’ and he hung up on me. So, two days later, I called him back in the evening, and I said, ‘Rich…’ He apologized for hanging up on me. I’ve known Richie forever. So we healed. He told me he loved me like a brother; I told him the same. I said, ‘Tell me what I can do for you, because I know you were expecting the money from the cruise.’ So I wired some money into his account to help pay for Joann’s funeral. She was a wonderful lady.”
Frehley went on to defend his actions explaining, “Bad timing is bad timing, but business decisions really don’t… can’t… with personal life, it never jells. It’s never the right time, in a lot of cases.”
Listen to Eddie’s interview with Ace by clicking here.
Frehley’s new solo album, Spaceman, will be released through eOne on October 19th.
Cool story, but why no coverage on the death of guitarist Oli Herbert?
Rocky,
I don’t think Eddie ever played All That Remmains on either of his radio shows, hence why it was not covered on this site. Plus, we never had the band in the new section before, but any loss is a tragedy, especially when they are on the younger side.
It may be beside the point here, but did anyone notice on Paul’s Twitter account where he showed a picture of him sitting there with his Iceman saying he/they are rehearsing, that in the up-right corner on what looks like a video screen (and may be a prompter) it says “hoo hoo, hoo…” – if that is a prompter what song do you know, yes, “Hooligan”, is it they are reharsing that Peter Criss signature song for the Kruise and Eric will sing it, or what else? Ace also mentioned in the latest interview that Paul posted a rehearsal picture where in one place you could see a hand with Ace’s rings on – did anyone see that pic before it was altered or removed? Would be interesting to know. And if so, did Ace not give away the whole thing saying something like that in the interview in which he also said that nobody has given him a call? Because if the Ace’s hand actual was in the picture, this would clearly contradict itself, or am I just dreaming, also if Ace was in the Kiss rehearsal room, and Ace was indirectly confirming it, Eddie must have known too because he quickly changed subject 🙂 … I expect they will use the Kiss Kruise for some further announcement regarding details of the upcoming tour.
Shannon I get what your saying to a point , but there is a correct way to run a business and a wrong way – ace chose the wrong way, his reputation will now take a hit , as it already has on this site, guys will be leery of working for him in the future as well – the music business is no different from any other business , there are contracts and copyrights , expectations and schedules to be met etc…. – and we are all commenting based only on the information we have from reading the post – and whatever else we have looked up about it – your right, we have no personal knowledge of any of it –
from what I have read and found online about this – it only makes me that much more disappointed in ace’s handling of this situation – I dont want to assume or guess , but I think gene simmons really instigated this whole thing maybe he was honestly trying to help ace save some money? again I dont want to guess , but it seems ace wants to be back in kiss, he and gene are getting closer as friends again and ace might have done this in some way to impress gene ??? get in his good graces??? who knows ..and the guys in his band were collateral damage – as a business move awfully stupid – i’m sure this will end up biting him in the ass-
Robert, Ace is older and he’s concerned about money, that is normal. His ex-bass player isn’t mad at him; Scarlet can do other work and so can Coogan…sheesh..
..you know, what’s funny, you mention Gene and Kiss and now the shoe’s on the other foot, Ace knows what it’s like to be in a band where the other guys are more about promoting themselves and always complaining about how they’re not getting paid enough….I am just speculating here…lol…but, I would bet there was some of that where Ace’s eyes opened up a little bit and he sees how he was with Gene and Paul….thus, there’s a bridge now that perhaps wasn’t there with those two.
Wonder if Ace now brings an attache case to business meetings now. 🙂