Andy Greene of Rolling Stone spoke with original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. Portions of the interview appear below.
RS: Tell me your first reaction to the news that KISS made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ace: It’s such an honor. I’m so excited. I learned about it last night when my assistant called me. I didn’t sleep very well afterwards.
RS: Did the news surprise you?
Ace: It surprised me, but when I saw all the people we were up against I had a feeling we were going to make it in…It should be a great evening. I’m really excited and looking forward to the night.
RS: I spoke with Gene a couple of hours ago. He said he’s willing to play with you and Peter Criss that night.
Ace: Okay. That sounds like a great idea.
RS: Are you open to that too?
Ace: Absolutely. Are you gonna want us to put makeup on?
RS: Sure.
Ace: It’s been a while for me.
RS: It’s been over a decade, right?
Ace: The last shows I did with KISS was in Australia around 2002.
RS: You have no hesitation about walking back onstage with Paul and Gene?
Ace: Not at all. I think it will be great. I think it will be great for the fans to witness and a lot of fun. I recently performed with Peter at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York for Eddie Trunk’s 30 years in broadcasting celebration. That was a lot of fun. I hadn’t performed with Peter in 12 years. We all still have it.
RS: Gene mentioned that next year is the band’s 40th anniversary. He said he didn’t want a reunion tour, but I got the sense it was somewhere in his mind. Would you want a KISS reunion tour?
Ace: It’s something I haven’t even entertained or even thought about. I hadn’t even realized that next year is the 40-year anniversary. Right now, I’m focusing on my solo career. I recently signed a two-album deal. I’ve been in the music for the past three months.
RS: If a tour was offered to you, would you think about it?
Ace: It’s something I would consider if it was presented in the proper way.
RS: Gene was praising you when we spoke, but in other interviews he will call you a “cancer” or a “loser.”
Ace: I’ve always had a pretty good relationship with Paul and Gene. We parted company on more than one occasion, but there’s always been mutual respect and admiration. I think somehow the press plays it up that there’s a lot of hate between the members. It’s really completely blown out of proportion.
RS: But he called you a “cancer” recently.
Ace: A cancer? I wasn’t aware of that. What does it mean?
RS: I guess that you’re somehow a poison.
Ace: [Huge laugh] I think he gets frustrated that even though they have a replacement for me in the band, fans are continually bombarding him and saying, “Hey, you should get the original guitar player back. Ace is still number one.” He gets that constantly. It has to be frustrating to him and Paul.
RS: Are you insulted that somebody else is in your makeup?
Ace: Well, it’s a choice that Paul and Gene have made. I know the fans aren’t happy with it. I read the comments on the Internet. Paul and Gene have lost a lot of fans because of the move they made. It is what it is.
I’m not happy about it. Most of the comments I read by fans say that, “If you’re going to replace Ace, you should have created a different character.” That’s what they did with Vinnie Vincent when I originally left the group in 1982.
RS: They have Eric Singer in the Catman makeup and he’s singing Beth.
Ace: I didn’t know he was singing “Beth.” [Laughs] You know, a lot of the fans I talk to just tell me they aren’t going to go to the shows anymore. I know concert attendance hasn’t been what they’ve wanted this past year. It is what it is.
RS: Gene has implied he doesn’t believe you are sober.
Ace: That’s kind of juvenile. Does he have blinders on? I know he’s spoken to several people that I know that he knows that have seen me and done business with me over the past several years. I don’t believe they are telling him that I’m not sober. It’s been over seven years for me and I can’t see myself going back. But all I have is today. One day at a time.
RS: I imagine it’s going to be emotional to stand at the podium with the three other guys in the band.
Ace: It’s going to be intense, but it’s going to be great. I don’t foresee any negative vibes. I don’t foresee any bad blood. I think that myself, Peter, Paul and Gene, we’re the four guys that started the group and brought it into international success. I think that sometime in the late 1970s we were listed as the number one group in the world by some polls. We achieved what most people only dream about. I’ll never forget it. And that’s something nobody can take away from me.
Read more at Rolling Stone.
source: rollingstone.com
64 Responses
Congrats Ace I have always been a fan of yours. Keep up the good job & keep sober I know its hard , one day at a time.
Eddie
Ace and Peter are up for a reunion do you think it will happen?
If the contracts are right I can see it happen and it would be a great way to go out
I do not think it happens, but who knows?
Geez Eddie, you KNOW there will be a reunion. Gene cares about one thing, and one thing only – the almighty DOLLAR. His decision process with be incredibly simple – what course of action makes the most $$$. I don’t even see a debate here. It shocks me that hardcore KISS fans think it might not happen. There is ZERO chance Gene won’t capitalize on this! Zero!
My crystal ball tells me there will be issues a la Black Sabbath. Probably with Peter – so they will likely go out with Ace, who obviously needs the money given that one of his houses was just foreclosed upon. The shows will be overpriced and bad, but they will do it. If not a huge tour, at least some select dates.
How about the fact that this interviewer is an asshole…talk about trying to stir up trouble. Focus on the positive side of this story. Not everything is this world needs to negative.
Was told that Ace thought this interview was going to be about his book..
Not surprising. When Ace mentions his own music, the interviewer completely glosses over it. I’m surprised they didn’t just type in “blah blah” for Ace’s response with all the acknowledgment it got.
Agree the interview is a total asshole
Good interview. Sounds like Ace is going to enjoy the moment, as well he should. There’s not going to be another tour with the original four. Can’t see it.
You are soooo wrong DR! All Gene cares about is money. As a demon fan, you must know this!
BTW – As a Gene fan, you might find it interesting that I know a girl who was actually one of Gene’s students for the one year he taught first grade back in Brooklyn (I believe.) She didn’t have much to say about it – other than he was a nice guy but didn’t seem too into it.
That would be an interesting conversation. It looks like you and I finally found something to disagree on when it comes to a reunion tour LOL. I think Ace could do a tour. I don’t think Peter could hold up (file under Bill Ward). More importantly, I don’t Gene and Paul want to do it. Yes the money would be there. But I liken Gene and Paul’s disdain to that of Axl with Slash. As much as people want the original GNR, Axl isn’t comfortable with it and won’t do it. He wants people around him that he feels comfortable hanging out with and that he can control. Gene and Paul have that now, and Ace and Peter have been wild cards too many times. Despite the money that can be make, Gene is about the brand. And I think he feels Ace and Peter now tarnish it by either being late for gigs, whining about money (Peter), performing poorly (Peter), and falling off the wagon (Ace). I think that’s now more important to Gene than the brand the original 4 created. That might sound crazy, and I would pay to see the original 4 again (like I’ve done countless times before). But sorry folks, I think Tommy and Eric ‘the punk’ Singer are here to stay.
We’ll see. I just think Gene puts money ahead of everything. Like UFO, Gene and Paul could tour with the replacements hanging out backstage ready to roll! Gene’s already backtracking on the RRHOF induction. I wouldn’t put anything past him.
BTW – I know you’re a big Randy Rhoads fan, are you going to order the Bob Daisley book? I’d like to get it, but it’s around $50 with shipping. Pretty steep for a book, though I feel Bob deserves the money. But I have to wonder about his business acumen – I’m sure Amazon rakes people over the coals, but their shipping deals and distribution make me think Bob would sell, oh probably about 100X more books through them and probably make more money in the long run.
John,
Not sure how much weight my opinion carries, but I thought it was an an amazing read.
Dana from EddieTrunk.com 🙂
Hate to admit it John, but I’m hoping it comes down in price before I purchase. I do want to read it as the whole Randy/Ozzy/Sharon/Bob circus intrigues me. From what I know on the subject matter, I’m on Bob’s side of the argument. But I’m sure he owns part of this fiasco. Just wondering if its 5% ownership or 25% ownership. I’ve always wondered what would life had been like if Randy Rhoads was still here. Would Sharon eventually gone after him as well? Or would Ozzy protect him? I know Randy talked about leaving Rock and going more classical. We’ll never know.
My question to you Dana (and yes, I do value your opinion) is whether it’s worth the $50? I’m sure you and Eddie got free copies! And if you want to sell one – let me know!
DR – The Randy Rhoads question is very intriguing. As great a player as he was, the chances of him making a living playing the classical guitar would likely have been slim. It’s one of those things that there just isn’t a lot of demand for, and he certainly developed a name for himself, but I don’t picture him traveling the world doing concerts with orchestras like the London Philharmonic. Just wasn’t going to happen – he wasn’t at that level. Only a few people can really do that and they have a name when they’re young.
Maybe he would’ve gone the “rock/classical/fusion” route. That to me would have been interesting as heck, cause if anyone could make music for people to listen to (as opposed to music for musicians, or to impress 14 year old guitar players) – music that would be real people-friendly and interesting, I think it would be him. I just think the money is in rock ‘n roll. and he would’ve been drawn back into it.
I have a tough time believing guys like Steve Morse play rock and roll cause it’s their first love. I think they do it for the paycheck. I think if Steve could make a great living playing Dregs style stuff, he would. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think a lot of today’s rock ‘n rollers are going for the money, otherwise I think they’d be playing different styles of music. A guy like Ace is certainly a rock ‘n roller all the way through.
Hi John,
Well, it all depends on how much of an enthusiastic fan and/or collector you are, since there are some pretty rare Randy Rhoads candids in the book, taken by Mr. Daisely. The book is a definitive retrospective and contains a plethora of information about all the musicians he had worked with over his prolific career (Richie Blackmore, Dio, Yngwie, Warren DiMartini, etc).
While I highly recommend it, I know money is dear these days, so I understand your plight.
I apologize if my response was vague. I know you will make the right decision for yourself.
All my best,
Dana from EddieTrunk.com 🙂
KISS were a giant middle finger to the entire music industry when they started back in 1974. They were anti-establishment. They took whatever ‘Rock and Roll Rule Book’ there was, and tore it to shreds. You would think for that reason alone, the hippies at Rolling Stone Magazine would have loved them. But no – they were too busy lauding the brilliance of people like the Beastie Boys. 3 guys that were actually failed punk/metal ‘musicians.’ Go figure?
But finally they are in the Hall where they rightfully belong. Gene, Peter, Paul, and Ace as the foundation.
With gigantic nods to all the others that helped KISS in the following years.
This is a fantastic middle finger too. to all the KISS haters out there that continue to think that somehow make up writes great songs. It doesn’t.
I heard some idiot on a local radio station here in Toronto say that “Every real musician knows KISS are hacks. They had to get Phil Spector to write all their songs behind the scenes. They should not be in the Hall of Fame” That’s interesting? KISS writes their OWN songs. So that’s actually quite a compliment to compare KISS’s song writing to Phil Spector’s.
KISS in the RRHOF. It’s about time!
You make some big statements there Tony. How did KISS break the rock ‘n roll rule book? They wore makeup? Alice Cooper did that before. They got signed to a record label? So did everyone else. They played simple rock ‘n roll with a lot of enthusiasm? So did a lot of bands. They toured and toured? So did everyone else. If anything, they were more corporate than every other band.
KISS were followers in many ways. KISS went disco after Rod Stewart and the Stones went disco. They didn’t lead that one.
They did lead in marketing. They put their names on everything they could. They belong in the RRHOF – cause you can’t write the history of Rock and Roll without KISS, but they didn’t break any rules.
John, I’d say that they broke the rules regarding the merchandising and the hype… And they broke the rules about being as you say “corporate”. No one did that kind of merchandising as Kiss did (to my knowledge at least)… But other than that, you’re right 🙂
They broke the same kinds of rules that bands before them did but it’s in how they did their business as a band were they were breaking the standards. Casablanca records, their management, their road crew were all doing stuff that nobody else was doing at the time. And certainly the merchandising aspect was all their own. By the end of the 70’s what they starting was beginning to be the industry standards for other bands. Not to mention the fact that they’re probably the most influential American rock band of their time. No one inspired more kids to pickup a guitar than KISS. You should read up on this stuff sometime it’s pretty interesting.