The one thing that kisses off Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley warms up for his Australian tour in Townsville.
Source: News Corp Australia

“The press, at least in the States, tries to play up the fact that there’s a lot of fighting and bickering going on, but that’s completely overrated,” says Frehley, who plays Brisbane tonight.

“We have our disagreements from time to time, but we’re all still friends.”

However there is one thing Frehley is annoyed about, and it concerns the band’s induction to the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame last year.

“The only downside to that whole event was the fact that Paul (Stanley) and Gene (Simmons) opted not to perform with me and Peter (Criss),” he says.

“And that was unfortunate, because that was a moment in time we’ll never get back.”

Stanley and Simmons were unhappy only the original line-up was inducted, at the expense of current members Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer.

Ace Frehley (second from left) in more KISSterical times with his bandmates in Australia.

Frehley is now physically closer to the band’s founders, having moved to California from his native New York.

“My fiancee Racheal Gordon is a west coast gal and couldn’t really handle the New York winters,” Frehley says.

“To be honest with you, I’m not too fond of them any more myself!”

A major factor behind Frehley’s dumping from KISS was his infamous history of substance abuse, but he’s proud to report he’s now been clean and sober for eight years.

“I feel great and it’s nice to remember what I did the night before — where I was,” he chuckles.

“My ability to focus and put out good work has definitely improved with sobriety.”

Onetime KISS ghost drummer Anton Fig, who filled in for Peter Criss on his last two KISS albums in the late ’70s, has been a fixture on Frehley’s solo albums — until now.

“The biggest reason Anton didn’t play on the record is that I’ve relocated to the west coast and Anton’s on the east coast, and he’s kinda stuck there cos he’s doing the David Letterman Show,” Frehley says.

“I opted to use my last touring drummer Matt Starr on the record, and then unfortunately Matt went on tour with Mr Big after he finished the album and wasn’t able to do my American tour which we did in November, so I got back my old drummer Scot Coogan and he’s just been working out great.

“I have Richie Scarlet back on guitar who I worked with in the ’80s and ’90s, and I have Chris Wyse on bass, who has his own group Owl and also performed with The Cult.”

Frehley says the response to his latest solo record Space Invader has been phenomenal.

“The reviews have been overwhelmingly favourable, and some reviewers have gone as far to say it’s one of my best records and is as good as my ’78 solo album, which everybody usually cites as their favourite Ace record,” he says.

“So I couldn’t be happier about the way the record was received and the way the fans have reacted to the songs live.”

The current Australian tour is on the back of Space Invader, but the Spaceman says the shows will be representative of his whole career.

“(There’s) stuff off my first solo record, Frehley’s Comet songs, we’re doing three or more off the new CD Space Invader, and some KISS classics,” he says.

Meanwhile, Frehley has already started laying down tracks for his next album.

“Before I came out to Australia I actually went in the studio and started recording my new album, which is gonna be primarily covers and remakes,” he says.

“We’re looking towards a (northern) fall release for that.

“It’ll pretty much be representative of all the groups that influenced me during my career, and some KISS songs I’m gonna redo, so far it’s been a real fun process.

“I think everybody’s going to be pleasantly surprised with it.”

Frehley plays The Tivoli (Brisbane) April 28, Metro Theatre (Sydney) April 30, Wrestpoint Showroom (Hobart) May 1, Forum Theatre (Melbourne) May 2, The Gov (Adelaide) May 6, Astor Theatre (Mt Lawley) May 7

Originally published as The one thing that kisses off Ace Frehley
www.news.com.au/entertainment/music