[rating=9.00]
There should never be an argument over who was the true heart of KISS.
Original guitarist Ace Frehley never ceases to remind the international fanbase of rock ‘n’ roll’s most fruitful experiment in marketing and commercial excess that he, in fact, has been the man who, once you strip away the costumes, kabuki makeup and toy lines, inspired so many music lovers to appreciate their most famous songs at their core essence. Ace was the band’s Keith Richards, and one does not have to look any further than his work outside of the KISS universe to cognate why his legend is more respected and appreciated more than the singular works of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss combined.
His solo album of the four released in 1978 was the only one anyone gave a shit about, let’s be honest. And, while Frehley’s Comet did have its foibles, it no doubt stood tall right alongside the best of what the non-makeup version of KISS with guitarist Bruce Kulick and the late, great Eric Carr accomplished in the 1980s. Perhaps even more so. Again, be real with yourself, what 1989 LP would you rather break out in 2014: Hot in the Shade or Trouble Walkin’? ‘Nuff said.
And though the 90s and most of the 00s did not bring much in terms of new music for Ace (mainly due to his obligations with the then-reunited original lineup of KISS), he made up for sorely missed time on the world stage in 2009 when he released the excellent Anomaly. It marked the first time Frehley sang on an entire record since Ace Frehley, not to mention his most critically acclaimed album. Indeed, stakes were set high for its follow-up, the just-released Space Invader, which once again features Ace handling the majority of the bass and guitar duties with assistance from such prolific pals as The Cult’s Chris Wyse and drummers Matt Starr of Bang Tango fame and the great Anton Fig from The Paul Shaffer Band.
By comparison to its predecessor, these 11 new songs finds Frehley gunning for a more sophisticated groove more akin to that fabled ’78 solo LP than anything else he’s done in the last 30 years, as tracks like “Toys”, “Immortal Pleasures” and “Reckless” signify. Meanwhile, you can also hear adventurous elements of Southern boogie on the driving “Gimme a Feelin'” and even Dunwich Records-style garage groove on “I Wanna Hold You”, while the album’s instrumental closer “Starship” features a jangle that seems to give a nod to Frehley’s love for The Byrds in an indirect way. The cover of the Steve Miller Band’s signature FM smash “The Joker” might seem like an odd choice at first. But just as he did when he blasted through Electric Light Orchestra’s “Do Ya” a quarter century ago on Trouble Walkin’, he cheekily makes the popular radio staple his own, letting Mr. Miller and company know who the real space cowboy is, was and always will be in these parts of the AOR territory.
Sure, we might allow him the dalliance of leaning on old cliches from time to time, and Space Invader is in no way void of them. But for any KISS fan who knows the truth behind who really brought the heart to the hottest band in the world during their most crucial years such things can be overlooked when you are just happy to see old Ace still alive and well, and creating some of the best commercial rock on your radio dial.
51 Responses
KISS is not KISS without Ace and Peter…….PERIOD!!! Gene and Paul have really screwed up, especially putting non-KISS members in true KISS members makeup!! Won’t ever go see the new, top 40 kiss…….not till it is again the KISS we all know and love!! And that is complete with Ace and Peter!!!
I guess it depends on what you mean by Gene and Paul screwed up. Gene’s net worth is $300 million. Paul $125 million. Peter $2 million. Ace $1.5 million. Gene and Paul certainly haven’t screwed up financially. And they’ve never pretended that making a bunch of money wasn’t their top priority.
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If success is measured by money, Gene or Paul could not carry Justin Biebers bags.
Justin Bieber doesn’t have a bag………..ay 300 million net worth,I don’t think Gene is to worried about any money that little hack has made……
Beiber’s net worth is $200 million. So Paul would have to cradle Beiber’s bags while Beiber would cradle Gene’s bags.
I don’t care how many records they’ve sold or how much money they’ve made. they lost the soul of KISS in the process. they’ve become a parody of what used to be a great band.
I do hope you know that the $1.5M is an error, if you went by the Forbes site. They have hundreds of errors. Ace is worth $15M +. He isn’t going broke. He let that house go in NY, it was cheaper for him to do it. He gets paid big royalties from everything KISS. He does dozens of conventions and makes $5k at each just to show up. I saw him recently live and at a convention, $400 a pop to sign a guitar. He tours all over. He has money invested in numerous things, plus he’s clean and sober so he’s not pissing through dough. Peter on the other hand is the poorest of the bunch. He without fighting signed a cheap royalty deal, and honestly hasn’t done a single thing since he left KISS.
ACW – Pappy is in tune with the music and I would say there is a generation gap between he and you.
Guys like Pappy and myself, kids of the late 60’s and 70’s remember a time when the music was about the music. KISS was a monster band back in the mid-late 70’s and their sound was phenomenal. I wore my vinyl copies of Destroyer and Alive II down to the nub.
Unfortunately KISS has soldiered on without the original members, without the original sound by kicking out nondescript generic song after song……..BLAH!
So it is about music to some, money to others. I would suggest anybody who read this article and doesn’t understand the reference to Keith Richards…..then you aren’t really about the music.
That is to say, Keith Richards never found the commercial success of the Stones, but his solo stuff, most notably Main Offender just blows the Stones out of the competition.
This all IMO of course.
Come on pal, you and this writer need to take off your blinders. Comparing Ace to Keith Richards is a freakin joke. First off, Keith Richards co-wrote all the Stones stuff with Mick. What songs did Ace ever write? Keith and Mick were the Stones. KISS was never about Ace. Sure he is a good guitarist, but I have seen many take over the duties of guitarists and they do fine. KISS really never did make classic music. The legend of KISS is bigger than the music of KISS. Most KISS fans became KISS fans when they were 8 years old. You think an 8 year old knows what real music is? As for the new music, name a band 40 years later that is making music that on par with their earlier stuff. Sure, it is easy to say KISS regressed when Ace left, that was going to happen with or without Ace. Ace just got out at the right time. But all these Gene and Paul bashers, I don’t blame them one bit. Ace and Peter were losers. They were drug addicts. I’d throw their butts out too. And have you ever met Ace before, the guy is a complete jackass. You all can continue your crushes when you were 8 years old if you like.
And please to say Keith Richards solo album blows away anything the Stones have done is a stupid thing to say….that is YOUR OPINION. The opinions of this planet tells otherwise. The Rolling Stones are largely viewed as the 2nd biggest rock n roll band ever. Again, take off your blinders.
Peter Criss does NOT have the chops to play anymore, ever since he got breast cancer. You may not like the new lineup, but they’re out there playing gigs, and people are paying to see them. They aren’t going away any time soon. I saw them 4 years ago and they were awesome!
Most rock bands from the 70’s and 80’s are no longer with us, either physically or emotionally. Many OD’d, can’t sing or play anymore, and just don’t have the chops. KISS is still going strong, so if you don’t like them, don’t listen.
Kiss was my first concert ever. The year was 1976 or 1977 and they played Freedom Hall in Louisville with AC/DC. This was the best concert I have ever attended (period).
Actually I saw KISS with Aerosmith a few years back in Cincinnatti and Aerosmith literally blew KISS off the stage.
It is what it is.
I’d like to “screw up” like Gene and Paul. They are making the bucks, an whether you like it or not, at the end of the day, the bucks will support you in your old age, Can you claim that much on your income tax return? You can say they sell out or whatever you want, but they are still out there making (most of) their fans happy, entertaining them. If you look at some of the so-called musicians of today, they can’t play much and the music sucks. So, yeah, I’d like to “screw up” like Gene and Paul. They will be remembered long after the punks like Justin Beiber are long gone.
I totally agree – and what is currently on tour now is merely a Kiss-Tribute band, and they are really not that good either. All because you dress 2 players up as ACE and Peter…IT IS NOT THE REAL KISS. But Paul and Gene are adamant to insist that they are…bullshit, really. Ace was and still is the best of the four…my generations Jimi Hendrix/Guitar Hero – I play the guitar now because of Ace Frehley – his new CD is totally Great !!
Ace and Peter both rode the coattails of Gene and Paul. Peter is a good drummer yes, but not a great drummer. I always loved ACE and I am happy for his new CD. He seems to finally have kicked his old habits. Peter and ACE both threw away their success. They both sold the rights to their make-up and costumes…They both had several chances. I think Tommy plays circles around ACE, in fact Tommy is the one that had to re-teach ACE his own lines…If you have ever followed the band from the beginning you would know this. Where is Peter by the way?? He is probably asking the same question…
It’s an amazing cd. i have to be honest. I never thought Ace would release a cd this good this late in his career. The only song I did not care for when I first purchased this cd (and yes I actually went to a music store and paid for this cd) was Immortal Pleasures but, now I even like that track, especially the guitar solo. I still hear the old Kiss sound when I listen
to Anomaly and Space Invader. I still like Kiss a lot but, I see now why Kiss was never able to capture the classic Kiss sound once Ace left. It’s because that sound belongs to Ace and Ace alone.
Hey Shane,
I couldn’t agree with you more. Not as surprised as you about Ace’s age and him putting out a very solid solo album. Ace was a big part of Kiss sound.
Does anybody edit these articles? Spelling and grammar issues destroy the writer’s credibility. I won’t be listening to a new album from a 60 yr old has-been. Thanks!
Easy Gene!
And by the way, where’s your album? Oh wait, you don’t have one! You probably flip burgers at McDonalds. Dickhead!
LOL, that was definitely either Gene or Paul.
” Has Been ” my ass ! A ” Has Been ” does NOT release a Top 10 CD that is totally great. You are living in a cloud. The talent is there, the CD is there – and ACE is there – so be quiet. As the saying goes ; if you don’t have anything nice to say….DON’T say it !
He’s 63, not 60. And this 63-year-old can play rings around most of the good players out there, with the exception of the shredders which I, for one, don’t care anything about that nonsense. If you’re not going to listen to the album, it’s your loss. If you happened to have liked him at one time, I can tell you the guitar playing is phenomenal. It’s on a par with his 78 record or 75-76 when he was considered one of the hottest guitar players in the world. This CD is THAT good.
Dummy.
I remember getting all four solo albums, the only one that had any decent music was Ace’s.
I have recently stopped liking KISS, Gene Simmons is a self absorbed cretin with delusions of grandeur, after his callous comments recently about Robin Williams and depression. I wouldn’t walk across the street to see a free KISS concert.
Um…his comments were made way before Robin’s suicide. They only came to light afterwards. Therefore, your belief that he was insulting the memory of Robin is inaccurate.
I don’t agree with geans opinions either but that’s why we live in America we can believe what we want and the comment was not directed towardsRobin Williams at all it was a general statement read the articverle guys before you form an opinion
Ace Freahely is the most under ratted guitarist of the century mostly all hair bands of the eighties and early nineties own the power cords and shredding guitar leads to Ace .he was an intricate piece of the original Kiss sound but lets give credit to Gene and Paul for keeping the kiss band wagon alive they did have some killer guitar player in Vinnie Vincent mark saint john and Bruce kulick they just involved as time went on with each guitarist they had there’s nothing wrong with that in this business you have to be a chameleon and change or die Im still a big kiss fan it goes beyond the music but I love Ace as the artist he is Rock on Ace
This is one great album(CD).The more I listen to Space Invader,the more I like it.This has got to be Ace’s best album,since his Solo album,from 1978.Rock on ACE
Although true, that really isn’t saying much. That being said, I think I still prefer Anomaly.
Ace is by far my favorite guitarist. His songs and playing reach inside me and connect in a way that no other can. His music is audible emotion. Gene was correct when he said that Ace’s playing has been copied but never duplicated. He is the truest definition of a rock star. Love the CD!!! Yes I went to a store to buy my copy as well, brought me back to the days when the release of a new album was an event. Space Safely my friends!
If you’re a Kiss fan, you’ve got to check out the book “Starman” by Michael Francis”. He was a bodyguard who worked security for McCartney, Zeppelin, Cher, Bon Jovi and Kiss among others, and he’s got some amazing stories to tell. Francis has one highly memorable story about being on tour with the reunited original Kiss, where Ace meets up on the road with some of his relatives of his who take him hunting, and… I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say that as the story evolves pretty soon a SWAT team is involved.
To compare the band members as solo artists is a stupid thing to be arguing over. Each of them have different parts to form the whole. I agree that Kiss was at its best when the four original members were together. But as the lead guitarist of course you will be the spotlighted member, but remember that Ace, had to leave because he was so trashed on heroin that he didnt know his dick from his guitar. No disrespect, but he was not even able to remember how to play the songs. Paul and Gene were the only ones that had the strength to continue going and had they been as bad off as Ace, most ppeople would not even remember who Kiss is. As far as them being old, Tim the older you are, the more experience you have, an old artists new music is better than anything else. Give it a listen and learn kid. Also, few drummers can compare to peter criss, he was amazing for his time… and only better today]
Peter Criss is even better today? WHAT!? Better than who, a 6 year old? Peter was a decent drummer when he was in KISS, but no star by ANY means. One of the reasons he was such an “influence” because his chops were incredibly easy for aspiring drummers to follow along with. I for one, started playing drums because of Peter Criss. Shortly thereafter I discovered drummers like Neil Peart. Do I really need to go on? Once the speed of metal and punk came in and double-base drum tempos came around, Peter was finished. Ask any drummer to compare what Peter was doing with the speed and technical ability that Eric Carr brought to the band.
This is about Ace though – I digress. I really liked the Comet stuff, and thought Anomaly was some of his best stuff ever. It’s a shame that he let drugs and alcohol drive him out of a fantastic career. He was great with Eric Carr and would be pretty solid with Eric Singer. Again – the technical chops and speed that Bruce Kulick and Tommy Thayer bring to the fold are above Ace’s abilities. Just my humble opinion as a musician.
Entertainment-wise. There never has been, and from what I see now, probably never will be another band like KISS. GWAR tried but fell into obscurity as a joke. There is no other show like a KISS show. Never mind that it’s genuine. So many of the top-40 garbage acts get caught lip-synching or singing along to back tracks. I saw one act where a musician just stopped playing, went over to the side of the stage, got a bottle of water and came back. NOT a single change in the music. Hilarious.
We’re really lucky to have experienced KISS. Some will laugh, but it’s like Star Wars or Disney. My kid’s kids will have KISS.
I guess you also think Buddy Rich was a crappy drummer also.
You are fucking clueless, you idiot. Ace Frehley did A LOT of bad stuff, but never heroin. NEVER. You’re a god damn moron.
I bought the deluxe cd at Best Buy and figured I wouldn’t be taking a chance on Ace’s credibility as a guitarist songwriter. I read positive reviews before I bought it and that was enough. I would have gotten it anyway. I love Ace’s music. Always have. No need to to diss Gene and Paul but Tommy Thayer won’t ever really fill in Ace’s shoes.
Anyone that has t ruely followed this band say from mid to late 1970’s thru all the 80’s 90’s all way thru today knows kiss was never better without ace and peter. I was there for sure. And it was all ace for me . The sound of his guitar play in just caught me and I was hooked ever since. I respected all lineups from the non makeup era and loved eemail all.I thought vinniebguitar work with kiss was just awesome…still some of my fav from 80’s .but back to ace he has a certain knack about him @nd his style and its just great . I know hes not a technical guitar player but maybe thats just what makes his sound n style so much pure.unlike others they maybe all sound the same.he sure is the one made me have a passion for music n guitars and inspired me to wanna play guitar. And like many others he has touched in simular way musically.I give him the most credit for kiss music especially from a musician point of view. Regardless of what one may think u take his playing out of kiss records he was part of you would have a total ddifferent band and sound. And I also ruely believe paul n gene know this thats why they dress up two bozos n their makeup and try and remake history with their original look and sound.tommy to me sucks I cant stand nothing about this poser.I do not support current kiss. Ace new record says a lot about him . And its great hes sober n clean and back to was he does so good.
I was there since 1973 and you couldn’t be more wrong.
I have been a fan of KISS since they came out on stage.. I was not happy when ace and peter left. I recently bought the new book of Paul Stanley and learned things i did not know about Peter and Ace after reading it no wonder they had done what they did. If you get the book you will know what I mean by this. What Ace and Peter did i would rather not say online. My suggestion get the book and you will learn more if you do not have it. But i do agree that KISS is not KISS with out them.
You’re right, Ace is the heart. He was writing the songs, singing the hits, busting his ass in the studio to put out two albums a year while simultaneously creating a marketing model that would be followed by everyone that came after. Oh wait… that was paul and gene. Ace wasn’t even in the studio, Bob Kulick was more of the heart than ace from the solo albums on.
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Ace! I can’t wait to get the new album. Ace drove me to play guitar and for that I will always be thankful. Guitar rock that is fun, that’s all it needs to be.
I have been a huge lifelong fan of KISS from 1976. My first concert ever was Kiss in 1977 at the LA Forum with Cheap Trick. I have been to about 15 more since then.
I have read and watched everything KISS related and have all the books/mags/comics and a huge Kiss collection. The best Kiss guitarist technically was Bruce Kulick. The one with the most style and grit was Ace. I have all the albums/remasters/imports and the top 5 in studio (not Live) in my opinion are, not in any order.
1. Destroyer
2. Revenge
3. Kiss
4. Animalize
5. Psycho Circus
Ace is the lead on 3 of these. Ace is the original and 3 of the top 5. Ace is the best.
I’m not sure how this is an album review. It reads like the script of an infomercial for Ace Frehley. It seems the “reviewer” may like the record but he didn’t spend much time actually talking about it.
I know. Ron just comes across as a Ace slappy. He spends one whole paragraph talking about the cd.
ace was the heart of kiss…..when he and peter were fired because gene’s ego couldnt handle someone with real talent anywhere near him……kiss was a joke after the scripted t.v. show….now with the football…wtf? for someone who prizes his cash so much…you just wasted millions…..lol i liked kiss better when they were 4 guys in makeup staying anonymous….not huge ego gene and plastic faced paul showing why ace and pete are better off
You must also be an alcoholic and drug addicted idiot (just like Peter and Ace) if you believe that one.
Wow, what a bias review. Glad the reviewer lays it all out there so we know that this review comes from an Ace slappy. Comparing Ace to Keith Richards is a freakin joke. First off, Keith Richards co-wrote all the Stones stuff with Mick. What songs did Ace ever write? Keith and Mick were the Stones. KISS was never about Ace. Sure he is a good guitarist, but I have seen many take over the duties of guitarists and they do fine. KISS really never did make classic music. The legend of KISS is bigger than the music of KISS. Most KISS fans became KISS fans when they were 8 years old. You think an 8 year old knows what real music is? As for the new music, name a band 40 years later that is making music that on par with their earlier stuff. Sure, it is easy to say KISS regressed when Ace left, that was going to happen with or without Ace. Ace just got out at the right time. But all these Gene and Paul bashers, I don’t blame them one bit. Ace and Peter were losers. They were drug addicts. I’d throw their butts out too. And have you ever met Ace before, the guy is a complete jackass. You all can continue your crushes when you were 8 years old if you like.
Nice review….you certainly hit the nail right on the head when you started out noting that Ace was, is and always will be, the one devoted and true musician, in the faux rock n’ roll band called KISS. Chaim and Stanley, the Laurel and Hardy of the merchandising conglomerate known as KISS. have drifted sao far from music that it is a joke to have them voted into the R&R Hall of Fame. In keeping things in the moment, look around, and you will see Ace. now alive and well and clean and sober but for the Grace of God, hard at work at his craft….musician, song writer and singer.As for the other members of the band…check out where they stand these days. I mean, c’mon, KISS and FOOTBALL !!!! Give me…no…give ALL OF US A BREAK, Chaim and Paul. In a perfect world, Ace should have whipped Simmons and Stanley’s ass a hundred times over for the disrespect the two tried to heap on Ace and Peter for their past excesses. And now, to see a scawny Paul Stanley in a locker room trying to muster up a believable Knute Rockne-like pre-game speech in front of a squad of football wannabes, one has to wonder…..ARE YOU SURE THESE GUYS WERE MEMBERS OF A BAND IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME??? It’s rather pathetic, but since this is really about Ace and his new release “Space Invader”, let me say, that through it all, and especially now, Ace has taken the high road, devoting himself to his music, while Simmons and Stanley continue on as a true embarassment of the original band and rock n roll itself. Bravo Ace, Bravo !
Ace was definitely not the heart of Kiss. If you remove the heart from something, it dies. Kiss did not die after he was kicked out for being an alcoholic idiot. Gene and Paul carried on fine. In fact, Bruce was twice the guitarist Ace will ever be. Just like Eric was twice the drummer Peter will ever be. You moronic people can’t get over the fact that Gene and Paul are Kiss. I like Ace and Peter, but I am also smart enough to know that Kiss is better off without them.
KISS feuding is stale and tiresome. Time should be spent celebrating the band, the institution, the way of life, etc. known as KISS.
People should keep in mind that inflated egos and self-absorbed personalities can be as impairing and intoxicating as drugs and alcohol. I would rather read about what Ace, Peter, Gene and Paul “did”, as opposed to what these former band mates say other members “didn’t” do. Telling the world in 2014 who or whom should be given credit for the song “Beth” which appeared on a massively successful 1976 album is a classic example of a nonsensical approach to a celebration of 40 years of KISS. That’s what happens when ego reaches larger than life size proportions (to use Gene’s language from Second Coming). The fans want a celebration, not irrelevant, ongoing criticism of any of the founding members of KISS.
A sober Frehley equals a far superior rock musician than two guys who have been obsessed with knocking down the former members so far removed in time from when they all played together (October 2000). Ace lets his music do the talking. He’s all about the music. He’s spot on when he suggests that KISS should focus more on their music.