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Last Updated: February 10, 2010 1:42 AM




ACE FREHLEY Scraps Fan Meet-And-Greets - May 28, 2008
Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley appears to have abandoned the idea of taking part in fan meet-and-greets during his forthcoming European tour.

Says Ace: "As you know, we've been experimenting, as have other performers, with the idea of meeting and greeting my fans at the end of a concert.

"A few days ago [on May 22], we had such a meet-and-greet at my show in Nashville. While it was a good event, upon reflection, I have ideas which would make such meetings spectacular. I want this to be an incredible experience for my fans.

"Until I have time to perfect these meet-and-greets, I have decided not to have any on this European tour.

"I hope to have this in place by my next European tour. In the meantime, I hope to see all of you at my scheduled tour dates, which remain unchanged."

For a list of upcoming Ace Frehley shows, click here.

In a recent interview with Billboard, Frehley stated about his forthcoming solo album — which is tentatively due before the end of the year — "Basically, I'm trying to get back into the mindset I was in when I did my first solo record [1978's 'Ace Frehley']. That record seemed to have all the elements everybody liked — a real cool instrumental, a hit single, some real heavy rockers, a nice variety of different genres of music."

Among his favorite new tracks are "A Little Below the Angels", hard-rocking "Pain in the Neck" and an instrumental called "Fractured Quantum", which is a follow-up to his previous instrumentals "Fractured Mirror" and "Fractured Too". Another favorite is "groove song" titled "Genghis Khan", which he likens in tone to LED ZEPPELIN's "Kashmir".

Frehley recently told MyrtleBeachOnline.com that he's shooting for 12 tracks on his next album, his first in 18 years. Studio work has spanned more than 6 months, and some of the songs go back 12 years.

Frehley is currently on the road fronting a band that features second guitarist Derek Hawkins, drummer Scot Coogan (ex-BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION) and bassist Anthony Esposito (ex-LYNCH MOB).

While they all contribute with vocals, most of the burden is on Frehley, who historically has been shy at the mike.

"To me, singing is a necessary evil," he said. "I consider myself a guitar player and a songwriter, and because I write these songs I gotta sing them. I remember last year when I was thinking about putting the band together, some people were saying, 'Ace, you should get a powerhouse frontman.' But a lot of these songs I've been singing for years, either solo or with KISS. What's this front guy going to do when I'm singing lead? Play a tambourine," he said, cracking up.

On how he has improved as a player:

"I think I'm a little more accurate and more focused. When I drink and perform, I was maybe a little more animated, but there were more clinkers and I played sloppier and stuff. I'm just more focused now and more in charge."

On the current state of rock music:

"There are some good bands out there, but some of the screaming stuff lacks melody. I mean, if I have to choose between the two, I'll take something where I can pick out the melody — something where when you walk away from it, you can hum, something that will recirculate in your brain. Some of the best guitar solos are the slower ones. You can't really hum something when you're playing 3 million notes per second."

"I listen to a lot of the old stuff I used to listen to — HENDRIX, ZEPPELIN, THE WHO, CREAM, JEFF BECK — the stuff I grew up on. It still works today, whereas a lot of music when you play it today it really sounds really dated. A lot of the groups that influenced me, they still sound good."

Fan-filmed video footage of Ace Frehley performing in Mt. Clemens, Michigan on March 9, 2008 can be viewed below (courtesy of "74BlackDiamond74").



(Thanks: Asbjorn Slettemark / Pyro Rock Show, NRK P3)
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COMMENT | Thayer > Frehley
posted by : ThayerIsGod
5/28/2008 7:35:19 AM

Tommy Thayer is the greatest Spaceman to ever live, however, I'll give Ace the benefit of the doubt here. But if he doesn't follow though and meet with fans down the road, it'll just be more of the same 'ol Ace.

I just feel bad for the fans who aren't going to get a chance to meet him since so many of them look up to him and worship him in unhealthy ways.

Still, if there is this great idea that he has, I don't see why he couldn't meet people this time and work in his idea for the next time.

COMMENT |
posted by : Maiden Wales
5/28/2008 7:39:44 AM

If he didn't want to meet his fans and used a better excuse such as he didn't beleive in exploiting his fan base by asking for extortinate rates to meet their idol, he may have come across better.

COMMENT | SHYNESS AND DRINKING
posted by : VANDEL
5/28/2008 7:43:01 AM

I read somewhere that Ace is very shy and that accounts for some of his pass drinking problems. maybe the meet and greets were causing stress and he was afraid of having a relapse. maybe he is serious about staying sober this time. I wish him luck. Besides that meet and greets are lame anyway. A quick hello and autograph for standing in line for 4 hours.not for me.

COMMENT |
posted by : Maiden Wales
5/28/2008 7:57:58 AM

Or maybe could just do what Iron Maiden do and just meet the fans for free.

COMMENT | Nashville Meet N Greet
posted by : AAronDavidRocks
5/28/2008 8:44:59 AM

We were at the Meet N Greet in Nashville. We payed $75 which included an Ace Frehley 2008 T-Shirt, Meet N Greet Passes, a Professional Photograph with The Band and KILLER SEATS.

At the Meet N Greet (after the show) we were shuffled thru really quick. It seemed like as soon as Ace would start talking to you, one of the staffers would yell "next!"

It appeared to me that Ace was getting fustrated because the fans were being shuffled through so fast.

It was still really awesome to meet Ace and The Band even if it was only for a second. Ace took the time to talk to and pal around with my son (who's name is also Ace) and came off as a super cool guy.

I am sure that there were people who were upset with the way they got pushed thru the Meet N Greet, but believe me this was no fault of Ace Frehley or his band.

Oh, and Ace was Stone Sober and the show was Phenomenal... Stupid Haters.

COMMENT |
posted by : JRSPON
5/28/2008 9:20:41 AM

The fans are who put him in this music world, he should spend the time with them ans sign autographs, Hell, Tommy does, And his line is longer.

COMMENT |
posted by : nyc333
5/28/2008 9:37:15 AM

He is doing this due to the staff making this un-pleasurable for the fans, dont you feel like an ass for jumping to conclusions? The meet and greets where getting shorter and shorter due to venue and security restrictions. you can remove your head from you ass now.

COMMENT | Ace says: "I want to perfect the meet and greet:
posted by : j_landen
5/28/2008 10:27:55 AM

Ace means: " I want to be able to charge as much as Kiss does for their Meet and Greets and not sign any Kiss stuff for these suckers - solo Ace stuff Only!"

COMMENT | According to Ace
posted by : Dave Levine
5/28/2008 10:34:23 AM

Ace is a lazy bastard.

Also, the guy will have different moods like any other human. I'm sure he is a cool guy but then gets overwhelmed with shit that even rockstars have to cope with. I don't just dismiss people as assholes that quickly (with the exception of here at BM) everyone has their days.

COMMENT |
posted by : Metal2TheMAX
5/28/2008 10:39:32 AM

DO YOU EXPECT THE GUY WHO MAKES YOUR LIGHT BULBS TO MEET YOU? Yeah you pay his bills and you get a service for your money. In Ace's case you get entertainment. He doesn't owe anyone SHIT!

COMMENT |
posted by : RiotAct666
5/28/2008 11:00:16 AM

Saw Ace live this year. He sounded great and played great too. Hurry up and release that new solo album.

COMMENT | Ace is the man.
posted by : THRASHMONGER
5/28/2008 11:24:54 AM

None of you whining douchefucks have any idea what it's like to feel hounded all the fucking time, everyone in the world wants your attention all fucking day, etc. The guy's chronically shy which was a huge part of his alcoholism. Now that he's sober, he's being put through the fucking gauntlet, having to meet people and be social bla bla bla. In his mind, he's a guitarist. In everyone else's mind, he's a rock hero, role model, whatever other bullshit we foist on the guy. He doesn't owe anyone anything. The guy is trying to develop some coping mechanisms in lieu of drinking. He just wasn't ready to do it yet. I'm just happy he's playing at all. I saw him twice on this tour, he KILLED both times, and that was plenty for me. You all sound like you have sand in your vaginas. Grow up.

COMMENT | he played great in Vegas..
posted by : frehleysvomit
5/28/2008 11:40:11 AM

..but pulled the same shit here in March.
I don't for a second believe he's staying on the wagon.
I think he just wants to isolate himself further from the outside world like a typical addict and that he's been on the road too long after staying at home too long. It's got to be killing him to work this hard after having someone else do all the heavy lifting for thirty five years.

By the way, that new album should be called Frehley's Democracy.

Do not expect it out this year.

COMMENT |
posted by : Maiden Wales
5/28/2008 12:06:41 PM

If the guy who made my lightbulbs could trade places with Ace Frehley then yeah I beleive he would love to meet people/travel the world etc.. but then lifes not like that.
unfortunately when you make the decision to be part of the entertainment industry then you have to expect to take on everything that goes with it.


COMMENT |
posted by : SchecterShredder
5/28/2008 12:06:55 PM

Ace is sober. Period. This I KNOW. And lets face it, meet and greets are awkward. For both fans and more so for the artists because people are so fucking stupid now. Hey Ace, are you going to be playing with Kiss again? Imgine the agony of hearing that OVER and OVER again...

COMMENT | JRSPON
posted by : Neil Young's Cocaine Booger
5/28/2008 12:29:16 PM

The only reason the line is longer is because KI$$ fans are idiots and still think that is Ace!!!!!!

We all know Tommy GAYER is the worst guitarist to ever play with KI$$.....the guy is the Joe Besser of KI$$!!!!!!

COMMENT | tough shit
posted by : glenecho
5/28/2008 12:41:05 PM

Ace is notoriously shy and a very socially awkward guy. I saw him at the St. Louis show and heard from several sources that the meet-and-greets that were allowed didn't go well and that Ace has a lot of real difficulties with fan interaction. Considering the high quotient of idiots out there, I don't blame him.

COMMENT | Neil Young's
posted by : JRSPON
5/28/2008 12:45:45 PM

Was kidding about the line being longer for Tommy. Only met Ace one time, he was drunk off his ass, i am glad he is sober today, But, for $75.00 he should at least spend time with the fan.

COMMENT | Considering the high quotient of idiots out there, I don't blame him.
posted by : Italian Ace
5/28/2008 12:47:30 PM

I agree

COMMENT | The guy is the Joe Besser of KI$$!!!!!!
posted by : oldskool
5/28/2008 1:02:55 PM

Best comparison ever! LOL!

COMMENT | we need lightbulbs
posted by : EarthSkynSea
5/28/2008 2:16:08 PM

we dont need ace's music.

COMMENT |
posted by : stwla888
5/28/2008 3:27:58 PM

I had to pay $50 to meet that fucker so he could sign my kissology. That was joining his dumb fanclub. Then the reunion happened and that was the end of the fanclub. Not worth meeting. He doesn't sign guitars.

COMMENT | ace
posted by : master of poopheads
5/28/2008 3:56:03 PM

lazy is as lazy does.

COMMENT | David
posted by : JRSPON
5/28/2008 4:58:02 PM

That has me a little confused also>>>

COMMENT |
posted by : steve_oz_49
5/28/2008 7:45:47 PM

i am just hoping that his solo album isn't nearly as lame as this song! WOW, does his brain only function long enough to write three repeating lines??????????????????????

Bruce Kulick gets my vote as best KISS guitarist

COMMENT | if you don't wanna be dis-illusioned
posted by : zeets
5/28/2008 9:35:29 PM

....don't pay to meet your "heroes"

i'd never pay or meet for free, any of my favourite "rock stars". why? because just like people in everyday life, not everyone is going to be a gracious pleasnt person. just as there's assholes in the general public, there's assholes in rock.

maybe ace is a prick, who cares? i'll just listen to his music and appreciate that.

COMMENT |
posted by : arteest
5/29/2008 12:06:55 PM

I love reading this stuff!! It is beyond hilarious.

I'd like to meet Ace just because he can sing "grab ahold of my rocket!!!!" with a straight face.

COMMENT | kiss my ass 4318
posted by : Dave Levine
5/29/2008 6:18:38 PM

I hear what you are saying but I just don't get the point of Ace being a former junkie being mentioned. To me that is irrelevant. If anything, it is much better than being a current junkie and it demonstrates that he had the extreme strength to disengage himself from the tight grip of heroin and other lethal chemicals. Ex- junkie to me is actually a very positive trait. BTW, I like the point of meeting the maker for free.

COMMENT | Re: There are Those
posted by : HollywoodHardRocker
8/5/2009 7:09:05 PM

Nice Song But... Did you ever think that Wendy's book may have had something to do with Ace's Cleanup? Hmmm I didn't think so that would actully take some thought. Good luck with your musical career...



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