A History of what ACE did Outside of KISS

Phoenix 1990
@ Zia

>Hatched: 1951<

>Pygmie Musical Instrument: 1971<
Ace seemed to drift from band to band, like the ‘Muff Divers’ in 1969, then ‘Cathedral’ in 1970. Ace’s 1st recording experience was with the band ‘Molimo’ a 6 member band; Christine Murphy: Vocals,Tom Ellis: Vocals & Guitar, Roy Singer: Piano & Keyboards, Paul Frehley: Guitar, Barry Dempsey: Bass, Dave Polinski: Drums. which was signed to RCA Records. At this time Ace was playing a a Japanese Strat cut into a “Curved Flying V”. On 22 Mar 1971 on the radio show “Rock Stars” with Richard Robinson their song “East Of Yesterday” was played with an interview of 4 band members including Ace. On 7 Dec 1971 they recorded a 3 song demo
RCA #7-0265-2: 1. Golden Age 2. Wash My Sins Away 3. Look
Interesting to note: in 1974 Murphy, Ellis & Singer had a band “Tomorrow Morning” that was signed to Casablanca Records & Produced By: Kerner & Wise.

>Flash & Ability: 1972<

>Better Get To The Recordstore: 1984<

Ace’s post ‘KISS’ band was ‘Frehley’s Comet’ formed sometime in 1984, with Anton Fig: Drums, John Regan: Bass, Richie Scarlet: Guitar & Vocals & Arthur Stead: Keyboards. The band recorded a demo for Bronze Records:
1. Angel (Scarlet)
2. Rock Or Be Rocked (Frehley)
3. Back On The Streets (Scarlet: also recorded by: Vinnie Vincent: 1982)
4. Stranger In A Strange Land (Frehley: 1969)

With Ace’s ‘KISS’ contract expiring his band released their 1st LP on 7 Jul 1987 “Frehley’s Comet”. There were several other songs recorded as demos for consideration for the 1st LP some of those being:
I Will Survive
I Got The Touch
I’m an Animal
Back In My Arms Again
Audio/ Video (Catch My Fall)
Wired Up
The Hurt Is On
Girl Can’t Dance
You Make It Hard For Me

>Year Of The Comet: 1988<

The next release was an EP “Live +1” on 2 Feb 1988, recorded on 4 Sep 1987 in Chicago @ Aragon Ballroom a *VHS “Live + 4” was released around Summer 1988, but recorded on 19 Mar 1988 in London UK @ Hammersmith Odeon. The Band’s 2nd LP “Second Sighting” came out on 24 May 1988, this was Frehley’s most prolific year. For the 3rd LP Ace dropped the band name & went solo for “Trouble Walkin” released on 13 Oct 1989, thus fulfilling his Megaforce contract.

The 1st time I heard Ace “Live” was a radio broadcast of the 29 Jun 1987 show in Milwaukee, WI. @ Summerfest, where Todd Howarth sang “Love Me Right” instead of Ace. The 1st time I met him was at an “In-Store: Meet & Greet” @ ‘Zia Records’ in Tempe, AZ.

I was able to ask him a few questions:
RLS: “Do you still have your massive guitar collection?”
AF: “No, I sold a lot of them off years ago, it just got to be too much”
AF: “Where did you get these ’73 photos with the Spider Web backdrop? Do you know I still own my 1st set of leathers (the Charlie Brown ones)”
RLS: “Do you ever miss playing with the other 3?”
AF: “I just played with Paul & Gene in New York (26 Jun 1988 @ Limelight) & Criss joined me on Drums in L.A. (23 Aug 1987 in L.A. @ Wiltern)
RLS: “Did you have a good time? Do you think you’ll ever rejoin them?”
AF: “Yea, you know, I did, but, I’m not sure about that”
RLS: “Do you think your 1st lead vocal for KISS “Queen For A Day” from ‘Rock And Roll Over’ will ever be released?”
AF: “How do you know about that? no comment”
RLS: “Read in a magazine at the time, back in ’77”
AF: “Where’d you get this promo video (for “DoYa”)?”
RLS: “I work in the biz, you’re wearing a leather jacket on the beach wasn’t it hot?”
AF: No, it was winter, it was freezing out”
AF: “Do you have my new album (on Vinyl)?”
RLS: I have the vinyl back home; I just brought the cassette today”
AF: “Some girl asked me to sign her dog, I’ve never done that before (laughing)”
RLS: “You seem to play Phoenix every tour”
AF: “Regan & I like to catch some holes (of golf) when we tour”

Ace picked out a couple ‘Cheap Trick’ CDs & my sister Michelle took my photo with him. We then saw him that night, so here’s the set list:

2 April 1990 Phoenix, AZ @ “After The Gold Rush”
Shot Full of Rock
Trouble Walkin’
Insane
Cold Gin
Breakout
New York Groove
Rock Soldiers
Lost In Limbo
Do Ya
Shock Me
Ace’s Guitar Solo
Snowblind
2 Young 2 Die
Deuce
Rip It Out
Rocket Ride
Remember Me

>Cherokee Boogie: 1994<

It would be a while before Ace released anything, the next title was a *VHS “Ace Vision “Vol 1” in 1994, put out by Ace himself sold only at his concerts. The next time I saw Ace was for 2 shows in a row on 31 Oct 1994 Mon in Minneapolis @ Mirage & then again on 2 Nov 1994 Wed in Des Moines @ Safari Club. While Ace was back in ‘KISS’ 2 different tribute CDs were put out “Spacewalk” on 21 May 1996 with “Take Me To The City” by: Ace from his

Mar 1995 Demos: 1. Sister 2. Don’t Wanna Lose You 3. Take Me To The City 4. Too Far Gone from the album Ace was working on before the KISS Reunion Tours

Then followed by; “Return Of The Comet” in 1997 with the songs “Animal” & “Back On The Streets” by: Richie Scarlet from the 1984 Demos. Also while Ace was still in ‘KISS’ Regan took the opportunity to release 2 different compilations, the 1st being “12 Picks” on 8 Apr 1997, followed by; “Loaded Deck” on 20 Jan 1998, & sometime later “Greatest Hits Live” on 24 Jan 2006. Ace took some time off so the next time I was able to see him was 8 May 2008 Thurs in Minneapolis @ 1st Ave. not quite a year later he released his 5th solo album “Anomaly” on 15 Sep 2009.

Ace’s next release was a *DVD “Behind The Player” in 2010, followed by his 6th solo album “Space Invader” on 19 Aug 2014. By the way Ace started his new solo tour on 13 Nov 2014 in Brunswick, NJ.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving … It’s our 6th one in this location MrZer0