Ace Frehley to perform his 1978 Solo Album in its entirety at New Jersey KISS Expo

Blabbermouth

Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his acclaimed solo debut by performing the album for the first time in its entirety on the final day of the New Jersey Kiss Expo 2018, which will take place December 7-9 at the Hilton Parsippany in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Other guests scheduled to appear at the event include Lita FordBobby Rock (VINNIE VINCENT INVASIONNELSON), Lydia Criss and artist Ken Kelly (“Destroyer”“Love Gun”).

Tickets are on sale now at NJKissExpo.com.

Co-produced with frequent KISS collaborator Eddie Kramer“Ace Frehley” is widely hailed as the best of the four KISS solo albums released simultaneously in 1978. It peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 and outsold the solo efforts of his three bandmates.

Regarding how the decision to perform all of “Ace Frehley” came about, the guitarist told BUILD Series: “It came from the people putting the event together and some of the people who work for me. They all said it would be a great idea, and I said, ‘Yeah, I think it would be,’ so we’re going to make it happen.”

In addition to a trio of songs (“Snow Blind”“Ozone”“Wiped-Out”) that reflect Frehley‘s extracurricular interests at the time, the album includes a cover of HELLO‘s 1975 song “New York Groove”, which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and remains a staple of the guitarist’s live performances today.

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Interview: Ace Frehley On New Solo Album, Possible KISS Reunion

Houston Press

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and original KISS lead guitarist, Ace Frehley has a new solo album coming out on October 19 called Spaceman; meanwhile KISS recently announced their multi-year ‘End of the Road’ farewell world tour. We got a chance to talk with Frehley about this and more over the phone recently.

INTERVIEW: ACE FREHLEY

Ace Frehley has a new solo album coming out on October 19 called Spaceman.

Houston Press: Why did you decide to call your new album Spaceman?

Ace Frehley: Actually it was Gene Simmons’ idea. [Laughs] I was doing a question and answer session with him in Miami at one of his Vault Experiences and I originally wanted to call the record 40 Years Laterbecause it’s been 40 years since my first solo album and I was kind of polling the audience to get a reaction and it was kind of lukewarm and then Gene got on the microphone and said [Imitating Gene’s Voice] “Ace you have to call it Spaceman,” so I went along with Gene’s idea.

Houston Press: That outfit you’re wearing on the cover of your new album; who came up with that? Was is something a wardrobe designer made for you or is that your own outfit?

Ace Frehley: Well if you check the internet you can find pictures of me in a similar outfit sitting on a plexiglass chair which was a photo session I did with makeup. The photo session was done with Barry Levine who at the time was a very big rock photographer and we did several sessions with him over the years. But I’m sitting in a plexiglass chair with a silver jumpsuit and there’s fog inside the chair and around me. So we kind of did a takeoff of that photo session with this new album cover.

Houston Press: I listened to your new album and I really liked it; the song ‘Without You I’m Nothing’ was that written about anyone in particular?

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Dan and Dan Music Podcast – Episode 83 “Paul Stanley of KISS!!!”

Dan and Dan

Paul Stanley is the frontman for one of the greatest Rock and Roll bands of all-time, KISS. But did you know he is also a fine artist? He’ll be in the Philadelphia area this week to showcase his artwork and calls in to the podcast to talk about his love of painting and art outside of music. Paul previews the upcoming KISS farewell tour, details his relationship with Gene Simmons, tells us his favorite KISS album, and lots more. It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Paul Stanley: Kiss farewell tour could include ex-members

Wayne Parry | Times Union

In an interview in Atlantic City where he was promoting his artwork, Stanley told The Associated Press the band’s “End of the Road” world tour starting next year could include appearances by former members. He did not single out anyone by name, but living ex-members are guitarists Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent and Bruce Kulick, and drummer Peter Criss.

Since the tour was announced last month, Kiss fans have been clamoring for a farewell that includes former members.

“I wouldn’t discount any possibilities,” said Stanley, who plays the Starchild character in the band. “I learned long ago to never say never. Would I negate the possibility of former members making appearances? Absolutely not. I don’t know in what capacity.”

Stanley then went on to extol the virtues and stability of the current lineup: himself, bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons; drummer Eric Singer and guitarist Tommy Thayer, calling it “the crux and the core of the band on tour.”

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Ace interviewed on the Cassius Morris Show

Cassius Morris

Legendary former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley calls in to The Cassius Morris Show to discuss the possibility of rejoining KISS, his new solo album “Spaceman” dropping October 19th, KISS’ ‘End Of The Road’ tour, reuniting with Gene Simmons for shows in Australia & Japan, the state of the music industry & much more.

New Jersey KISS Expo and Christmas Party 2018 with special guest Ace Frehley

NJKISSexpo.com

December 7, 8 and 9th, 2018

Hilton Parsippany
1 Hilton Ct
Parsippany, NJ 07054

The promoters of both the New Jersey and Indianapolis KISS Expos have combined forces to bring you the NJ KISS Expo and Christmas party 2018! After the incredible success of the recent three-day Indianapolis KISS Expo Event, this expanded formula is now being moved to New Jersey! Three days means three times the amount of Guests, dealers, parties and fans! Included will be a spectacular KISS Christmas party with Ace Frehley and friends that you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS. We are still putting the event together, but rest assured, there are some major surprises to come! We will let you know…

All info at NJKISSExpo.com

More Info and Announcements
COMING SOON!!

Someone Decides to “KISS” a Sacred Catholic Statue

Sarah Rose Sharp | Hyperallergic

No place for hiding, vandals, no place to run! Spanish authorities have vowed to apply the law “with the greatest possible force” in response to a drawing in permanent marker on the face of a Medieval statue from the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, making over the figure with the iconic face makeup of KISS drummer Peter Criss. Not to put too fine a point on the reference, the vandal also wrote “KISS” on the sheaf of papers held by the statue. ¡Qué lástima!

This transgression took place in early August, following a restoration of the statue and other elements of the cathedral — a destination point on the historic Catholic pilgrimage route, the “Way of St. James,” since the 9th century. Construction began on the cathedral in 1075, and components of the sprawling complex continued to be built throughout the Middle Ages. A university was added in 1495, and the whole campus of Santiago de Compostela was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

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Bruce Kulick featured in Blue Ruin’s version of Turn on the Night

Alex

Attention !! Special Video Message from Bruce Kulick

KISS Legend Bruce Kulick played lead guitars on the new version of the KISS Classic “Turn on the night” by Blue Ruin which will be released next week thru iTunes, Spotify and all other digital platforms on their debut EP “Green River Thriller”. CD’s will be available worldwide thru RSR Music / Cargo Records on Amazon and many other selected stores

produced by Alexx Michael & Anna Monteith

Ace Frehley says he would join KISS farewell tour ‘for the right price’

Lyndsey Parker | Yahoo Entertainment

Casual KISS fans might be surprised to learn that Gene Simmons co-wrote two tracks on former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s new solo album, Spaceman (“Without You I’m Nothing” and “Your Wish Is My Command,” the latter of which also features Simmons’s bass playing), or that Simmons even gave the album its title. After all, Frehley’s squabbles with both Simmons and KISS’s other mainstay, Paul Stanley, have been well-documented over the years.

But Frehley tells Yahoo Entertainment that there’s “no bad blood” between him and his ex-bandmates — he recently performed with Simmons in Australia and as part of Simmons’s Vault Experience, and Stanley appeared on Frehley’s 2016 albumOrigins Volume 1 — and this of course raises the question, will Frehley, who successfully reunited with Simmons, Stanley, and original drummer Peter Criss in 1996, take part in KISS’s just-announced big farewell tour?

“I knew you were gonna ask that,” Frehley chuckles. There’s a glint in his eye that suggests he’s not telling the whole story (at one point he asks exactly when this interview will run) but is revealing all he can offer right now. “OK, I have a pat answer, and it’s true: I haven’t been invited.” That doesn’t mean Frehley isn’t open to the idea, however. “For the right price,” he says, he would “absolutely” do it.

“The first year of that reunion tour, we grossed $215 million, and that was 20 years ago. So what would it be today, probably double that? Half a billion? I’m there,” he laughs.

As for whether Criss would also sign on, Frehley says he hasn’t talked to his old bandmate lately. “Most of the time when I want to talk to Peter, I have to talk to his wife. She’s like his manager, Gigi. She’s a nice lady, but I don’t even think Peter has his own cellphone, or if he does, I don’t have the number,” he shrugs. “When I do business with Paul and Gene, I call Paul and he picks up. He goes, ‘Ace Frehley, how you doing?’ Gene says the same thing. When I want to talk to Peter, or ask him a question, it’s Gigi I go through.” Frehley adds, “For the right price, I’m sure he’d do it. I mean, it’s tough to turn down a couple of million dollars.”

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ACE FREHLEY On KISS TV Movie ‘Phantom Of The Park’: PAUL STANLEY And GENE SIMMONS Expected ‘Gone With The Wind’

Blabbermouth

During a “live conversation” at Hollywood’s Musicians Institute on September 25, former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley recalled filming the band’s 1978 Hanna Barbera-produced made-for-television movie “Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park” (alternately known as “Attack Of The Phantoms”).

“I remember it very well,” Frehley said.”I had a lot of fun. When we started shooting at [the Los Angeles-area amusement park] Magic Mountain, they closed the park at 6 o’clock, so I had the run of the park. I bought a moped and used to drive around all those asphalt trails between the rides. I crashed a few times, but luckily, I had that costume on with all the padding, and I didn’t get hurt.

“The whole experience for me was pretty good,” Frehley continued, “[but] there was one day that I really kind of lost it, and that was when I had a fight with a producer. What happened was, I was partying the night before, we had to get up at 7 o’clock [and] drive to Magic Mountain. Then we had to put our makeup on and costumes and stuff. I had the day’s shooting schedule, and I was supposed to start shooting at around 10:30, 11 o’clock. All of a sudden, somebody knocks on the door and they says, ‘Excuse me, Mr. Frehley. We’re going to be doing close-ups on Gene Simmons all morning, and we won’t need you until after lunch.’ That happened more than once, but the second time it happened, I just lost my [tempter]. I ran into the producer’s office [and said], ‘This shit’s not going to fly with me. You get your shit together. If you want me here at 9 o’clock in makeup, you better make sure you got your shooting schedule right,’ because nobody wants to sit around in that makeup and costume for 12 hours. I lost it — I jumped into my Mercedes and took off.”

Although his former bandmates have voiced their displeasure with the movie, Frehley doesn’t share their opinion. “Paul [Stanley] and Gene have gone on record that they hate the film,” he said. “I think it’s hysterical, and I think it’s campy and I think it’s a silly rock ‘n’ roll movie. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. They took the film so goddamn seriously that it just ruined it for them when they saw the final cut, because they expected ‘Gone With The Wind’.”

“Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park” originally aired on the American television network NBC on October 28, 1978. Filmed largely on location at the Magic Mountain theme park in Santa Clarita, California, the film finds the members of KISS — playing themselves — using their “superpowers” to battle an evil inventor.

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Paul Stanley of Kiss adds to Criss Angel’s art collection

John Katsilometes | Las Vegas Review Journal

Paul Stanley knows a little about face paint. And the vocalist, co-founder and “Starchild” of legendary rock band Kiss has created a new character — for Criss Angel.

Stanley has presented Angel the original oil painting “Split/Face,” showing one side of the magician’s face in full makeup and the other clean. An accomplished painter, Stanley has been working on the piece for much of the year and delivered the work on Thursday.

“Split/Face” will be displayed at the new Criss Angel Theater at Planet Hollywood on Dec. 19, the first night of previews for the new”Mindfreak Live.” Stanley sells his paintings online, and as his website states, “One sees in Paul’s abstracts the influences of Kandinsky, Mondrian, Malevich, Paul Klee and Mark Rothko.”

Angel and Stanley are good friends. In August, Angel posted a video of Stanley as the rocker worked on the nearly finished “Split/Face.”

“Paul has been to my show, house, studio and has even seen what we are doing at my theater at Planet Hollywood,” Angel said in a text message Friday. “He loves this stuff. He also shot another attraction for my lobby that people will enjoy.”

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