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| Outer Space mp3 Single | Buy at Amazon.com |
| Outer Space mp3 Single | Buy at Apple iTunes |
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Ace Frehley New Album Anomaly Track Listing 1. Foxy & Free 2. Outer Space 3. Pain In The Neck 4. Fox On The Run 5. Genghis Khan 6. Too Many Faces 7. Change The World 8. Space Bear 9. A Little Below The Angels 10. Sister 11. It's A Great Life 12. Fractured Quantum 13. The Return of Space Bear (Dedicated to Tom Snyder) (iTunes Exclusive album only track) |
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I thought this was a nice gesture; even more nice since I actually won!!!
7. After the show, I spoke briefly with Ace's manager. He mentioned that Ace would be playing in Fresno (my town, yippy!!) and that he will be doing "warm up" shows in LA (tickets already on sale), Phoenix and San Diego. I also asked if Ace will do any type of signing packages on his tour. He said that is up in the air. While I was probably not too convincing, I tried to twist his arm the best I could to encourage that opportunity since I need to get a few things signed by Ace.
8. All in all, it was a great experience. In this day and age, it is really cool to have artists provide the fans with these types of things. My hats off to Ace.
Matt, from KISSFAQ.com
By Mitch Lafon
It’s been twenty years, four Presidents, and many receding hairlines since ACE FREHELY last released an album. Of course, the Spaceman hasn’t been missing in action. He returned to KISS for the highly successful Reunion tour, the ill-conceived 3-D Psycho Circus tour and the never-ending Farewell tour, but most importantly Ace faced his alcohol demons face on and won.
September 15th marks the return of Ace as a recording artist with the release of Anomaly (his fifth and best solo studio album or certainly on par with his classic 1978 album), but more importantly the day celebrates Ace’s third anniversary of walking away from the bottle and re-claiming his life and health.
The Spaceman took Bravewords on a mattress shopping excursion for our sometime distracted, but pleasant discussion of all things Ace.
Mitch Lafon: You’ve made a great hard rock album with no outside vocalists. Was it important to make this a true Ace Frehley album?
Ace Frehley: “I think that’s what the fans wanted, so that’s what I went for. My touring drummer Scott Cogan did a wonderful job of background vocals on ‘Sister’ and ‘Pain In The Neck’ and there’s a couple of gals singing on ‘Genghis Khan’, but pretty much I did all the vocals and backgrounds. ”
ML: Was it challenging to sing all the vocals? I know, at times, with KISS you were hesitant to cut a vocal and on your previous solo albums you had outside singers. Do you have more confidence in your voice now?
AF: “Oh, yeah. It wasn’t scary at all and it was fun being in charge and producing. If I had hired a producer the album might have been finished a whole lot sooner, but it was great to have the creative control and be able to try different things with my voice and harmonize with myself. It’s always a pleasure (laughs).”
ML: Are you happy with the results?
AF: “Very much so.”
ML: Was there a deliberate attempt to recapture that ‘1978’ sound or is this simply ‘Ace music’ as it comes out of you?
AF: “I was aiming more for an analog sound rather than a digital sound, and I was trying to get as close to that first album as possible simply because everybody cites that as their favorite Ace Frehley record.”
ML: It’s been twenty years since the last release. What took so long?
AF: “I was ready to go in a record and album right before I was offered the (KISS) reunion tour. It took a while to get back on the horse after working with KISS again until 2001. I needed to get back on my feet and get focused. That took a couple of years. I started writing tracks in 2004 like ‘Genghis Khan’ and ‘Pain In The Neck’. It just all came together this past year.”
ML: Do you think we’ll see more Ace albums coming out in shorter time spans in the future? Could there be another one next year or the year after?
AF: “I think they’re not going to be more than a year or two apart at this point.”
ML: Personally, how are you feeling since you’ve gotten yourself healthy?
AF: “I’m feeling great and the actual release date of the CD (Anomaly) is September 15th and that’s going to be my three year anniversary (of being sober).”
ML: Congratulations! That’s a great achievement.
AF: “For me, yeah. For a guy who could never turn down a drink today is great. You wake up without a hangover, are focused, get a lot accomplished and move forward.”
ML: I’ve read statements attributed to Gene Simmons in which it is claimed he has said that the relationship with Ace ended after the Farewell tour because of your drinking problem. Is their any truth in that and do you wish you had stopped drinking earlier and stayed in KISS?
AF: “Well I was the one that left both times. It didn’t end because of my drinking. It ended because I decided to not do the next leg of the tour. They offered it to me and if he says anything to the contrary he’s a liar.”
ML: Let’s talk about the Psycho Circus album. Here’s this great reunion album with the four original guys and then you find out that Tommy Thayer is playing guitar, Bruce Kulick is doing some bass and Kevin Valentine is drumming. How disappointing was that for you?
AF: “I didn’t know that that was going to be the case. I was told that we were going to go in and do an album – the four of us. Then they started pulling fast ones like they’ve done in the past. It is what it is you know. That’s one of the reasons why I’m not working with them today because they say one thing and do something else. I submitted, at least, three songs for that record and it was like pulling teeth to get just one song on that album. I think this album (Anomaly) will speak for itself and let people know that I can still write good songs, perform, play and produce. The whole ball of wax.”
ML: Will you hit the road right away to support Anomaly and will it be a headlining solo tour or will you jump on a package tour?
AF: “We’re trying to put something together for the late fall, so whatever seems viable.”
ML: What can fans expect to see and hear on the Anomaly tour?
AF: “I’m going to have to do all the songs I’ve done in the past. All my hits, you know, ‘Cold Gin’, ‘Shock Me’, ‘Rocket Ride’…”
ML: Will you do more of the singing in concert? On your last tour in 2008, your bass player sang a few of the KISS songs.
AF: “I’m not a virtuoso vocalist. It’s a lot for me to sing every song the whole night. I don’t want to blow my voice out on the road. I work with people that can throw in a vocal every three or four songs to give me a break. Plus, it gives the audience a little variety.”
ML: Les Paul guitars – you’ve been using them basically your whole life. What’s the appeal of the Les Paul for you?
AF: “It’s the greatest rock ‘n roll guitar ever made. You plug a Les Paul into a Marshall amp and turn it up to ten and that’s the hard rock/heavy metal sound. It’s a no brainer. There are a lot of other great guitars that people are building, but you know – if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”
ML: How would you describe your guitar sound? When you hear an early KISS song or ‘Pain In The Neck’ from the new album – there’s that very distinct ‘Ace sound’. It sounds right to me.
AF: “I don’t have verbal description of my sound other than I strive for a sound where I like the feel and sound of it. It’s pretty much a Les Paul through a Marshall. In the studio, I’ll use a lot of smaller amps and I’ll double a lot of my rhythm tracks and in many cases I’ll double my tracks with a Fender guitar to give it a wide harmonic range, but that sound you hear on the new album, Anomaly, is pretty much the same sound I used with KISS in the early days. It hasn’t changed very much; I just perfected it a little.”
ML: Do you think you’ll record a live DVD on the next tour?
AF: “Yeah, I don’t see why not. We just need to get together a good video crew.”
ML: Are you amazed by the influence you’ve had on so many guitarists? Did you think you’d still be talking about KISS in 2009?
AF: “I would have practiced a little more if I knew I was going to impact that many guitar players lives. When we threw KISS together, I knew it was going to be something special. I knew when I was a teenager that I was destined for stardom. Not to sound cocky, but I’ve always had the power of foresight. It’s just something I always sensed – it was my destiny. If it wasn’t KISS, I would have been in some other band. That’s just the way it laid out this time around… in this life. “
ML: Do you have any comments about KISS in 2009 doing it with your make-up and Peter’s? Does it even bother you at this point?
AF: “I really didn’t pay too much attention to it in the beginning, but what bothers me now is that my fans are so upset by it. When I read the comments on YouTube and they’re overwhelmingly negative. So, that bothers me. When the fans are upset that upsets me, but I really have no control over that and the fact that Gene decided to do that…”
ML: Does it bother you that not only are they using your make-up, but they are also copying your stage tricks (shooting rockets) and Beethoven bit during the guitar solo?
AF: “I don’t think the fans are to happy about it. It’s really only half of KISS and half a cover band. Everybody makes their bed and has to lie in it. I’m buying a mattress that’s rock ‘n roll (laughs). It is what it is.”
ML: Quickly back to the upcoming fall tour. U.S. only or will you come to Canada, Japan, Europe…?
AF: “We are still trying to piece it together. I’ve had a couple of different offers and I’m just trying to see what makes most sense, both financially and for the marketing of the CD. I think we’ll have something concrete in the next month or so.”
ML: This is not your final album as you mentioned before. It’s great to hear that you’re back and ready to produce more new music. There was a real void for the last twenty years.
AF: “There was a real void and I apologize to you and all my fans. I wanted to put something out sooner, but it just wasn’t good enough. I’m really particular about what I put out and I remember saying in interviews last year ‘it’ll be worth the wait’. I think we’ve achieved that at this point.”
ML: The album really has that ‘magic’ and captures that sound that I remember from when I was a kid and I haven’t had that feeling from a KISS album or an Ace album in 20 or 25 years. It’s a great feeling.
AF: “I’ve had that comment from a few other people and it’s really heart warming. It makes me feel that I’ve achieved the goal that I was trying to achieve. I wanted to get back to my roots and make a really good record.”
ML: You did the artwork as well for this album…
AF: “Yes, I did do the artwork.”
ML: So, you pretty much did everything on this album yourself...
AF: “Well, I’ve had enough time. Haven’t I (laughs)? But I’ll have something else new out in a couple of years if not sooner. I’m back on the horse and I have all my faculties. My studio is back and everything is going full steam. It won’t be another twenty years before you get another Ace Frehley record.”
ML: So, there’s no plan to retire anytime soon?
AF: “Are you kidding me (laughs)? I’m just getting started. It took a hell of a long time, but I had to go through the changes I went through to get to where I am today. Life’s a crazy journey and I’m happy with the end result and I’m glad you like it. I’m really excited to read some of the reviews when it comes out.”
ML: Well, my review is simple. The album is excellent. Speaking of ‘life journeys’ – would you consider doing one final goodbye show with KISS or is that door really closed forever?
AF: “It doesn’t look too promising at this point. I don’t even know if the fans would want that.”
ML: I think the fans would love to see you back. If KISS came to you and said ‘we’re doing, in 2012 at Madison Square Garden, the final Kiss show ever’. Would you participate?
AF: “If I were to reconsider, they’d have to have bigger deep pockets.”
Anomaly is THE album you’ve been waiting for folks – for more info visit Ace online at Acefrehley.com.
Ace Frehley is finally ready to add a new exclamation point to his celebrated career.
For the first time in nearly 20 years, the legendary guitarist has concocted an explosive new solo effort. Flaunting fiery riffs, pristine production and jaw-dropping craftsmanship, Anomaly, on Frehley’s own Bronx Born Records, ties together the original KISS axeman’s trailblazing past, present and future.
Scheduled for liftoff on September 15, Frehley’s fifth solo album—following 1978’s self-titled classic, 1987’s Frehley’s Comet, 1988’s Second Sighting and 1989’s Trouble Walkin’—will be distributed by Sony/Red with Rocket Science providing a full label service platform. To commemorate the event, Gibson has created their second Ace Frehley signature Les Paul guitar—the first one (in 1997) was one of the best-selling signature models of all time.
From his captivating persona as KISS’ “Spaceman” to his infamous Halloween ‘79 interview with Tom Snyder (uproariously commemorated in an iTunes exclusive “The Return of Space Bear”), Frehley is one of the most beloved personalities in rock ‘n’ roll. He’s the man who designed KISS’ iconic logo; he delivered an all-time stadium classic in “New York Groove”; and he continues to stay relevant and beloved by the likes of sludge-metal kingpins the Melvins and popping up onstage at Madison Square Garden to rock with the likes of Pearl Jam.
As for the lengthy delay between solo albums, “I don’t know why it’s taken so long,” he confesses. “I had to put the record on the back burner when I reunited with KISS. But I knew it would be important, so I kept listening to my old records to try to capture what the fans like.”
Sure enough, Frehley graciously offers listeners clever nods to his solo work throughout Anomaly. On closing epic “Fractured Quantum,” the fourth song in his “Fractured” series, the guitarist recaptures a particularly cool effect from 1978’s original “Fractured Mirror” with a dexterous display of pickup acrobatics. The debut single “Outer Space” features a thunderous guitar riff, and on his personal favorite, “Genghis Khan,” Frehley meticulously tweaked the reverb no less than six times with mixing guru Anthony Focx, employed the vocal talents of Meat Loaf’s daughter Pearl Aday, then goes out with the bang of a searing wah-wah solo.
The months of hard work were facilitated by the steady studio hands of Focx & Marti Frederiksen. Both contributed to mixing and mastering, while Frederiksen briefly took the reins from Frehley, who produced Anomaly, to turn the knobs for “Fox on the Run.”
“Analog recording is kind of blown by the wayside; I learned so much from Anthony and Marti about working in digital,” Frehley says, concluding with a grin, “This album has some heavy, heavy songs.”
Eddie Trunk, co-host of the VH1 Classic television program "That Metal Show" who has a long-running radio show, "Friday Night Rocks", on New York's Q104.3 FM, has posted the following commentary on his official blog:
"Met up with Ace Frehley last night [Tuesday, July 21] in New Jersey to hear his final version of his new CD, 'Anomaly'. I had been talking to Ace often over the last few months helping him where I could navigate the music business in 2009 and some thoughts on his upcoming release.
"As he stated on my radio show this past Monday, I talked him out of releasing a cover of SWEET's 'Fox On The Run' as a first single, my thinking being that after twenty years he should no way lead with a cover as the first new music people will hear from him! After talking it over with his new management, they decided I was right so the first song will be an original titled 'Outer Space', which sums up Ace perfect!
"[It] was fun to put my A&R hat on again as Ace was the first artist I ever worked with in that capacity back in my Megaforce label days.
"Ace wanted me to hear the final product and told me he was going to a venue not far from me in New Jersey (PNC) to jam a song with NICKELBACK who were playing. Ace's new management also handles them, so that was the connection.
"I arrived at PNC too late to see Ace play 'Highway To Hell' with NICKELBACK, but it was super-last-minute, with him literally getting out of his car backstage and walking out, but by all accounts, [it was] fun for all.
"After the jam, Ace and I sat in my car in the backstage lot and listened to the whole CD together.
"I had heard this album in various forms and mixes through the years but this was the first time mastered and done and with the final mix.
"I'll say what I have said all along: KISS and Ace fans will love this. It is exactly the type of album you would want and expect from Ace. Straight-up, in-your-face hard rock.
"Probably the most striking thing about the album is Ace's voice. He is past three years sober (there is a song about his battle with the bottle on the CD) and singing like the '78 album. A friend of mine who was in the car said the exact same thing. His voice sounds great due to the fact he is clean for sure. Guitar tones sound great, as does the playing. Ace sings the entire CD and there are two instrumentals; another in the 'Fractured' series ends the CD and then there is a ZEP-like heavy jam called 'Space Bear'. I know hardcore KISS fans will smile at that title! Other standout tracks for me were 'Change The World' (again, great vocal), 'A Little Below The Angels', 'Too Many Faces' and the super-kick-ass 'Sister', a track that has been around for a bit, but sounds great here.
"The album has a great deal of edgy tracks but it's also dynamic with some BEATLES touches in some songs and a real nod to some early 70's stuff. The guitar work is classic Ace as well. Anton Fig handles most of the drums, and is a monster, as always.
"Ace is giving his fans exactly what they would want with this album, and who knows, in this age of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, he will no doubt grab some new ones as well. After all, guitar hero = ACE FREHLEY!
"Can't wait for everyone to hear it, and of course, we will do much with Ace and the album on the radio shows when we get closer to release.
"I thank Ace for the early listen, and as a longtime close friend, I am extremely proud of him not only for making the album he wanted to, but for being a changed man the last few years."
Frehley was a guest on "The Opie & Anthony Show" on Monday, July 20. Watch clips from his appearance below.
Ace's new solo album, "Anomaly", will be released on September 15 via Frehley's own Bronx Born Records, with Rocket Science providing a full label service platform. The CD was produced and recorded in Westchester County, New York between 2007 and 2009 and was mixed in Los Angeles.
Kiss‘ original guitarist, Ace Frehley, has primarily focused on playing live shows since he left the band in 2002, though no new studio material has surfaced. But that’s soon about to change. September 15th will see the release of Ace’s first solo album in nearly 20 years, Anomaly, via his own label, Bronx Born Records. Produced almost entirely by Frehley, the album shows why many rock and metal guitarists list “Space Ace” as a prime six-string influence, as evidenced by the epic “Genghis Khan” and a kick ass cover of Sweet’s “Fox on the Run.” Frehley recently sat down with Rolling Stone to discuss the new album, his ex-bandmates and kicking booze once and for all.
The September 15th release of Anomaly will be your three-year anniversary of sobriety.
I’ve accepted the fact that I can never drink again as long as I live, and I’m ok with it. And it should be easy when you think about it - some people get allergic to shellfish. When they eat it, they break out or get sick. And you know what those people say to themselves? “I can’t eat shellfish anymore for the rest of my life.” And they’re ok with it. But for some reason, when it comes to alcohol, people get crazy. It’s getting past that.
How does Anomaly compare to your previous work?
Everybody keeps talking about my first solo album [1978’s Ace Frehley], and I keep thinking, “Right now, I feel exactly like I did after I finished mixing that record.” I kind of knew I had something hot, that everybody was going to like. Maybe history will repeat itself again — 31 years later.
I understand you had to re-think one of your concert trademarks.
The biggest problem with the smoking guitar thing now is the fire marshals. So right now, I’m working on a miniature fog machine that goes in the guitar [laughs].
Are you still in contact with Kiss?
Yeah, I spoke to Paul, Peter — I haven’t spoke to Gene in a couple of years. The last time Gene left a message on my answering machine, it was to do his television show. He was doing a roast. I wanted to do it, so I called Paul and Peter, and both of them told me that they weren’t going to do it. So after hearing that, I felt like, “Well, if the whole band isn’t going to be there to roast Gene, maybe it would be better if I didn’t do it either.” Because initially, Gene told me it was going to be Steven Tyler and Cher, and they backed out. You don’t jump on a sinking ship [laughs].
Would you ever consider another Kiss reunion?
I’m having so much fun with this new album. It’s not something I think about at all anymore. The reunion tour was supposed to be it — that’s what they told me when they asked me to do it. But then they go, “Now we want to do a farewell tour.” I said, “OK, I’ll do a farewell tour.” It ended in Australia, and then I get a phone call when I come back, “Now we want to do something else.” Then Gene is on my answering machine, “Ace, we’re going to go out. If you don’t want to do it, we’re going to use another guitar player.” What is that, a threat? I didn’t even answer the phone [laughs]. That was that.
LOS ANGELES - For the first time in nearly 20 years, legendary guitarist Ace Frehley has emerged to add a new exclamation point to his celebrated solo career. Scheduled for liftoff on September 15th, the original KISS guitarist’s fifth solo album, Anomaly, will be released on his own Bronx Born Records, with Rocket Science providing a full label service platform. Frehley, a long time Gibson artist, will launch his second Gibson Ace Frehley Signature Les Paul guitar with the musical instrument giant later this year. His first signature Gibson guitar (in 1997) was one of the best selling signature models of all time.
One of the most beloved personalities in rock ‘n’ roll, Frehley’s the man behind not only KISS’ iconic logo, but the all-time stadium anthem “New York Groove.”
From the thunderous guitar riffs of the first single “Outer Space” to his supercharged cover of Sweet’s 1975 classic “Fox on the Run,” Anomaly includes several nods to his distinguished career. The pickup acrobatics of “Fractured Quantum” and wah-wah scourge of “Genghis Khan” (featuring backup vocals from Meat Loaf’s daughter Pearl Aday) are signature Ace. It should go without saying, but “this album has some heavy, heavy songs,” Frehley promises.
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Ace Frehley
Anomaly |
Ace Frehley
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Frehley's Comet
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Ace Frehley
Trouble Walkin' |
Ace Frehley
12 Picks |
Ace Frehley
Loaded Deck |
Ace Frehley
Greatest Hits Live |
Spacewalk
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