Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee ACE FREHLEY has announced his first Australian shows since 2010 his First Ever New Zealand Solo Shows!
The 2-hour set features everything an ACE or KISS fan could hope for. Included are all his Solo Anthems – ‘New York Groove’ (a bona-fide Top 20 Hit in Australia and NZ), ‘Snowblind’, ‘Rock Soldiers’ and highlights from his latest Top 10 Billboard album ‘Space Invader’. Plus KISS diamonds such as ‘Strutter’, ‘Cold Gin’, ‘Love Gun’, ‘Deuce’, ‘Shock Me’ & ‘Detroit Rock City’. Plus as a special treat for KISS fans, some rare KISS gems that you simply won’t hear anywhere else – ‘Talk to Me’, ‘Rocket Ride’, ‘Strange Ways’, ‘Parasite’ & ‘King of the Night Time World’.
ACE FREHLEY Live is absolute must for “concert goers looking for a night of fun, no holds barred Rock-n-Roll with excellent guitar work, and wall to wall energy and excitement, look no further than ACE FREHLEY live on stage.”
As both a showman and musician, Frehley made an indelible impact on popular culture as a member of KISS. Whether firing rockets off his guitar, bringing crowds to delirium with his smoking guitar effect or impressing fans with his explosive fleet fingered six-string guitar work, in a band not renowned for its playing ability, he drew critical and public accolades for his accomplished musicianship. Taking a break from KISS-mania, in September of ’78 the band members released four separate solo albums. Ace Frehley’s debut solo album was by far the runaway biggest seller, spawning the smash hit, “New York Groove.” “Eddie Kramer’s assistant suggested we cut ‘New York Groove’, recounted Frehley.“When I first heard the song I wasn’t too keen on tracking it but Eddie pushed me and said, “C’mon Ace, you should try it.” After we recorded it I still didn’t think that it was really the right song for me to do. It’s not the kind of song I would ever write. But what do I know, it turned out to be my biggest hit!” (laughs) The ramifications of his surprise success as a solo artist were far reaching as Ace explains: “The success of my ’78 solo album definitely planted the seed for my eventually leaving KISS to pursue a solo career. I felt I was more creative apart from the guys than with them. The success of my solo album opened my eyes and made me a little more cocky. It made me realize that I had the ability to do it on my own.”
Splitting from KISS in the early eighties, the first fruits of Ace’s creative efforts came in 1987 with his new band,Frehley’s Comet and eponymous debut album, which yielded the FM radio hit, “Into the Night,” a track penned by Russ Ballard who also wrote Frehley’s signature ’78 smash “New York Groove”. From there, Frehley was on a roll, issuing a string of well-received solo albums—‘Second Sighting’, ‘Live + One’ and ‘Trouble Walkin’’—each demonstrating his spectacular six-string abilities and immense gift for crafting imaginative and arena ready rockers was safely intact. Looking back Frehley observes: “I enjoyed the freedom of going solo but it was scary. Once I’d actually left KISSand it sank in, I realized that the other three guys in the group did more than I thought. I soon found out it’s a much bigger undertaking to go solo than I’d anticipated. I have fond memories of the Frehley’s Comet days. That first lineup was great and it evolved over the years. We put out some good music and were a really good live band. It was a lot of fun playing with those guys. If I wouldn’t have run into trouble with drugs and alcohol I think the band would have gone a lot further. But we all have our demons and we deal with them in different ways.”
Reuniting with KISS in 1996, Frehley teamed up with his old mates for a spectacularly successful five-year run numbering sold out concerts around the globe and high profile appearances at the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Splitting from the group in 2001 after their “Farewell Tour”, Frehley needed to recharge his creative batteries and took a much needed sabbatical after decades in the rock and roll circus. Eight years later, to the eternal joy of his loyal fan base, in 2009 “Space Ace” returned to the music scene with his first new studio album in twenty years. A commercial and artistic triumph, ‘Anomaly’, proved to be his highest charting album since his classic 1978 solo debut. In 2011, he added yet another accolade to his mantel as a New York Times best selling book author with No Regrets, a hard hitting and honest account of his tumultuous career.
Having battled substance abuse for decades, in 2014 Frehley is seven years clean and sober and driven by a new-found commitment and focus to his artistry. On December 17, 2013 Ace and the original lineup of KISS was nominated into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in the 2014 class. Entertainment One Music is proud to announce the addition of the legendary Ace Frehley to its roster. His new solo album, as yet untitled, is due for release in August 2014 and promises to forge yet another exciting chapter in the life of one of rock’s most influential and distinctive artists. “Fans can expect something closer to my ’78 solo record,” Frehley reveals. “Over the past couple of months I’ve been listening to my old records and trying to find that formula that I’ve captured so many times in the past. I recently played some of my new music for a few people at my label and they were blown away. It reaffirmed in my mind that I’m on the right path and I think my fans are going to love the results. It’s gonna be a great record.”
Tickets on sale 9:00am Wednesday 28th January from: http://bit.ly/AceTix1
Ace Frehley Tour Dates:
Friday 24th April WELLINGTON James Cabaret
Saturday 25th April AUCKLAND The Studio
Wednesday 29th April BRISBANE Tivoli Theatre
Thursday 30th April SYDNEY Metro Theatre
Friday 1st May HOBART Wrestpoint Showroom
Saturday 2nd May MELBOURNE Forum Theatre
Wednesday 6th May ADELAIDE The Gov
Thursday 7th May PERTH Astor Theatre
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