KISS ROCKED MILWAUKEE Kiss played at the Milwaukee Summerfest yesterday. Here is the set list:
Deuce Strutter Got To Choose Hotter Than Hell Nothin' To Lose C'mon And Love Me Parasite She Tommy Thayer Guitar Solo Watchin' You 100,000 Years Eric Singer Drum Solo Cold Gin Let Me Go, Rock And Roll Black Diamond Rock And Roll All Nite
Shout It Out Loud Lick It Up Gene Simmons Bass Solo I Love It Loud I Was Made For Lovin' You Love Gun Detroit Rock City
Gene, Eric et Tommy jouant "Deuce" démaquillés le 25 juillet au Comic-Con (une convention dédiée aux comics, aux séries télé et au cinéma) de San Diego
It could be argued that Ace Frehley was the most influential guitarist of the ’70s. When Kiss hit its 1976-79 commercial peak, there was no rock band more entrenched in the minds of America’s youth. And if you asked random Kiss fans who was their favorite member, the answer was more often than not “Ace.” It’s no wonder some of the most successful artists of the last 10 years—from Garth Brooks to Pearl Jam—have cited Frehley and Kiss as major influences. Frehley teamed up with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss to form Kiss in New York City in 1973. Taking the glitter ball from their NYC glam-rock contemporaries and running with it, the members of Kiss donned outrageous makeup and costumes and assumed comic-book hero personas: Simmons, the demon; Stanley, the lover; Criss, the catman; and Frehley, the otherworldly spaceman. Frehley’s “Space Ace” persona and fiery, melodic guitar solos would become key factors in Kiss’ rise to arena superstardom. It was Frehley who designed Kiss’ iconic logo.
Though Criss wore the feline face paint, it’s Frehley who seems to have had nine lives. After leaving Kiss in 1982, Frehley embarked on a solo career, releasing three albums and compiling a laundry list of troubles that included drug and alcohol addiction, bankruptcy and high-speed car chases with the police. In 1996, Frehley reunited with Kiss for a string of successful tours as well as an album of new material, 1998’s Psycho Circus, before playing his final show with the band in 2002. While Simmons and Stanley continue to tread the boards in a verging-on-tribute-band incarnation of Kiss (drummer Eric Singer and guitarist Tommy Thayer wear Criss’ and Frehely’s respective makeup and costumes), the now sober Frehley is set to release Anomaly, his first solo album in two decades.
Frehley recently took a moment to talk with Superchunk/Mountain Goats drummer (and onetime Kiss Army member) Jon Wurster. Frehley will also be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all this week.
MAGNET: Your last solo record, Trouble Walking, came out 20 years ago. Why so long between albums? Frehley: A lot has happened! [Laughs] The main reason was I ended up doing the Kiss reunion tour, which led to the Psycho Circus record and tour, which led to the Kiss Farewell Tour. Six years later, I needed a break! And the biggest reason was my sobriety. On September 15, the day Anomaly comes out, I’ll be celebrating three years clean and sober. This new record would have never come out if it wasn’t for that.
The record industry is virtually unrecognizable compared to what it was like in 1989. Is that a major factor in deciding to release Anomaly on your own Bronx Born label? I wanted complete control of how Anomaly was going to be handled and marketed. I’ve handed my music to labels in the past, and it never turned out the way I envisioned it. Anomaly is going to be different.
Several songs on Anomaly, specifically “Change The World,” “A Little Below The Angles” and “It’s A Great Life,” show a more contemplative Ace Frehley than we’ve seen before. How has your songwriting process changed from when you were in your hard-partying 20s? You know, writing comes to me real easy these days, but it always has been like that for me. I write about my experiences in life. Go back and listen to “Parasite” or “Shock Me.” Some inspirations have been good, some bad, some life-threatening like “Shock Me.” [Laughs]
You’ve been sober for several years now. Was there a specific incident that inspired you to give up the grape? It’s the old cliché about “tired of being tired.” It was time. I’ve embraced sobriety, and I don’t wanna go back. Life’s too good now.
Yours is a classic story of someone being “saved” by rock ‘n’ roll. As a teenager, you ran with a pretty tough crowd; you’ve said that a lot of your friends from those days are either in jail or dead. You burned the candle at both ends during your Kiss and solo years. Do you ever look back on all you’ve been through and say, “I can’t believe I’m still alive”? [Laughs] I’ve been lucky. I know I have a guardian angel looking over me.
Living in New York City during the mid-’70s CBGBs/Max’s Kansas City heyday, were you interested in bands like Ramones, Television, the Heartbreakers and the Dead Boys? It was all part of the “scene” back then … when New York had a scene. It was one big party in those days, and I’d end up at clubs and shows pretty much on a nightly basis. A great time to be alive.
What was it like playing “Deuce” at that first audition with Gene, Paul and Peter in 1973? Was there a feeling of instant magic? I knew there was a chemistry there. I truly believe that when the four of us were at our peak, in those mid-’70s tours, no one could stop us!
Did you ever curse yourself for coming up with the most difficult of the four makeup designs? I never thought of it that way. Peter’s makeup in the beginning seemed the toughest; I think he got a makeup artist to do his on the first Kiss album cover. We all got used to putting on the makeup on a daily basis. It became second nature.
Speaking of the makeup, was it strange being in the most famous band in world yet also being able to go pretty much anywhere you wanted without being recognized? That was part of the beauty about the makeup. I loved the anonymity of the whole thing. But I got news for ya: I sometimes still got recognized without the makeup back then, so go figure!
Your fifth album, Destroyer, is the favorite of many Kiss diehards. It’s so different sonically and thematically from anything the band did before or since. What do you think made that album so special? Simple: (producer) Bob Ezrin. There’s a lot of stories about me and him not seeing eye to eye, but I got to give him credit. He’s the one who structured that record. The arrangement on “Beth” and the sounds of “Detroit Rock City” and “God Of Thunder,” he really made that record a classic. We had a lot of pressure coming off of the sales of Alive! and Bob really came through.
You were initially reluctant to record “New York Groove,” a Russ Ballard song that would give you a top-20 single, for your first solo album in 1978. Why was that? And what does it feel like to hear the song played over the P.A. at these huge New York City sporting events? Eddie Kramer talked me into recording that song … and he was right! [Laughs] I was the first musician to play on the grounds of the new Yankee Stadium earlier this year. You’d never guess what song I performed!
You have to sit through one of these in its entirety or you will be killed: Kiss Meets The Phantom or (Music From) The Elder. Which one do you pick, and why? I just saw the Phantom movie for the first time in years a few weeks ago. I can’t speak for the other guys in the band, but I think it’s a campy, cult classic. I think its great. I just visited Magic Mountain this year, and a lot of memories about filming that movie came flooding back to me. The new coaster rides are awesome.
Did you go into the 1996 Kiss reunion with any trepidation? Was there concern that the same inter-band problems that caused you to leave the first time would resurface? I have no regrets about the reunion tour. But history sure has a way of repeating itself.
You’ve stated that one of your favorite Kiss songs to play is “Deuce.” What was your least favorite song that was actually in the set most nights? I wasn’t too crazy about “I Was Made For Loving You.” I thought we were a hard-rock band and we were doing a disco song. But it was a huge hit, so who knows?
You seem to have made peace with all things Kiss. Is that an accurate assessment? I’m proud of the fact that I was a member of one of the most influential rock groups in history. No regrets.
What does the future hold for Ace Frehley? Anomaly, the record and the world tour. I can’t wait for everyone to hear this new record. I’m very proud of it.
On a hazy, hot and humid night in July, Nickelback was celebrating their latest album going double platinum with a killer show in Holmdel, NJ. In the middle of the set, front man Chad Kroeger told the crowd that he had a surprise in store. As Nickelback launched into a cover of AC/DC's "Highway To Hell," the crowd silenced for a moment and then exploded in cheers for the special guest guitarist who had taken his place stage left to play lead. When the song was over, the band looked as excited as the audience to be on stage with one of the true guitar gods of rock and roll.
The legendary Ace Frehley launched a million guitar lessons and made his mark as one of the truly innovative and trailblazing axemen in music as an original member of KISS. The Space Ace has been cited by acts as diverse as Pearl Jam, Garth Brooks and the Melvins as an influence and his place in history is established as a player who affected everyone who came after him.
Outside of KISS, Frehley has released four solo albums, the last one dropping in 1989. Fans are now eagerly awaiting the September 15th release of his latest, "Anomaly," set to mark the latest step in a storied career and reset the bar for thunderous riffs and heavy effects. The lead single, "Outer Space," manages to blend the feel of his classic 70's work with his innovative 80's solo sound to create a heavy, modern, hard-rock crunch that is ready for the arena or iPod near you. Listening to this album in light of the last two decades of rock and roll, it's easy to hear how things have come full circle and back to where it started.
Chorus and Verse asked Frehley about his first album of the digital age and he shared his thoughts on "Anomaly" and how a man who has shaped rock history looks to the future.
During a Nickelback show at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ, you made a surprise appearance playing lead during a cover of "Highway To Hell". How did that appearance come about and did you enjoy being on stage with a band that was clearly thrilled to have you there? What a great night! Nickelback and I are now under the same management team, so that's how I got invited to jam the AC/DC song with them. We all hung out after the show. Very special night.
You've been cited by an endless list of guitar heroes as a primary influence not only in getting people to pick up their first guitars, but also shaping their sounds. Are you comfortable with owning such legendary "guitar god" status and is it something that you feel an obligation to live up to? The ironic thing is I've never taken a guitar lesson in my life! (Laughs.) What can I say? I'm blessed to have musicians, some very successful, some just starting out, say that my playing is the reason they picked up a guitar.
I recently filmed an instructional DVD where I teach, or attempt to teach (laughs), my KISS songs "Cold Gin" and "Shock Me". It'll be out in stores around the same time as the CD ["Anomaly"].
On September 15th, you're going to be releasing your fifth solo album, "Anomaly". How long have you been working on this material? After four other solo albums and your work with KISS, does it still excite you to release new material and seeing how fans react to it? I feel the same way I felt when I was about to release my 1978 solo album. These are strong songs, man. Some songs I arranged a few months ago, some date back to 1994.
What's great is, not one particular track sticks out as the obvious favorite. Everyone that's heard the entire record has his or her own favorite song. That's never happened to me before. "New York Groove" was the standout hit in '78. Who knows which song will be "The One" off of "Anomaly"? That's up to the fans.
Your first signature guitar with Gibson is one of their best-selling models of all time and they are going to release a new one to celebrate the release of "Anomaly". How involved are you with the design process and what do you consider the most important elements of a great guitar? Completely involved. I flew down to the Gibson Headquarters in Nashville in April and I sat down with all the designers and threw around my ideas of how the new guitar should look like. I'm very excited for everyone to see it.
You produced most of "Anomaly" and are releasing the album on your own Bronx Born Records. Did you enjoy the production and technical aspects of doing the album? As someone who is so well-known for your live shows, do you think about how songs will work on stage when you're in the studio, or do you go all-out in the studio and worry about recreating the tracks on stage later? I know if I had had an outside producer, I would've finished this record years ago, but it wouldn't sound like it does today. It was hard work assembling the musicians and the song arrangements myself, but in the end I can say this is a true Ace Frehley album.
I'm very proud of "Anomaly". As far as the live versions... who knows?... haven't gotten that far yet! (Laughs.)
Talk about the album's first single, "Outer Space". What gear did you use to record that track? Do you feel that the sound of "Outer Space" has the vibe of your best work that fans love and are there new technologies that allowed you to achieve sounds on this album that weren't possible before? My gear is pretty basic... my Les Paul, a Marshall stack and head. Anton Fig played drums on that track and Derrek Hawkins played rhythm. He used my Les Paul, an Ibanez seven-string and the slide part was played on a Telecaster. It was standard tuning drop "D". The solo was recorded backwards using a plug-in on ProTools. Does that answer your question? (Laughs.)
How do you hope fans will react to "Anomaly" and what are your plans to promote the music? Do you expect to tour with the new material and are there any other projects that you'd like fans to watch out for in the months ahead? I've teamed up with Rocket Science in Los Angeles and their marketing team is doing a great job getting the word out about "Anomaly". Today, everything is Internet driven. In the old days, a press release could take up to a week to circulate; now I've done video blogs that can be uploaded and seen around the world in a matter of minutes. It's crazy!
I just did a web commercial for "Anomaly" and there's a guy wearing a Trouble Walkin' t-shirt who says he's been waiting 20 years for my new album. I think that speaks for a lot of my fans, but I'm sure "Anomaly" will be worth the wait.
CLASSIC ROCK GETS EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF NEW KISS ALBUM (from Classic Rock)
Classic Rock can confirm that the new Kiss album will be called Sonic Boom – and we’ve got the full tracklisting. Not only that, but we’ve heard six of the album’s 11 songs!
Classic Rock’s Geoff Barton was invited to an exclusive preview of the new Kiss album this afternoon, in the convivial company of Doc McGhee, the band’s manager. “Kiss promised to deliver a back-to-their-roots album and that’s exactly what we’ve got,” Barton reports. “Recorded in the old-fashioned, analog way, it sounds spectacularly good – no ProTools nonsense in evidence here.
“The interesting thing is, it’s not simply a homage the band’s first few albums. There are even nods to records such as [1982’s] Creatures Of The Night, which had Vinnie Vincent, Bob Kulick and others guesting on guitar. Kiss seem to have cleverly combined the best of all their eras into a single winning package.”
McGhee confirmed that Sonic Boom will be available exclusively through Wal-Mart stores in the US, as part of a package including a disc of re-recorded Kiss classics (already available in Japan) and a live DVD. The album is due for release on October 6.
“I actually wanted to make Sonic Boom available as a download for a dollar, but I was overruled,” McGhee chuckled.
“I still think it’s a great idea. Millions of people would’ve downloaded it, I guarantee. At just a dollar a throw, it would’ve been the bargain of the century.”
McGhee is delighted that Kiss decided to play to their strengths on Sonic Boom. “It’s exactly want people want: the classic Kiss sound played by the band looking like they’ve always done. Kiss are like James Bond or Mickey Mouse. They’re an amazing brand and they’ll likely go on forever.
“When I took over management of Kiss in the mid-1990s, that was my major plan: to get the band back to basics.
“I mean,” McGhee laughed, “when Kiss had a squirrel in their line-up – what was the hell was that all about?”
The full tracklisting of Sonic Boom is:
1. Modern Day Delilah 2. Russian Roulette 3. Never Enough 4. Yes I Know (Nobody’s Perfect) 5. Stand 6. Hot & Cold 7. All The Glory 8. Danger Us 9. I’m An Animal 10. When Lightning Strikes 11. Say Yah
Here’s our quickfire reaction to the six songs we heard:
Modern Day Delilah Based around a lumbering, War Machine-style rhythm, Paul Stanley’s vocals sound top-notch and timeless, almost like they’ve been sampled from Kiss Alive! Meanwhile, Tommy Thayer’s guitar work is straight out of the Ace Frehley riff book. At a concise 3:35 in length, this is a perfect slam-bang beginning to the new album.
Russian Roulette Gene Simmons takes the vocals on this one; it’s an archetypal lumbering, grumbling, pummelling offering, made all the better by the addition of a signature ‘ah-ah-ah-ah’ chant-line. The lyrics are simplistic but effective: ‘This is Russian Roulette… one pull of the trigger is all you’re gonna get… you feel the hunger and it’s much too much… go on take a bite.’ To a fan of classic Kiss, that’s sheer poetry.
Never Enough You’re know you’re on to a winner immediately as this one begins with a time-honoured Stanley shout of… wait for it… ‘Woah yeah!’ This is a much jauntier offering than the preceding two tracks, recalling the more commercial, 1980s side of Kiss. The song has a real reach-for-the-sky spirit, full of uplifting phrases such as ‘rules just for breaking’, ‘life for the taking’ and (you guessed it) ‘love ’til I’m shaking’.
Yes I Know (Nobody’s Perfect) Another three minutes of perfection. A light-hearted, hyper-commercial tune with Simmons at the mic-stand again, offering a gruff ‘YEAH’ (capital letters, natch) followed by the inevitable invitation: ‘C’mon baby, take off your clothes.’ There’s no word on whether Simmons kept his T-shirt on, however.
Stand Our favourite so far; a proper anthem recalling the crowd-rousing grandeur of God Gave Rock’N’Roll To You. Stanley delivers the words ‘Stand by my side, I’ll be next to you/Stand by my side, we’ll make it through/Stand by my side, we’ll get by, you and I’ with consummate Starchild passion. This one just grows and grows… and then offers a neat false ending with some soft, CSN&Y-style harmonies (yes, really) before picking up the pace once more.
I’m An Animal Full of giant, stalking menace, this is based around a dense, Zeppelinesque riff. Thayer plays a marvellous slick-but-stumbling Frehley solo, and you can rest assured the lyrics – ‘I’m an animal and I’m free… I’m an animal in the street’ – don’t refer to an old lady with her poodle off the leash. Late in the song, the band issue the urge: ‘Stand up, raise your fists.’ Little do they know, we’ve been doing that since track one…
The US & Canadian release of SONIC BOOM is a three-disc set that also features KISS KLASSICS, a 15-track completely re-recorded greatest hits CD, as well as a live DVD shot in Buenos Aires, Argentina during the band's 2009 South American tour. The discs are packaged in a DigiPak along with a 20-page booklet.
SONIC BOOM will be available exclusively at Walmart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club retail locations beginning October 6.
KISS KLASSICS CD Track Listing:
1. DEUCE 2. DETROIT ROCK CITY 3. SHOUT IT OUT LOUD 4. HOTTER THAN HELL 5. CALLING DR. LOVE 6. LOVE GUN 7. I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN' YOU 8. HEAVEN'S ON FIRE 9. LICK IT UP 10. I LOVE IT LOUD 11. FOREVER 12. CHRISTINE SIXTEEN 13. DO YOU LOVE ME 14. BLACK DIAMOND 15. ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE
KISS Bonus Live DVD Track Listing:
1. DEUCE 2. HOTTER THAN HELL 3. C'MON AND LOVE ME 4. WATCHIN' YOU 5. 100,000 YEARS 6. ROCK & ROLL ALL NITE
par Olikatie » Lun Juin 29, 2009 8:32 am 
Jeremy est né le 28.04.06 et Fanny le 17.07.09 
http://www.trademarkpictures.com/kiss.htm
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