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FREHLEY Fans Revel In KISS Heavy ShowFrom: The Buffalo News Posted: March 3, 2008 As a founding member of KISS, ACE FREHLEY became the pivotal hard-rock guitar hero of the ’70s. His iconic image, with a Gibson Les Paul dangling from his shoulders and a look of interstellar ecstasy on his face, adorned the bedroom wall of every self-respecting rocker-in-waiting during that era. As influential as his work has been, Frehley’s "Rocket Ride" hasn’t been particularly smooth. He battled substance abuse problems, fought with his headstrong bandmates, tried several times to quit KISS, and finally did in the early ’80s. Though he was clearly the most centered and consistent musician in KISS, Frehley’s solo career — his 1978 debut effort released while still a member of KISS notwithstanding — was hit and miss. He rejoined the group for its 1996 reunion tour, a sketchy "comeback" album, and a "farewell" tour, before calling it a day once again. Now in his late 50s, Frehley is finally ready to offer a proper follow-up to that 1978 album, and he’s got a hot new band backing him on a tour leading up to the new album’s spring release. Frehley sold out the intimate Bear’s Den in something like three minutes, and a second show’s tickets, placed on sale shortly thereafter, were snatched up equally rapidly. Frehley and his virile band — rhythm guitarist, bassist and drummer, all of whom could sing well and did, often — avoided any music from the forthcoming record, instead focusing on material from throughout Frehley’s storied career with KISS, a healthy dose of that nigh-on-flawless debut solo album, and a few of the best songs from his ’80s solo nods "Frehley’s Comet," "Second Sighting" and "Trouble Walk-in’." The crowd, not surprisingly, went completely nuts throughout. "This is pretty cool," cackled Frehley in his still-thick Bronx accent, at one point. "I feel like I’m gettin’ to know all of you guys." The set list was every Frehley and KISS fan’s dream. It commenced with "Rip It Out" from the first solo album, segued directly into "Hard Times" from KISS’ "Dynasty" effort, and proceeded at rapid clip through some absolute classics, among them "Parasite," "Snowblind," "Into the Void," "Torpedo Girl," "Strangeways" and "Rock Soldiers." The highlight, though, was a pair of tunes found in the career- defining 1978 live disc "KISS Alive II." The first, "Shock Me," became Frehley’s signature song and a showcase for his pyrotechnically vibrant guitar solo, replete with smoking guitar, during the band’s concerts. Hot on the heels of "Shock Me," "Rocket Ride," the "Alive II" song that gives this current Frehley tour its name, was simply overwhelming. Heavy arena rock simply gets no better than this. Though the Bear’s Den is small, Frehley and company gave an arena-worthy performance, and they played at an arena-level volume. Throughout the show, Frehley seemed relaxed, with it, healthy, happy. He’s back and ready to begin again. |
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