Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

In conjunction with its Back In The Solo Album Groove series, KissFAQ has published an interview with drummer extraordinaire Anton Fig. “The Thunder From Down Under” revisits his work on Ace Frehley’s 1978 solo album, meeting Frehley and working on the album’s demos, and offers insight regarding some of his favorite tracks such as “Rip It Out” and why “Ace Frehley” is not only an important part of the Spaceman’s evolution, but one of the favorite albums he has ever played on.

The following is an excerpt from Ballard’s interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate:

KissFAQ: Anton, what was going on with your musical career in 1978?

Anton Fig: I was playing around New York in the rock scene. I had moved down from Boston where I had gone to music school and got a music degree. I studied classical percussion and jazz. So I was pretty much heavily into jazz all that time but when I moved down to New York I got back into rock, which is what I had grown up playing as a kid in South Africa. And I think around that time I had done a record with Link Wray called “Bull Shot.” I was in a rock band called Topaz; some of the guys in the band had gone off to play with Bob Dylan. Through that I got to play with Robert Gordon and Link Wray. So I was kind of touring around and playing with Robert and Link and at the same time I had formed my own band with some fellow South Africans. At the time we were called Siren, but we became Spider. We were rehearsing and actually looking for musicians around that time. We had a loft downtown in New York.

KF: I think that’s where your connection to Ace comes in. I understand that you came to play with Ace through a bass player named Larry Russell, who was auditioning for Spider. How did Larry bring up the Ace opportunity?

AF: Well, he was auditioning for us and he said to me, “I’ve got a friend, Ace. He’s doing a solo record and he’s looking for a drummer. I think I can get you an audition.” You know, I had heard of KISS. But to me, KISS was a band on the side of a bus basically. It was a lot of advertising and marketing but I didn’t know the material that well. Anyway, I went up to play with Ace. He did four demos up at a small studio in Queens or [maybe it was] the Bronx. And we did “Rip It Out” and three other songs I don’t remember. We barely spoke. I just kind of played with him. I mean, I asked him if he was the rhythm guitarist [in KISS]. I didn’t even know. He asked me to come up and do another four songs with him. And then there was also another connection through Siren. Eddie Kramer was interested in our band and he was also going to produce Ace’s record. I knew Eddie. I had never really worked with him but I knew him. After the two demo [sessions], Ace asked me to do the record. I was about to go on a five-week tour of Europe with Robert Gordon and Link, so I went off and did that. And when I got back, I think the next day I went up to the Colgate Mansion in Connecticut and we recorded most of the album there.

KF: If you think back to the demo sessions, did you feel an instant chemistry with Ace?

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njkissexpo.com

Just announced – Jim Cara, the man behind the design of Gene Simmons personal axe bass guitars, will be making an appearance at the New Jersey KISS Expo this Saturday September 28 at the Raritan Center in Edison NJ. Jim will be bringing a huge assortment of KISS guitars for display and will be on hand to give some great insight into the production and design of these incredible instruments.

Discount tickets for the NJ KISS Expo are available HERE at a discounted rate of only $10!

Jim’s axe bass guitars can be seen at gsaxe.com.

Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

In a KissFAQ exclusive, award-winning songwriter details the creative process for his iconic song “New York Groove,” the recording of the original version by Hello and his recollections of how the song came into the Ace Frehley fold, and discusses additional KISS-related songs such as “Into The Night,” “Let Me Rock You” and “God Gave Rock And Roll To You,” and putting his life down in his music.

The following is an excerpt from Ballard’s interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate:

KissFAQ: Russ, for my first question, I’d like to go back to 1974. That year Argent actually headlined three concerts with KISS serving as the opening act. I know you left the band around this time, but did you perform with Argent on those dates?

Russ Ballard: I remember doing two shows with KISS. One was at the Academy of Music, I think when they were beginning. I remember them setting up the big logo behind the drums. I didn’t know what to expect but there seemed to be a buzz. And then I saw the band take the stage with the makeup and stuff. I thought, “This is cool.” (laughs) Then I remember another show we did with them in St. Louis. It was a Sunday night, I think, at a beautiful theater. It held about 2,000. I had a good look at them that night from the side. I thought they were great.

KF: According to the book “KISS Alive Forever,” KISS and Argent were set to do a longer tour.

RB: I just remember doing two shows. I don’t remember talk of any more. When I left the band they kept going. They could have [talked about it].

KF: Russ, you were born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. That’s quite the long way from New York. Am I correct in saying you came up with the song title for “New York Groove” while on a plane?

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Ken Paulsen | Staten Island Advance

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — It’s time to get up-close and personal with KISS.

Two founding members of the supergroup famed for their rock anthems, wild makeup and stage antics will appear at the Staten Island Barnes & Noble store Sept. 10 to promote their new book “Nothin’ to Lose: The Making of KISS (1972-1975).”

Fair warning: Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons will sign only books, not memorabilia, according to the store’s community relations manager, Joan Correale. It’s the book’s nationwide release date and a big crowd is expected.

Those wanting to meet Stanley and Simmons will have to buy the book at the store at its $29.99 list price, starting at 9 a.m. They will receive a colored wristband that determines their place in line for the 7 p.m. book signing event, and be given a recommended time to return with their book and receipt. The lineup itself begins at 5 p.m., according to the store.

No word on whether the duo will appear with their trademark makeup. The store does not have any information yet on whether photographs will be permitted.

“Nothin’ to Lose,” written by Stanley and Simmons along with rock journalist Ken Sharp, draws on more than 200 interviews to tell the story of the band’s formative years, building up to their 1975 mega-hit album “Alive” and party-rock anthem “Rock and Roll All Nite.” It promises an “indelible and irresistible portrait of a band on the rise and of the music scene they changed forever,” according to the book’s promotional material.

KISS’ biggest hit was the 1976 power ballad “Beth.” But the act is best known for rockers “Detroit Rock City,” “”I Was Made for Lovin’ You” and “Shout It out Loud,” to name just a few.

Stanley, 61, wears the “Starchild” makeup with a star design over his left eye. Simmons, 64, wears the “demon” makeup.