Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and original KISS lead guitarist, Ace Frehley has a new solo album coming out on October 19 called Spaceman; meanwhile KISS recently announced their multi-year ‘End of the Road’ farewell world tour. We got a chance to talk with Frehley about this and more over the phone recently.
INTERVIEW: ACE FREHLEY
Houston Press: Why did you decide to call your new album Spaceman?
Ace Frehley: Actually it was Gene Simmons’ idea. [Laughs] I was doing a question and answer session with him in Miami at one of his Vault Experiences and I originally wanted to call the record 40 Years Laterbecause it’s been 40 years since my first solo album and I was kind of polling the audience to get a reaction and it was kind of lukewarm and then Gene got on the microphone and said [Imitating Gene’s Voice] “Ace you have to call it Spaceman,” so I went along with Gene’s idea.
Houston Press: That outfit you’re wearing on the cover of your new album; who came up with that? Was is something a wardrobe designer made for you or is that your own outfit?
Ace Frehley: Well if you check the internet you can find pictures of me in a similar outfit sitting on a plexiglass chair which was a photo session I did with makeup. The photo session was done with Barry Levine who at the time was a very big rock photographer and we did several sessions with him over the years. But I’m sitting in a plexiglass chair with a silver jumpsuit and there’s fog inside the chair and around me. So we kind of did a takeoff of that photo session with this new album cover.
Houston Press: I listened to your new album and I really liked it; the song ‘Without You I’m Nothing’ was that written about anyone in particular?
In an interview in Atlantic City where he was promoting his artwork, Stanley told The Associated Press the band’s “End of the Road” world tour starting next year could include appearances by former members. He did not single out anyone by name, but living ex-members are guitarists Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent and Bruce Kulick, and drummer Peter Criss.