Valentine approached Frehley to play on her record at her birthday party – not expecting him to actually show up at the studio
Kathy Valentine is best known as the Go-Go’s bassist, but her 2005 solo release, Light Years, showcased her versatility as a multi-instrumentalist with a strong songwriting-first mindset.
That album was bolstered by appearances from esteemed musicians like KISS guitarist Ace Frehley and Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke – and in a new interview with Guitar World, Valentine has revealed how they got involved.
“Gilby is a friend since my early days in LA and is just a sweetheart. I adore him and his family. It felt safe to work with him, mutual respect and genuine friendship,” Valentine says.
“Ace was gentle and kind. I met him at a birthday party of mine he came to. He offered to play on my solo record, and I thought, ‘Sure, he’ll never show up.’
“But he did, and he was amazing. We recorded at Gilby’s studio. He came in and noodled some solo takes on Bad Choice, and after a few, Gilby and I looked at each other slack-jawed and said, ‘That’s it.’ He wanted to do more, so I said, ‘No, this is the one. Thank you.’”