“Remember rock ’n’ roll? You guys used to rock ’n’ roll real good.” – Creem Magazine Dynasty Review
Episode 588. We go back to October 1979 and read and react to the Creem Magazine review of Dynasty…
“We had some good times, but now they’re gone. So long,.”
—Ace Frehley,
“Save Your Love”
So long, Ace, it’s been good to know ya.
And, uncool as it may be for someone my age to admit it, y’know, five years ago I held high hopes that you guys would ultimately transform yourselves into the great American white (faces) rock ’n’ roll hope. But hey, Ace, the Ramones now have that title—and they don’t even wear make-up. But they sure can rock ’n’ roll, eh?
Remember rock ’n’ roll? You guys used to rock ’n’ roll real good. As a matter of fact, Dressed To Kill and Rock ‘n’ Roll Over still rank, along with side four of your second live album, as your supreme studio moments (and that’s not even considering Hotter Than Hell’s “Parasite,” which features your most homicidal guitar solo ever). I mean, the original Alive! still packs enough punch to render Helen Keller senseless.
But then something went wrong, beginning with the dreaded (for the wrong reasons) Love Gun, foreshadowed by the equally ominous (again, for the wrong reasons) Destroyer. And Ace, what happened to the much-vaunted “Strutter 78” which appeared on the Double Platinum album? It was actually weaker than either of the original -’74 or live ’75 versions. Then came the glut of solo albums, TV specials and comic books— each new enterprise a coin in the coffer and a nail in the coffin.
By this time, Ace, the low points were beginning to greatly outnumber the highs. Somewhere along the line, you guys lost your demons.
And I miss that. There just aren’t any demons on your new album, Ace. Why don’t you leave the pop diddling to Abba and the disco stuff to Giorgio Moroder? You guys were born to rock ’n’ roll and, although I know you think you’re making a good move career-wise by recording this stuff, believe me, you’re making a lot of your vintage fans (you know, the ones who put you where you are today) angry and—even worse—sad.
Go back to Eddie Kramer and tell him you want to rock ’n’ roll. He’ll know what you mean.
– Jeffrey Morgan