In an effort to Keep It Simple Stupid, this Fallen Friday is coming from New York and an infamous guitarist – Ace Frehley.
Oh where do I begin? Alright, I’m going to make something up here. I won’t say what’s real, and what’s fiction. This should be fun. Why the hell not? Imagine you’re me, you’re about seven years old and KISS is the biggest thing in the world. No one has ever met them in the general public without their makeup on. Your dad is a famous commercial illustrator who has been hired by KISS’es manager to do a piece for each member of the band. So in order for him to do it he has to go to their rehearsal studio somewhere in the heart of New York City and get some pictures and meet the band. Your dad decides to tote you along because your mom is out of town.
You’re sat down in the hallway near the door to the street while your father goes into a room to chat with someone. Through the walls you can hear plain as day blaring rock music. You don’t really know the band, but you can’t imagine why a sound proof room isn’t very sound proof at all. Though you do learn years later that KISS claimed to be the loudest band ever. ** Actually I believe the loudest band I’ve ever heard was Cheap Trick, but that’s a whole other post. **
Your dad comes out and then the band exits from the “sound proof” room. The manager introduces your dad to each guy who looks rather sweaty and you don’t know who they are cause there’s no makeup on. Then the manager man introduces you to Gene Simmons who towers over you but is quite cordial. Then he introduces to you Paul another friendly handshake. Then comes Peter who is quiet but nice. Then comes Ace, or at least you’re told that’s Ace. He walks right by you, doesn’t acknowledge you presence and proceeds to exit the building without so much as a glance. Gets into a waiting car and speeds off. You’re given copies of all their records, including four individual solo records that were marked “not for release”. Don’t you feel special?
You relate this story to friends at school who in turn either think you’re a God for having met KISS without their makeup on; or that you’re full of shit and that your an asshole for making up such a story.
A longer time later your given a piece of art by your dad that was meant for Peter Chris, but because Peter was unhappy about his real appearance in the artwork, decides not to accept it and gives it back. So in turn your dad gives it to you.
This is my fiction, so I’ll stop there.
As for Ace, I’ve heard all of his solo stuff from the said KISS era and even owned his first solo record post KISS era. I bought that because I thought the guitar I saw in the video was neat. What a dumb reason to bug your parents to buy an album of an artist for you. I will say that New York Groove is my favorite Ace song – despite his ability to be rude from what I hear. Interestingly enough he didn’t even write this song. Russ Ballard did. Hmmm… Thus this a perfect candidate for Fallen Friday. Was in a huge band. Was kicked out of huge band. Did solo stuff that didn’t do extremely well. Got back in huge band, and apparently was kicked back out again.
For what it’s worth, you likely know KISS. But aren’t necessarily familiar with Ace’s stuff. And though my little story isn’t the most glowing of portraits, I still believe you should buy this song. It’s cool as hell and it will help a guy named Russ Ballard out, since he wrote it.
(** Disclaimer: Since Ace seems to equal God – check the website domain if you don’t believe me – and God is omnipotent, then should he figure out that this is here and threaten me with eternal hell and damnation, I’ll toss the audio into the void before I slide into the abyss. This story will remain and quite possibly be updated. **)