Ace Frehley’s Cold Gin Free

While I passed on Darrell Hammond’s recent biography, there is a new tell all that I will definitely be reading – Ace Frehley’s “No Regrets” just came out and I’ll probably get it as soon as I see it at the book store, or Amazon. Being a young man in the 70′s, KISS was my Beatles. I was/am a huge fan. They were my first concert. Mobile, Alabama in 1979, The Dynasty Tour. I was 16. I wanted to find my ticket and post a picture of it here; but alas can’t locate in my junk drawer of memories – I think it’s clipped to a picture of me in the 80′s dressed like Gene Simmons for Halloween. I have seen them live 4 times, but only once without Ace in 1990. Anyway, I am sure you guys don’t care about any of that – but I am really looking forward to reading his book and hope he spends some time on his path to recovery.

The book preview teases wild stories about dancing at Studio 54 with “The Bionic Woman,” working as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix, and bar-flying all night with John Belushi. In the end, he comes to terms with his highly publicized descent into alcohol, drugs, and self-destruction-ultimately managing to conquer his demons and come out on top. This is Ace Frehley. No makeup. No apologies. No regrets. According to his wiki he’s been sober 5 years – His most recent album Anomaly was released on September 15, 2009. This date was chosen as it was three years since he had confronted his alcohol problem and stopped drinking. The album was dedicated to his former bandmate Eric Carr who died of cancer, Dimebag Darrell who was a huge fan of Frehley and Les Paul who died a month prior to the album’s release, and his wife Jeanette and her family.

If I get my nerve up, I am going to see if we can get an interview with him here at TDA, like we did with Art Alexakis of Everclear a couple of years ago. I’m not gonna lie, that would be like the coolest thing ever for me. Here’s Ace and Kiss back in 79 just the way I remember him/them – same cool light up guitar and all.

Ace Factoid – He wrote one of the first great Kiss songs – Cold Gin