Music review: Ace Frehley – 鈥楽paceman鈥�
As a special treat this Halloween, I watched a DVD of 鈥淭he Paul Lynde Halloween Special鈥� from 1976. If you are wondering why I would do such a thing, music fans will know that Kiss made an appearance on this ABC variety show, performing three tracks from the band鈥檚 fifth album.
It was a great trip down memory lane seeing the boys belt out 鈥淒etroit Rock City鈥� and 鈥淜ing of the Night Time World,鈥� while slowing it down on the hit ballad 鈥淏eth.鈥�
While I was never officially a member of the Kiss Army, I did follow the band through my purchases of the legendary 鈥淎live!鈥� and 鈥淎live II.鈥�
When the band released solo efforts, Ace Frehley鈥檚 was the only one I purchased. In my opinion, it was by far the best of the solo releases with spirited rock tracks such as 鈥淩ip It Out,鈥� 鈥淪peedin鈥� Back to My Baby鈥� and 鈥淣ew York Groove.鈥�
I鈥檝e seen Frehley perform locally twice and have most of his albums, so I was pleased to learn that the guitarist was issuing a new studio album.
Aptly titled 鈥淪paceman,鈥� Frehley鈥檚 latest release is a straight-up rock assault that harkens back to Frehley鈥檚 glory days.
While Frehley鈥檚 lyrics are a little light at times, he more than makes up for it in the guitar department with his fervent playing.
鈥淲ithout You I鈥檓 Nothing鈥� and 鈥淵our Wish Is My Command鈥� were co-written by Frehley and Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, providing hints of classic Kiss.
With songs like 鈥淩ockin鈥� With the Boys,鈥� 鈥淧ursuit of Rock and Roll鈥� and 鈥淢ission to Mars,鈥� Frehley rocks as hard as ever and comes across as if he鈥檚 having a blast doing it.
The Bronx native recalls his early days growing up on the streets with 鈥淏ronx Boy鈥� as he sings, 鈥淚鈥檓 just a street kid/We seek and destroy.鈥�
Frehley yearns to return to simpler times and hanging out on Friday nights with a solid cover of Eddie Money鈥檚 鈥淚 Wanna Go Back.鈥�
The set comes to a cosmic close with the soaring instrumental 鈥淨uantum Flux.鈥�
There has been no Pittsburgh date listed yet on Frehley鈥檚 tour schedule. However, I did get tickets to see the farewell tour of Kiss when the band comes to Pittsburgh in March. I can guarantee that my buddies and I will be rockin鈥� and rollin鈥� all night as we say so long to the band that left a huge impact on us growing up.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.