March 15th

 

 The ticket stub and concert ads from the time I saw Ace Frehley play the Edmonton Event Centre on March 15th, 2008. What an awesome show this was!

Rest In Peace Ace Frehley

  Such sad news today hearing of the passing of Ace Frehley of KISS at the age of 74. Ace and KISS have always meant a lot to me, with them being the first rock band I ever got into and the first rock album I owned, that being KISS Alive II. As much as I liked all the members, Ace always seemed to be the coolest of them all, and as the years went on, through interviews and books and such, he just seemed like a down to earth guy with a great sense of humour and his laugh was amazing. Someone you would like to hang out with over a few beers.

 I feel very lucky that I got to see Ace perform a handful of times, starting with the first time in 1995 when Ace and fellow KISS member Peter Criss did a tour together The Bad Boys of KISS. I saw them play the Thunderdome in Edmonton in July of 1995, and what a fun show that was. I even managed to get a guitar pick that night from Ace.

 Notice the misspelling of Ace's name in the ad for the show. How embarrassing is that.

 The next times I got to see Ace in concert was him performing with KISS in full make-up on the reunion tour in 1996-97. My brother and I saw them first play in Vancouver in September of 1996, just three months after seeing the Bad Boys Tour. And then two more times in May of 1997 in Edmonton and Calgary. Talk about being in our glory getting to see Ace with KISS original line up in make up. So damn good. And the last time seeing Ace in make up with KISS was in July 2000 on the Farewell Tour.

 And then the last time I saw Ace Frehley in concert was in March of 2008 at the Edmonton Event Centre. That show too was amazing with Ace playing KISS classics, solo stuff and even a few Frehley's Comet songs. I count myself very lucky to have seen him in concert, just wish I could have met him at some point. Rest In Peace Ace! Your legacy will live on forever!

A few pictures from the 2008 show in Edmonton.

27 Years Ago Today...July 17th

It was twenty-seven years ago today that I saw Judas Priest with opening act Bon Jovi play Edmonton at Northlands Coliseum.

Also on this day, twenty-four years ago, I saw Jeff Healey perform at the Jubilee Auditorium here in Edmonton. Earlier in the day Jeff Healey also did an in-store performance at the old records store The Marquee downtown. Where I was lucky enough to meet the man and get his autograph.

As well it was eighteen years ago today that I saw Ace Frehley and Peter Criss of KISS do solo shows at the Thunderdome here in Edmonton.

Also on this day eleven years ago, I saw went to the Vans Warped Tour in Calgary. Some of the bands I saw on this day were Hot Water Music, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, NOFX, Bad Religion, Death By Stereo among many others.

And finally, on this day five years ago, I saw the Black Crowes play Edmonton at the Jubilee Auditorium.

19 Years Ago Today...Mar.15th

It was nineteen years ago today that I first saw Big Sugar in concert. This show was at Peoples Pub in Edmonton.





It was eighteen years ago today that I saw 54/40 in concert at the Thunderdome here in Edmonton.





As well it was five years ago todat that I saw Ace Frehely play here in Edmonton at the Edmonton Events Centre.





Looks like March 15th as been a good day for shows for me. As it was a year ago today that I saw Leeroy Stagger play at the Pawn Shop here in Edmonton.

KISS Collectible Of The Day Jan.28th

Today's KISS Collectible is the Ace Frehley action figure from the Psycho Circus series released in 1998 by McFarlane Toys. The figurines are based on the KISS characters they play in the Psycho Circus comic book series that came out in 1997. The Ace Frehley package is him with The Stiltman.







That's it for the Psycho Circus figurines. I am missing the Peter Criss one. Hope to get it one day.

Ace Frehley Book Review

I just finished reading the new Ace Frehley autobiography "No Regrets, A Rock N' Roll Memoir" wrote by Ace with the help of Joe Layden and John Ostrosky. I am thinking it was more wrote by the co-authors with Ace just telling them the stories.

Being a huge KISS fan I was really looking forward to getting some dirt on the other members of KISS especially Gene Simmons. As Gene has been known to put down Ace any chance he gets. There isn't a whole lot of dirt in the book about KISS. It's more Ace telling stories about drinking and drugging. Which are quite funny and amusing. Stories of excess with such people as John Belushi,Dan Aykroyd,Peter Criss and Anton Fig. How he is still alive is a story in itself. Gene saved his life twice, both from drowning. So maybe that's why he doesn't really put Gene down much in the book, other then saying he is a greedy money whore and a sex addict. Something all KISS fans already know.

Ace comes across as fun guy to hang and drink with, a guy with a great sense of humour and not afraid to take chances. He is also a very unreliable person when it comes to being on time and meeting deadlines, hence why Gene and Paul got so tired of his tardiness. He didn't get kicked out of KISS as much as he says he quit the band. I find that hard to believe, but it's his story and he's sticking to it. Although, after releasing his solo album in 1978 and it being the most successful of all the members of KISS, that is where his ego really got the best of him and he thought he could do it on his own.

I thought there would be more stories and information about his own band Frehley's Comet that he put together after leaving KISS but he tells very little about them days. Ace has been sober for five years now and continues to put out music and tour. here is hoping he can continue to be sober, cause if he doesn't the consequences aren't going to be good. Ace is just too damn crazy when he is on the drink, which almost always leads to doing coke and bad news usually follows quickly.

All and all if you are a die hard KISS fan, I think you will enjoy this book, it is a quick read. Lots of booze,blow and babe stories which I found to be entertainingly funny and sad at the same time. Ace keep it together, we want to keep you around for a long time and continue to hear and see you put out music.

KISS Collectible Of The Day Nov.21st

Today's KISS Collectible is an old Ace Frehley poster that I bought at a flea market back in the 80's. It was put out in 1977 and distributed by C/C Sales. The poster is 34"X22" in size and in pretty good condition considering how old it is.

Poster.

Concert Shirt/Poster Of The Day Apr.9th (Ace Frehley)

Today's t-shirt is from the Ace Frehley concert my Cuz and I went to in 2008 at The Edmonton Events Centre. This was my second time seeing Ace perform solo and again another great show. My Cuz and I had such a good time at this show hearing lots of old KISS hits and some old Ace solo songs, even a few from his Frehley's Comet stuff.

Front.


Back.


Black and White Poster.


Colour Poster.




Here are a few pictures I took at the show.

Ticket Stub Of The Day Jan.20th (Ace Frehley and Peter Criss)

Today's ticket stub is from the Ace Frehley and Peter Criss concert that my brother and I went to in 1995 at The Thunderdome in Edmonton. For anyone who doesn't know, I'm not sure who that would be, cause this should be common knowledge, Peter and Ace were the drummer and guitar player in the original line up of KISS. This concert was billed as The Bad Boys Of KISS, as both members had been kicked out of the band at one time or another.

When this show was announced my brother and I were both super excited about it, neither one of us had ever seen Peter or Ace live before. My bro and I being huge KISS fans couldn't wait for this show. The show was awesome with Peter Criss opening with his band, doing some KISS classics and then Ace playing after Peter. Ace was excellent as well, playing some of his Frehley's Comet stuff and of course some KISS classics as well. Then for the encore Peter came out and played drums with Ace and doing more KISS classics, a very fun evening of music.

A year later, the original KISS line up got back together and did a reunion tour.

Checkout the advertisement for the show. Could they have fucked it up anymore. The misspelling of both Ace (Ace Fishley) and Peter (Peter Giss) I mean come on, that's pathetic.

KISS Collectible Of The Day Jan.11th

Today's KISS Collectible is another old KISS scribbler that I found. It is the Ace Frehley one.

Front Of Scribbler.

KISS Collectible Of The Day Dec.20th

Today's KISS Collectible of the day is the Ace Frehley solo album that came out at the same time as the other 3 members in 1978 on Casablanca Records. This was by far my favorite of the solo albums. All the songs were wrote by Ace except the biggest hit on the album 'New York Groove'. Playing drums on the Ace solo album is Anton Fig who would later go onto play in Paul Shaffer's band on David Letterman, he also did session work for a few later KISS albums.

Album Front Cover.


Vinyl.


Inner Sleeve.


Album Back Cover.


Poster That Came With Album.