There is something magic about music. Especially when you hold a record in your hands that you purchased as a 12 year old kid in 1978. When you can remember the smell of it. The feel of it. The quality and sheen of the cover. In an instance, all those feelings come back. And it all feels like yesterday.
During 1978, a lot of the music magazine were posting teasers to the release of four forthcoming KISS records. Eventually it was known that the band would be releasing 4 individual records. One solo album per member.
What they would sound like, who would play on them, no one knew. The albums were released September 18 1978. We did not get them in Australia until early October.
Early October being my birthday, I knew exactly what I wanted and what I was going to buy.
Leaving Malvern Central School at 3pm, my best friend Eric and myself were on a mission. We headed to Gaslight Records on Glenferrie Road to get our records. Eric, bought the Peter Criss solo album. Without a moment’s hesitation, I bought the Ace Frehley record.
They were priced at $8.99. Pretty expensive in those days but these were US imports and far superior to the Australian pressings which were not due for a few weeks yet.
I got home and did not know what would greet me when the needle hit the grooves.
You see, Ace had only ever sung one song on a KISS album up to this point. So no one knew what to expect really.
Safe to say, even as a 12 year old kid, I knew there was something magical coming out of my speakers that spring day!
The records was and remains, a Hard Rock masterpiece! Every single song an absolute rocking killer! Where the hell were all these songs in the prior six KISS releases? Here was Ace releasing the best solo record of the four by a country mile. Yes, many argue Paul’s is the best but you gotta remember, Paul wrote and featured on nearly every KISS song prior to 1978. This was a record by an artist unleashed from the shackles of Simmons and Stanley and as stated, had just released an absolute Hard Rock masterpiece that sounds magnificent to this day.
Tonight, for the first time since Ace’s passing, I put the record on. I have not listened to KISS (or any music for that matter) since we lost the Spaceman. I just did not feel like listening to music and never in my life did I imagine I would be doing so in mourning of the passing of a member of KISS. These guys were our superheroes! Superheroes don’t die.
Ace at the end of the tour together you called me into the dressing room at the Brisbane Tivoli. Just you and me. You took your sunglasses off and we began to talk spinning bullshit about Golden Gaytime ice-creams, meat pies and KISS in Australia in 1980. I never let on I was a fan. I was hired to be a photographer for the tour. I was not here to be a fan although every time I was in your presence I was whispering to myself, “I cannot believe this! I cannot believe this!” But in that room, I told you I was at the November 15 1980 show in Melbourne. You said, “oh that was the one where we played in front of 45,000 people! That was the show we got flown in by helicopter to the backstage area…”
That was the one Ace. That was my first gig ever. That was the one where as a 14 year old, we camped overnight before the show so we could get in first. That was the one that changed my life and paved a path to working with music and Rock And Roll to this day.
And tonight on the day of your funeral I was able to spin your music again.
I wish things were different. Not for selfish fan boy reasons, but for you. You man! Because you still had so much more music to give to the world. And now it is gone.
Long may you shine in the space stars Spaceman! There was no one like you. There will never be anyone like you!
Rest in peace Ace!
Yours truly as Ace (1977)