Frehley's Comet

Last updated

Frehley's Comet
Also known as Ace Frehley
Origin New York City, New York, United States
Genres
Years active1984–1988 (Reunions: 2017, 2018)
Labels
Past members Ace Frehley
John Regan
Anton Fig
Richie Scarlet
Arthur Stead
Tod Howarth
Billy Ward
Jamie Oldaker

Frehley's Comet was an American rock band formed and led by ex-Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley. [4] The group released two studio albums and one live EP before Frehley left the band to release his 1989 solo album, Trouble Walkin' .

Contents

The band name was a pun of a pun; Bill Haley & His Comets was a 1950s Rock-n-Roll band that derived its name as a pun of the typical mispronunciation of Halley's Comet (properly pronounced as "Hal-lee", rhymes with "valley", but commonly mispronounced as "Hay-lee"), a comet which orbits the Sun near Earth about every 75 years. It also helped people pronounce Frehley's name properly to connect it to the common mispronunciation of Halley as "Hay-lee", as in "Fray-lee" vs. the common mispronunciation as "Free-lee".

History


Before forming a band for his post-KISS career, Frehley had previously done a solo album in 1978 which was the most successful of the Kiss solo albums, and laid the groundwork for his solo career. Frehley left Kiss in 1982, but retained a one-quarter share in Kiss and could not release any solo projects until 1985 without losing that share.

During this time Ace put together a band for his solo work, the original line-up consisted of Richie Scarlet on guitar, John Regan on bass, Regan's Peter Frampton bandmate Arthur Stead on keyboards and former Kiss and Spider drummer Anton Fig. [4] This band played live for the first time on 30 November 1984, [5] and demoed 20 songs in various sessions with producers Eddie Kramer, Tony Bongiovi, Chris Kimsey and Vini Poncia. [6]

In May 1985, Frehley's friend from the Bronx, Rob Sabino, who also produced one of Scarlet's solo albums in 1984, replaced Stead (who went on to join Public Enemy [7] ) on keyboards. British label Bronze Records reportedly offered the band a deal in the summer of 1985 but withdrew it due to Frehley's "unreliability", before ultimately folding in early 1986. [8]

In November 1986 Frehley signed a six-album deal with Megaforce Records. Sabino and Regan had left the band at that point but Regan returned from touring with John Waite and Patti Smith after the recording deal was signed. In December 1986, before they made their initial record, with producer Eddie Kramer, Scarlet was replaced by former Cheap Trick member Tod Howarth who played guitar and keyboards. [4]

Frehley's Comet was supposed to simply be the title of Frehley's next solo album, but Frehley decided to use that as the name of the band rather than release the record as a solo artist. [4] Fig did not tour for the album and was replaced by Billy Ward as touring drummer. [9] Before the second album, Second Sighting , Ward was replaced on drums by veteran Eric Clapton Band member Jamie Oldaker who played his first show with the band on September 22, 1987 and also did the entire tour for the 2nd album. [4]

Two studio albums and one live album were released under the "Frehley's Comet" moniker (The live album, Live+1 featured four songs performed live in concert and one original studio song). The last show under the Frehley's Comet name was in August 1988, opening for Iron Maiden, and Howarth and Oldaker left before the end of the year. [5]

In 1989, for Trouble Walkin', his third studio release (produced by Eddie Kramer), Frehley dropped the Frehley's Comet name and put out a pure "Ace Frehley" solo album. [4] Tod Howarth was replaced by a returning Richie Scarlet, and Jamie Oldaker by ex-Riot drummer Sandy Slavin (although Anton Fig and ex-Kiss Drummer Peter Criss did perform some of the percussion work on the album). [4] The album featured numerous guest vocalists including Criss and Sebastian Bach. [4] The tour ended and the band dissolved after John Regan resigned with immediate effect after a show in Las Vegas on April 11, 1990. [10] Frehley did not perform live in any form for two years after that, until July 1992. [11]

Frehley put his solo career on hold to rejoin Kiss in 1996. He has since resumed his solo career with Richie Scarlet back in his touring band. After touring Australia together with Gene Simmons and his solo band in 2018, Frehley fired his entire solo band including Scarlet with whom he had played on and off since 1984 and replaced them with Simmons's backing band. [12]

In 2014, Regan and Howarth reunited in the band Four By Fate. [7] The band played various one-off reunion shows in 2017 and 2018 with Frehley, Tod Howarth, John Regan, and Anton Fig together. [13]

Personnel

Members

Timeline

Frehley's Comet

Line-ups

19841984–19851985-19861986
  • Ace Frehley – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Anton Fig – drums, percussion
  • John Regan – bass guitar, drums, backing vocals
  • Richie Scarlet – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Ace Frehley – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Anton Fig – drums, percussion
  • John Regan – bass guitar, drums, backing vocals
  • Richie Scarlet – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Arthur Stead – keyboards
  • Ace Frehley – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Anton Fig – drums, percussion
  • John Regan – bass guitar, drums, backing vocals
  • Richie Scarlet – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Rob Sabino – keyboards
  • Ace Frehley – guitars, lead vocals
  • Anton Fig – drums, percussion
  • John Regan – bass guitar, drums, backing vocals
1986–1987, 2017, 20181987–19881988
  • Ace Frehley – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Anton Fig – drums, percussion
  • John Regan – bass guitar, drums, backing vocals
  • Tod Howarth – rhythm guitar, lead vocals, keyboards
  • Ace Frehley – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • John Regan – bass guitar, drums, backing vocals
  • Tod Howarth – rhythm guitar, lead vocals, keyboards
  • Billy Ward – drums, percussion
  • Ace Frehley – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • John Regan – bass guitar, drums, backing vocals
  • Tod Howarth – rhythm guitar, lead vocals, keyboards
  • Jamie Oldaker – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Discography

Studio albums

Date of ReleaseTitle Billboard
July 7, 1987 Frehley's Comet 43
May 24, 1988 Second Sighting 81

[15]

[16]

Live albums/EPs

Date of ReleaseTitle Billboard
February 1988 Live+1 84

[16]

Demos

Filmography

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ace Frehley</span> American musician (born 1951)

Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician who was the original lead guitarist, occasional lead vocalist and founding member of the rock band Kiss. He invented the persona of The Spaceman and played with the group from its inception in 1973 until his departure in 1982. After leaving Kiss, Frehley formed his own band named Frehley's Comet and released two albums with the group. He subsequently embarked on a solo career, which was put on hold when he rejoined Kiss in 1996 for a highly successful reunion tour.

<i>Trouble Walkin</i> 1989 studio album by Ace Frehley

Trouble Walkin' is the second full-length solo album released by Ace Frehley. The album features guest performances by former Kiss drummer Peter Criss, as well as Skid Row members Sebastian Bach, Rachel Bolan and Dave Sabo.

<i>Unmasked</i> (Kiss album) 1980 studio album by Kiss

Unmasked is the eighth studio album by American hard rock band Kiss, released on May 20, 1980, by Casablanca Records. It was their first not to feature original drummer and founding member Peter Criss. Despite having no involvement in its production, Criss features in the album's artwork and the video for "Shandi", and also receives credit.

<i>Second Sighting</i> 1988 studio album by Frehleys Comet

Second Sighting is the third solo album by Ace Frehley and the second and final to use the Frehley's Comet moniker. Due to Frehley's illness and substance abuse during the recording, Tod Howarth took a bigger role in singing and songwriting than on the previous album.

<i>Dynasty</i> (Kiss album) 1979 studio album by Kiss

Dynasty is the seventh studio album by American rock band Kiss, produced by Vini Poncia and released on May 23, 1979, by Casablanca Records.

707 was an American rock band of the early 1980s, best known for the rock radio hits "I Could Be Good For You" and "Mega Force".

<i>Frehleys Comet</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Frehleys Comet

Frehley's Comet is the second solo album by Ace Frehley, former lead guitarist of Kiss. It was also the first album that Frehley released after leaving Kiss in 1982.

<i>The Very Best of Kiss</i> 2002 greatest hits album by Kiss

The Very Best of Kiss is a compilation album by the American rock band Kiss. It was released on August 27, 2002. It contains 21 of the band's most popular tracks, all previously released, with original versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tod Howarth</span> American musician

Tod Howarth is an American rock musician from San Diego, California. He is best known as serving as a keyboardist, a guitarist, and vocalist for the melodic hard rock group Frehley's Comet, led by former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley. The band recorded three albums and produced four music videos before the line-up ultimately dissolved, with Frehley moving back to solo efforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anton Fig</span> South African drummer

Anton Fig is a South African session drummer, perhaps best known as the drummer and second-in-command for Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band. David Letterman, for whom the band served as house band on his late-night talk shows, often referred to Fig as "Anton Zip" or "Buddy Rich Jr." Fig is also well known for his work with Kiss, Ace Frehley and Joe Bonamassa.

<i>Live+1</i> 1988 EP by Frehleys Comet

Live+1 is a 1988 EP by the hard rock band Frehley's Comet. It was meant to serve as a stopgap until the release of the group's second studio album, Second Sighting. The first four songs were recorded live at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois, on September 4, 1987. The last song, "Words Are Not Enough," is a shorter version of a demo recording the group made in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shandi (song)</span> 1980 single by Kiss

"Shandi" is a hit single by American hard rock band Kiss. Released on their 1980 album, Unmasked, the song was popular in Australia, where it reached number five on the Australian charts. The song would prove to be a hit in other countries as well, making the top ten in three other countries. "Shandi" peaked at number 47 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

<i>The Millennium Collection: The Best of Kiss</i> 2003 greatest hits album by Kiss

The Millennium Collection: The Best of Kiss is a compilation album that collects the 1970s output by the American rock band Kiss. It was released by Universal Music as part of their 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection series. It is the first of a trilogy of albums in the Millennium Collection series featuring material from Kiss. The second volume, which covers material from the 1980s output was released in 2004, followed by the 1990s output third installment in 2006.

<i>12 Picks</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Ace Frehley

12 Picks is a greatest hits album by American hard rock guitarist/singer Ace Frehley. Songs 7–12 were recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, England on March 19, 1988.

Prentice John Delaney Jr., better known as Sean Delaney, was an American musician, producer, road manager and songwriter, best known for his work with the rock band KISS from the early 1970s until the early 1980s. He is largely credited with developing their choreography onstage, and co-wrote many songs with Paul Stanley, including "Mr. Speed", "Makin' Love", and "Take Me" from the 1976 album Rock and Roll Over, and "All American Man" from the studio side of the 1977 album Alive II.

<i>Greatest Hits Live</i> (Ace Frehley album) 2006 live album by Ace Frehley

Greatest Hits Live is a live album by Ace Frehley. The album contains ten live tracks and two studio recordings. Tracks 1-6, 8 and 10 were recorded in London, England. Tracks 7 and 9 were recorded in Chicago, Illinois. The final two studio recordings were outtakes from Frehley's previous greatest hits compilation, Loaded Deck.

John Michael Regan was an American musician, songwriter, producer, and bassist. He is notable for having been a member of ex-Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's band Frehley's Comet from 1984 to 1990 and recorded and performed with Peter Frampton from 1979 to 2011. He also recorded with John Waite, The Rolling Stones, Stephen Stills, Dave Edmunds, Robin Trower, Scandal, Billy Idol, David Bowie, and David Lee Roth. He lived in Wappingers Falls, New York.

"Cold Gin" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss. The song was written by the band's lead guitarist Ace Frehley and was released in 1974 on the band's eponymous debut album. The song is featured on many compilations released by the band. Live versions of the song were often extended for about two minutes due to Frehley's soloing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hide Your Heart (song)</span> Single by Bonnie Tyler

Hide Your Heart is a song by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, released on her 1988 album Hide Your Heart. The song was written by Kiss' rhythm guitarist and vocalist Paul Stanley, Desmond Child and Holly Knight. Although the song failed to chart, it has appeared on several compilations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talk to Me (Kiss song)</span> 1980 single by Kiss

"Talk to Me" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss, released in 1980 on their eighth studio album Unmasked. The song, never released as a single in the US, was released as a single worldwide on November 1, 1980. The song broke the top 40 in several countries, reaching the highest position in Switzerland, at #10. "Talk to Me" was played only when Ace Frehley was a member of the band.

References

  1. ↑ McPadden, Mike. "The Hair Metal 100: Ranking the '80s Greatest Glam Bands, Part 3". VH1 News. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  2. ↑ Popoff, Martin (2014). The big book of hair metal : the illustrated oral history of heavy metal's debauched decade. Minneapolis, MN. p. 150. ISBN   978-1-62788-375-7. OCLC   891379313.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ↑ "Frehley's Comet - Ace Frehley | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 140. ISBN   0-85112-656-1.
  5. 1 2 axeologyextended (July 5, 2024). "A brief history of Frehley's Comet". Axeology Extended (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Kiss Related Recordings; Ace Frehley / Frehley's Comet ; 1984 - 1985 demo's". Kiss-related-recordings.nl. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Syrjala, Marko (August 10, 2014). "JOHN REGAN - Four by Fate, ex-Frehley's Comet discusses working with Ace Frehley and more". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ axeologyextended (July 5, 2024). "A brief history of Frehley's Comet". Axeology Extended (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Billy Ward - Journey of the Group". September 2, 2015.
  10. ↑ "En fot före den andra, storyn om Ace sista kreativa tid".
  11. ↑ "Ace Frehley Tour Statistics | setlist.fm". setlist.fm.
  12. ↑ Blabbermouth (October 16, 2018). "ACE FREHLEY Explains Why He Fired His Band: 'It Wasn't Just About Funds'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Video footage of Frehley's Comet reunion at 2018 Indianapolis KISS Fan Expo". May 14, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Raising Hairs on the Arms of Chic and David Bowie Keyboardist Rob Sabino". Sharkeystreehouse.com. March 23, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Frehley's Comet - Ace Frehley | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Frehley's Comet | Album Discography". AllMusic . Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  17. ↑ axeologyextended (July 5, 2024). "A brief history of Frehley's Comet". Axeology Extended (in Swedish). Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  18. ↑ "KISSMONSTER - Song Stories - Back On The Streets". Kissmonster.com. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  19. ↑ Asplund, Tony (October 30, 2020). "Bokrecension: Partners In Crime Vol. II". Rockbladet.se. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  20. ↑ Amazon Live & 4. ASIN   6302373093.
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