Frehley's Comet | |
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Also known as | Ace Frehley |
Origin | New York City, New York, United States |
Genres | |
Years active | 1984–1988 (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' .
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".
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, and Anton Fig on drums. [4] This band, together with keyboardists Arthur Stead and later Frehley's friend from the Bronx, Rob Sabino, played live and demoed 20 songs in various sessions with producers Eddie Kramer, Tony Bongiovi, Chris Kimsey and Vini Poncia. [5]
However, before they made their initial record, Scarlet (and Sabino) was replaced by 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. [6] For the second album, Second Sighting , Fig was replaced on drums by veteran Eric Clapton Band member Jamie Oldaker who also did the tour. [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). Howarth and Oldaker left shortly after the last show under the Frehley's Comet name, opening for Iron Maiden in August 1988.
In 1989, for Trouble Walkin', his third studio release, 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. [7] Frehley did not perform live in any form for two years after that, until July 1992. [8]
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. [9]
The band played various one-off reunion shows in 2017 and 2018 with Frehley, Tod Howarth, John Regan, and Anton Fig together. [10]
1984 | 1984–1985 | 1985-1986 | 1986 |
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1986–1987, 2017, 2018 | 1987–1988 | 1988 | |
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Date of Release | Title | Billboard |
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July 7, 1987 | Frehley's Comet | 43 |
May 24, 1988 | Second Sighting | 81 |
Date of Release | Title | Billboard |
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February 1988 | Live+1 | 84 |
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician, best known as the original lead guitarist, occasional lead vocalist and co-founding member of the hard 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 this 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.
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.
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.
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.
Ace Frehley is the first solo album by American guitarist and former Kiss member Ace Frehley, released on September 18, 1978, by Casablanca Records. It was one of four albums released by each separate Kiss member as a solo act, but yet still under the Kiss label, coming out alongside Peter Criss, Paul Stanley, and Gene Simmons.
Dynasty is the seventh studio album by American rock band Kiss, produced by Vini Poncia and released on May 23, 1979, by Casablanca Records.
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.
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.
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.
Anton Fig, known as "The Thunder from Down Under", 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.
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.
"Sure Know Something" is a single by American hard rock band Kiss, released on their 1979 album Dynasty.
"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.
Let Me Rock You is the third solo studio album released by American musician and former Kiss drummer Peter Criss. Due to poor sales for his previous album, Out of Control, Let Me Rock You was not released in the United States until 1998, when it was reissued on CD. The album was produced by Vini Poncia, who previously produced Criss's 1978 solo album. Let Me Rock You features the song "Feels Like Heaven", written by Criss's former bandmate, Gene Simmons. The album cover features Peter Criss for the first time without his Kiss makeup, as he did not appear on the cover of his solo album Out of Control. One year later, Kiss also decided to take off their makeup for their Lick It Up album.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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