Born into a regular Bronx family, and inspired by the
likes of Hendrix, Led Zepellin, and the Kinks, Ace
Frehley first picked up his brother's guitar at the age
of 12. He had already performed in a number of bands
when, in January 1973, he auditioned for an ad that
read: ''Guitarist wanted with flash and balls.'' Within
a week he was invited to join - the band was KISS.
Frehley explains how the band developed their style in
the early days, making their own clothes, wearing
make-up and platform shoes. Ace himself even designed
the band's double lightning bolt logo. Before long his
persona ''the Spaceman'' was born and the familiar KISS
look established - almost overnight they left behind
1,500 seater theatres in the Midwest and were playing
sold-out stadiums around the world. Life in KISS was a
whirlwind of accidents, overdoses and excess. Ace
partied with the likes of John Belushi and Nic Nolte and
enjoyed the seemingly endless supply of fringe benefits
that came from being in one of the most successful bands
in the history of rock 'n' roll. But soon problems with
substance abuse would lead to his leaving the band in
1982, before returning for a second tenure in 1996.Ace
in the Hole is the story of KISS but much more than that
- it's the story of a kid from the Bronx who found
purpose and salvation through music and rose to the top.
It's the story of a guy who lived life to the fullest
and almost forfeited his life as a result. And
ultimately it's a survival story - Ace is alive and
kicking, still making music and influencing a new
generation of guitarists. |
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