Ep. 343 Ace Frehley Sits Down for a Q&A with Tommy Sommers
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- Episode 343, July 23, 2019. Tommy Sommers sat down with original spaceman and lead guitarist of KISS Ace Frehley for an intimate Q&A event presented by FAN HQ.
Forget the haters, we won!
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In the early '90s, Michael Brandvold launched the fifth ever website on the Internet devoted to KISS, KISS Otaku. He built, launched and maintained Kissonline.com (KISS' official web presence). He now owns Michael Brandvold Marketing, providing marketing services and digital strategy to musicians. Tommy Sommers spent 15 years on the record show circuit collecting, trading and selling memorabilia / Kiss merchandise. He is now a successful residential Real Estate agent in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Tommy has also produced a KISS song For The Oddfathers and is the owner of Rock Steady Digital Photography. Mark Cicchini, is a world renown KISS collector. KISS have used parts of Mark’s vast KISS collection for audio, video & print materials including their book NOTHIN TO LOSE, CD re release of the LOVE GUN album & the VH1 Ultimate Album KISS ALIVE! special as well as many other KISS projects. His wife also makes a mean meatloaf!!!
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Ace is the reason I have been playing guitar now for 40 years!! He's my childhood hero!!! So good to see him alive & well.
Skip 3 years, he's a wreck and literally letting us know he can't stay sober.
Ace has always been my favorite Kiss member since the beginning. Such a down to earth kind of guy
Thank you for the interview! Ace Frehley has a great personality, originality, his own way of playing guitar and is a legend. Ace Frehley is the real Spaceman! Long live Ace Frehley! 💋🎵🎤🎶🎸
"Yeeaaah but it's cooollller.". Ladies and Gentlemen, the greatness that is Ace Frehley!!
Ace is underated..one of the best lead guitarist ever...
A real live living legend
Ace what I love about you is your natural authentic and real..you are an amazing person and your an incredible guitar player and vocalist
Keep the music coming.. your the best!
This is a great show and Ace is the Puurrrfect guest!! Awesome!! 😁😁😁🎵🎶
Been waiting almost a year for this! BEST Three Sides ever...All you need is ACE. Only Ace and Tommy Sommers, NO Problem!
Glad you liked it, thanks for watching
Ace is the reason I picked up the guitar!
Love you " Ace"! I know that Kiss has more than a lot of fans, and I'm one of them. There is something that is so magical about the whole thing. I've seen all the videos with this, and that, and no one cares. We all love you, thanks for rocking out hard the way you did. We will "all" never forget what part " Kiss" played in our lives. Love you " Ace". Wes Sept
Wow! Ace the guy who wrote "Two Sides of the Coin" on Three Sides of the Coin. Nice interview.
LOL
I hope if they play again, they play : “Flaming Youth”, “Sweet Pain” and one of my true favorites “Mr. Speed” with Ace playing guitar and Peter Criss on drums. Let’s face it, no none can ignore the “original Kiss”.
Don't quote me on this, but I was watching a rockumentary yesterday that claimed Ace did not play the guitar on those album tracks in the studio. I'm not saying it's true, but this became a pattern in the later albums before the separation. For the record, Ace is the GOAT.
Wagner played the solo on Sweet pain but only did a few note overdubs on Flamimg youth so Ace is on that song 99%
Ace seems like he’s high or drunk again now between the slurred speech and the Trump support.
An Ace vault would be cool!
I would love to see that
Ace mentions how all the guitar stores in Manhattan are on 48th St...Ace probably hasn't been there in years..ALL the guitar stores have been gone for close to 10 years...48th St between 6th and 7th Avenues used to be the Music Mecca of the East Coast...From the 1960's through the early 2000's you had Sam Ash, Manny's Music, Rudy's Music, 48th St Custom Guitars, .Pensa Suhr Guitars, etc was where you would see fanous musicians on a daily basis...
I would constantly see billy squier on 48th street back in day
You are probably right
@@tommysommers6327 great interview. Tommy. Good see Ace doing well. My prediction is once kiss is done hitting every place on the globe. They will go back around with Ace on a short 3 month tour hitting major markets. Before ending at msg. So everyone relax. It's possible to be a Tommy Thayer fan and also an ace fan like. Me. Enough with all the negativity.
@@bb-gc2tx well with Kiss, never say never. Anything can happen
@@tommysommers6327 I can see that happening. Tommy gets his last full tour. So they would be done regardless on his end. So then taking out Ace make couple extra bucks. Is a great business move. And im sure. Gene paul would take care of Tommy as well
Awesome Tommy!! Great time with Ace!!
Thanks
Fantastic interview! Thanks Tommy and Ace 😎👍🏻
Tommy is my uncle
Watching and hearing this ,sure brings me two steps closer to my passion .
Audience participants tend to spend more time talking about themselves rather than getting to the point with questions. I have felt questions should be collected in advance, vetted, sorted and asked directly by the host, not the audience member. This way the host can articulate each question with concise and professional clarity, and make time for more questions. The guest, especially when hard of hearing, does not have to struggle to hear. It also may elicit more thoughtful answers.
@Benjamin S As someone who runs various events that include Q&A, I'm not just speaking subjectively about my own preferences; I'm speaking very objectively about the overall value, quality, and efficiency for the greatest number of people. When one person rambles on in group setting so they can extend their "moment" the rest of the people have to deal with that self-indulgence. It's a lack of respect for everyone's time.
Agreed!
Thank you ACE for all of these years and the future !!!.
Tommy, your humble nature is greatly appreciated in Detroit Rock City. Awesome Interview!! A+
Thanks Ken, hope you liked it
I can't say he's the reason. I started playing guitar but he's the reason I picked up my first Les Paul
two of my favorite personalities!!! cant wait to watch the whole thing
Thanks Casey you are always so supportive
I love this interview with Ace Tommy. What a moment for you. Fantastic job ! I wished I was you .😊
Thanks Valeria, it was a blast
Very enjoyable interview ! Great to see ACE in great shape ! What a lovable being ! So talented ! The unique sp'ACE man. LOVE 🤩😘
It's hilarious how Ace says he can't really hear anything, and people get the mic and ramble on and on, and he's just sitting there not hearing a word they're saying. 😄
About 20 years ago, I saw Ace's '75 stage outfit behind glass at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City- sweat stains & all..... so cool to see in person !! "Hey, Curley !!" Lol
🚬😎👍
How Ace never made it into at least a few episodes of the Sopranos is beyond me.....He would have made an excellent wise guy...
Great episode, since I’m a blue kool aid drinker it’s my favorite 🤪! Awesome job with the interview tommy!
Thats totally cool that you are. Ace is awesome and I am glad you enjoyed it.
Until now I only knew Ace's version:
he left KISS because of THE ELDER. The first time I hear from him: "I was my worst enemy". Surprisingly, he confirmed what Paul wrote about his addiction. A really good interview,
I think he said that because he wanted to join Kiss again.
@salmandudayev8259
I think so too. But at least he said it publicly. They told him so when he was in therapy.
He knows, but he can't change!
Still to this day he keeps blaming Paul and Gene for his
misery. It's easier to play the victim than to accept his own responsibility.
@@HappyMachorino-bd8no Absolutely correct! He quit after 2002, Gene and Paul tried to convince him to stay, they wanted to work him. He refused, end of Story.
I wasn’t aware that Matthew Perry had interviewed Ace Frehley!..
Tommy really kept this thing rolling. Great job.
The original line up is iconic ! Paul, and Gene need to chill, get over themselves, and give the people what they want, which is Peter Criss, and Ace in the line up. Go out with a bang, and bring back the original line up before its too late fellas.
That is what you want, not the people. You don’t speak for everyone.
I think it's pretty safe to say that. Most people want to see the whole band back together. The reason that's probably not gonna happen is that paul has lost the ability to sing.
And at this point they are singing and lipsyncing about a third of the time. Gene still sings his songs and always has. The paul has slowly turned into an old lady. And an old lady who can't sing. So now they have all but tracks behind them. They have to have people that know how to play with them. End peter and ace don't know how to do that
Ace....absolutely correct.....
Hope he continues to stay sober and have a great life.
Jesus H Christ, do something about the DISTORTION on the microphones!
No thank you.
That was the house set up and we had NO control of that
Can't believe they couldn't afford Lapel MICS !
Geeezzz 😏🙄
Jesus will never help you when you take use His name in vain.
ThanxThanxTnanxThanx a million !!!
Sooooo fucking great!!!
Love from Sweden 💖
Always entertaining and fun to watch is Ace.
Very frank and laid back.
Someone you could meet in the street and he'd say "Hi, how ya doin'?"
You wouldn't get that from Blackmore.
Narcissism runs strong with this one master.
I never understood how someone can dream of being a famous, successful, loved Rock Star, have the dream become a REALITY (!), ... and then block out that reality with drugs and/or drink..
The interviewer’s probably bummed Out....he was hoping for Tommy Thayer and got Ace.
LOL, you are just a sad and jealous person. I was honored to interview Ace and I would be just as honored to interview Tommy
@@tommysommers6327 great reply ,jealousy is one of the 7 deadly sins.
Tommy Sommers your reply is as exciting as your personality.
@@kfratz6 like I said, jealous and sad.
Good job by Tommy as the host and interviewer here.. He's become quite polished at this sort of thing in the last year or so!
Thank you, thats very kind of you to say
@@ronnieparker4311 Thanks Ronnie
Lol Ace “ you sure bout that?” Everyone else . Yep lol
Great interview - loved it - well done Tommy- off topic.... but did anyone notice the new tour book gets it wrong between 78 and 79? - 78 definitely came first
Thanks Scott
I am doing all that I can to promote 10,000 volts. I am getting the new album. I saw Kiss in 1976 best concert ever. He was correct Ace Frehley solo album best of all.
Good interview Tommy!
Thank you, it was fun
Probably shouldn't be advertising a shirt that says "no Ace, no Peter, no problem" on a video featuring Ace Frehley.
Why? The entire podcast is about Ace and KISS. The only people with a problem are the fans, Ace doesn’t have a problem with it.
Much Love Ace
I wanna meet this dude. Hopefully he will do more meet and greets soon
26:47, Ace looking at his watch. If he's nervous he gets a pass. If he's counting the minutes to GTFO...Not good.
WOW!!!!!!!Great episode Tommy!!!!!
Thanks, I think of you often. we will be back to visit
@@tommysommers6327 Hope to come to you too...thank u
NOSTROVIA❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I know I’m a lil late finding this but tommy did a great job!
The cop that chased him down 40 years ago became his AA sponser 😅😂😅 he gave up drinking for impulsive lying 🤥
Ace Frehley is so comfortable with whom he is....which is a kick ass lead guitarist who has only become better with age....a down to Earth unpretentious clever conversationalist....and a talented songwriter/singer. Kiss never would have broke as big as they did without Ace. His cool factor overcame Gene's childish persona and Paul's corniness! Ace was Kiss!
I like how nobody can talk good about Ace without trying to demean Gene and Paul to prop up Ace lol
@@HBKshowstopper635 That's because that's all Paul and Gene have done is denounce Ace the last thirty years!😁👍
The One And Only Spaceman Ace Frehley
SPACEMAN is a madd album.
Kiss had a few decent songs but Gene and Paul have soured me on pretty much everything in their catalog
This interview was done BEFORE Kiss Kruise 2018. Was that stated somewhere and I missed it? Because Ace talks about how he's getting along great with Gene, but this interview was BEFORE the Ace/Gene tuffle where Ace called Gene a sex addict.
I was wondering about that too.Because I don't think they are going to be having dinner together or exchanging Christmas cards this year.
So yes Tommy does mention the new album coming out in October right before the kiss kruise
Also, Ace says here that he's been sober for eleven years, which would have been 2017, since he became sober in September 2006.
Why so fans ask the same stupid questions every freakin q and a. Who influences u ace. Whats your favorite song ace. No wonder the guy looks bored af at these things
You'd think they do a better job on the audio 🙄
Loved Tommys question about ace s makeup and the cooler answer from ace 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks
@@tommysommers6327 you did a good job mate. Asking the questions alot of us would want to ask.👍👍👍
THE AUDIO IS TERRIBLE!!! Seriously hard to watch because the audio sucks.
Well if Ace doesn't go on tour with "Kiss" after the fallout he can maybe put together an awesome celebrity jam album/box set with unique musical historical rarities quicker with some excellent production crew back up and blessing from everyone involved.
Tommy compered this really well.
Thanks man
FACE IT KISS IS: THOSE SONGS with the original members in a different time and in a different world. The makeup was swesome the management and record producers groomed the band for bigger things. The marketing was fabulous the posters tour booklets album covers t-shirts. They could be compared to ALICE COOPER BAND. BOTH MADE IT TO THE TOP and it couldn't last.
ALOT has gone down since this interview.....why did it take so long to post this?
Because.
We wanted to use it when we had a free week. In addition we have a part 2
For real; christmas of 79 in Shreveport when I heard that screamin direct feed guitar after you guys rose up from out the stage I felt the same way, i wanna play guitar like that.
Paul and Gene should have treated the other members as equals. They need to get Vinnie and Ace on some concerts as guests at the very least.
Why? Peter and Ace were equals until they sold their shares and makeup back to Gene and Paul. NOBODY but a couple dozen fans have any interest in seeing Vinnie return to KISS... least of all KISS have no interest in him. Ace, well it seems he blew his chance with his post on Facebook.
Some of these questions, a 4 year old could have done better than.
cool!
let's not delude ourselves, none of the kiss solo albums were particularly "good." if i were ranking them on writing / listenability, and how they've stood up over time. it would be paul by far. followed somewhat closely by ace, then that disco / r&b nonsense gene and peter did, both floundering equally.
Is Gene and Ace Still mad at each other?,Does anybody have any info?
Good job tommy!
Whatever happened with the feud between Ace and Gene?
Edit: Ahh I see this interview was from 2018 even though it has a posted date of 7/23/19.
When and where was this?
MrSammy6105 I was there, it was a meet in greet in August of last year to promote spaceman
Each audience member asking a question, rambles on about their life, unending comment like the second guy who eats the microphone. Plus Ace's hearing is damaged.
Yeah, in case he ever comes my way, I have a 4-page question written out, starting with my life as a fetus and ending with my hemhoroid issues, I hope Ace brings a pillow.
Couldn't compliment him, maybe cause he was an unreliable drunk.
Alcoholics hurt themselves the most. I think it's sad what they do to themselves
How old is this interview?
This apparently took place before Kiss Kruise 2018. Now, as you and I both know, a lot has gone down since then.
As i listened to the album "spaceman" song after song i knew i would never want to listen to it again. Its that bad. But then i got to his instrumental song to close it out and i liked it.
Its the only song ill ever listen to again
I love the new Ace Frehley vinyl, "Spaceman" and listen to it all the way through! I bought the picture vinyl too! Ace Frehley is so creative, talented, great personality, sings and plays guitar his way with feeling! Ace Frehley is the real Kiss Spaceman not the so called Kiss now half tribute band. Long live legendary Ace Frehley the real Spaceman forever! 💋🎤🎸🎶🎵
@@diannecarpenter7718 Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons started the band
They then look for a drummer
Then they went to find a lead guitar
Just because Ace frehley and Peter criss were poor band mates and very irresponsible doesn't mean kiss should have ended
Class act!
Sorry don't get me wrong - best tour book ever!!!
Robins voice has left the building
Does he actually understand half the questions? his answers seem unrelated
Yes but we didnt have on stage monitors and he has a hard time hearing sometimes
He's been a rock star for 40 years, been though drink, drugs, electrocution, crashed cars and finally sobriety.......and you question his drinking hearing?
Ace is not a very bright person
These questions were too in depth
Live2Win200 Sorry mate Live To Win was a horrible album... Like I’m glad you can like it but still. Also Ace is very deaf from you know, being a rock star for most of his life... Don’t say the questions are to in depth, he legitimately can’t hear the questions. Don’t make fun off something that probably all the members suffer from to an extent.
@@Live2Win200 I think that is very unfair to say. I spent the better part of the day with him driving around the city. He is very smart and remembers a lot more than you think
ACE FREHLEY
That one guy is swallowing the microphone. Holy crap !
Ace Frehley is da fuckin man!! Always calm an cool.
Getting pearls of wisdom from ace!! Next time use some mics that work please!!
Again like I have said to other people. I was the host. Those were house mics and we had no control over that
@@tommysommers6327 I was just playing around 😀🖖
This audio is horrible
I would be happy to refund the money you spent to watch this video. Oh yeah, it is free.
@2:47... Ace misses que to hit the stage... Gee, wonder why he hasn't been invited back for the "End of the Road" tour ??!!! * rolls eyes *
Yeah its as bAD AS MISSING YOUR QUE TO SING...oH WAIT THEY ARENT .... aRE THEY
We all sing. Stretch
Ace and Peter I always liked! It’s interesting that when they released the four solo records, the only one that charted was Aces record with the song New York Groove! He still holds that fact over Genes head and rightly so. I bought all four LPs back then, the other three records were terrible! I was surprised at how bad they were. Only Aces record had some good songs! And he acknowledges that they got the original idea for the make up from Alice Cooper! Only they took it much further! And Ace designed the Kiss Logo! So he’s responsible for a lot of their success!
Not true Dyn. U. S. Billboard. Peter #43. Paul #40. Ace #26. Gene #22.
I wouldn't call Paul Stanley solo album terrible. To each his own but I thought Ace Frehley and Paul Stanley solo albums are both great
It doesn't make Ace look better, when you call the other solo albums "terrible". Paul had only his own songs (two with Mikel Japp). If he had covered a mega hit like Ace, maybe his album would've sold more. So I say "my" best solo album still is Paul's album.
His mind is toast
If I had a penny for every time this dude said "ya know " I'd have about $12 bucks
But translated into riffs and especially solos, it really works! ;-) This is real, raw, and not about the institution; it's about having fun in spite of it.
I do it as well. Must be a people who were born in the 50s thing
Great interview...Horrible production. Camera shaking, Microphones clipping all over. They make mics that clip on the shirt or coat now and they work great.
If anyone has watched the Netflix show Bigmouth, coach Steve sounds like his voice was a copy of inspired by Ace's voice.
Ace is funny :)
If you have to say "Really?" on not knowing that Detroit was ground zero for Kiss then you don't really know your stuff.
Did you go with Warren again? On the new album.
Ace isn't in the league of his idles he mentioned 😅 man this guy is dillusional 😅
Awesome!!
I know so many ppl who didnt attend the end of the road tour cause ace wasnt in the band.
And yet the tour is sold out, must not be that many.
@@MichaelBrandvold no not all shows have been sold out ...im not knocking kiss in any way but its true i know many ppl who didnt go for that reason.
It’s not as many as you like to think. Your 12 friends don’t make any difference.