KISS News Round-Up: Ace and Gene’s Performance, ‘Love Gun’/Van Halen Demos
The reconciliation between Ace Frehley and his former KISS bandmates continues with a new wrinkle for the fall.
Frehley will appear on stage with KISS co-founder and bassist Gene Simmons for the first time since 2001 when he guests with Simmons’ solo band at the Children Matter Benefit Concert on September 20 in St. Paul, Minn. Cheap Trick, former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, the Jayhawks and Flipp are also on the bill.
During June, Simmons revealed that he’d written two songs for Frehley’s next solo album, their first in-studio collaboration since 1998’s Psycho Circus. Last year, meanwhile, KISS’ Paul Stanley guested on Frehley’s Origins, Vol. 1 covers album for a version of Free‘s “Fire And Water.” But while Frehely has made some noise about returning to the KISS lineup, both Simmons and Stanley have said they’re happy with current guitarist Tommy Thayer, who replaced Frehley during 2002, and drummer Eric Singer:
“We’re lucky as hell to have them in the band ’cause not everybody is designed to run a marathon. As much as I love and respect Peter and Ace, their DNA was just not designed to last 42 years. You know, shooting stars are bright; They don’t last long.”
More information about the Children Matter event can be found at TheChildrenMatter.ngo.
…In other news, Simmons has announced plans to release demos of three tracks for KISS’ Love Gun album — “Got Love For Sale, “Christine Sixteen” and “Tunnel Of Love” — that were recorded with Van Halen during 1977 as part of The Vault, a 10-disc box set. No release date has been announced for the compilation, however.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.
