I know you’ve been writing material for a record since the early 90s. How many songs on Anomaly have lyrics or riffs from ideas you came up with back then?
Sister and Foxy & Free date back to the mid-90s. Everything else was written since I left KISS in 2002.
What was the last track you recorded?
The final track that was recorded was Fox On The Run which was produced by Marti Frederiksen & tracked in his studio in Burbank. We got the demo done in 4 1/2 hours! He’s a great producer & a whiz on ProTools.
What was the songwriting process like for Anomaly? Has the way you write changed much since the stuff you wrote in the 70s?
My writing process hasn’t changed much at all since the early days. I had most of these songs on Anomaly demoed with Anton Fig and Anthony Esposito and I added or subtracted lyrics here and there to get the final product. Musically, the biggest challenge on the CD is Genghis Khan which happens to be my favorite song and it contains over 100 tracks! I think the last song I completed lyrically was A Little Below the Angels.
Obviously, there’s a lot of cool imagery for Anomaly – the cover, the animated cover that’s on the Web, the CD packaging. How involved were you in the ideas and creation of the packaging and artwork?
100% involved. I designed the cover on my laptop & along with my associate producer Frank Munoz & Rocket Science’s art designer Brian Porizek, we sat down and went through the different packaging styles & photos. After 20 years of waiting, I want my fans to get something special direct from me, not a record company concept.
The teaser video for Anomaly is hilarious and really hit the spot with the Ace fans and diehards – from the dude with the mullet, beer gut and 2-sizes-too-small Trouble Walkin’ shirt to you muttering “ACK!” as you drove off on the bike. Who all was involved in producing that video?
That was actually Frank Munoz’s concept. Frank’s the associate producer of Anomaly and my personal assistant and he came up with the idea of the kids and “Uncle Lumpy.” That’s actually his Trouble Walkin’ shirt he got at one of my shows in 1990! The night before the shoot we went with some friends to Magic Mountain where I filmed “Phantom of the Park.” It was a trip, man! I hadn’t been there in years but all these memories came back of me riding around on a scooter with my costume on through the park between scenes! Anyway, Frank said I should do some of my “Space Man” moves I did in the movie. So that’s how the commercial came about. Last count it had 87,000 hits on YouTube. Not bad.
What kind of equipment and gear did you use in the studio?
Guitarwise, I used my #1 Les Paul customs. It’s the same guitars I use on tour. I used Strats & Teles, some of the best guitars I have I’ve found in pawn shops! But, to get that classic sound it’s always been a Les Paul through a Marshall Stack. That’s what you hear on my solos.
When will you start touring for Anomaly? What new songs are you thinking of including in the set?
We are putting together tour dates as we speak. I’m planning on playing in as many countries as I can. I’ll leave the set list as a surprise, but obviously we’ll be playing a bunch of new Anomaly songs.
Ace, big congrats on your sobriety. I’ve gotta ask: What happened to make you realize you wanted to get clean? Was it something you were able to do by yourself or did you get help along the way?
Y’know you just wake up one day and you’re just tired of being tired. I’m not 25 years old anymore. I gotta watch what I put into my body. Clean living & no morning hangovers is my style these days.
I’ve talked to musicians that have cleaned up that told me they were almost afraid of getting back into music again because working in the studio and being on the road made them more vulnerable to their demons. Is that something you struggle with, too? Was/Is your music a sort of therapy for you?
That’s partly the reason I did the Rocket Ride tour last year. I wanted to see for myself if I could survive on the road clean & sober. And I did. I wanted to show everyone how much my playing has improved since my sobriety and judging from the reviews, my fans are saying I’m playing better than ever.
I’m going to mention a few names. Please tell me the first thing that comes to your mind for each one.
Monique Frehley - My darling daughter.
Doc McGhee - KISS’ reunion tour manager.
Tod Howarth - Brought some good songs to the table for the Comet.
John Regan - Good songwriter.
Richie Scarlett - Was there from the start of the Comet.
Barack Obama - We needed a change in this country. Check out “Change the World” on Anomaly.
Do you have an archive or unreleased audio and video? Have you ever thought about releasing some of that material?
Yes to all of the above. I’ve got a new CD, a new guitar, a new DVD instructional video, and a new tour. I’ll get to the archives someday, but not in the near future.
In the early 90s you were releasing computer artwork you designed. I remember a Les Paul in space and one with the Elvis postage stamp. Do you still do artwork like that and do you ever plan to make any available?
Yes. Check out the new record!!! (laughs) That’s my artwork and it’s available everywhere now! How’s that for a plug!? (laughs)
You are THE Space Ace so one has to wonder: have you ever had a close encounter, seen UFOs or witnessed anything paranormal?
All the time. If the question is “Do I believe?” then the answer is a resounding “Yes!”
What do you think about Kiss re-recording several classic songs to be included with Sonic Boom?
They probably thought the original versions weren’t up to par. I’ll let the fans decide that one!
What kind of music are you listening to these days? Which classics are always there and what new bands do you dig?
Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Doors, Eric Clapton. That’s who I’m listening to these days on my turntable. Until someone new can come around & knock my socks off like those legends can and still do, I’m still sticking with the best!
