PW's Song Of The Week: SONG OF THE WEEK: 2-12-2023

SONG: "Wild Thing" (The Troggs cover)

ARTIST: Ace Frehley

ALBUM: "Origins Vol. 1"

YEAR: 2016

PLACE OF ORIGIN: Bronx, New York

YEARS ACTIVE: 1964 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Wild Thing" is a raunchy, goofy ode to unbridled lust that anybody could relate to. The song was written by Chip Taylor and made famous by the band The Troggs. You can find the original version on The Troggs 1966 album "From Nowhere". Lita Ford helps out Ace Frehley on this cover version.

ACE FREHLEY DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1978 - Ace Frehley (Kiss) (Casablanca Records)

* peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200 on 9-18-78

1987 - Frehley's Comet (as Frehley's Comet) (Atlantic/Megaforce Records)

* peaked at #43 on the Billboard 200 on 4-27-87

1988 - Second Sighting (as Frehley's Comet) (Atlantic/Megaforce Records)

* peaked at #81 on the Billboard 200 on 5-24-88

1989 - Trouble Walkin' (Atlantic/Megaforce Records)

* peaked at #102 on the Billboard 200 on 10-13-89

2006 - Greatest Hits Live (Megaforce Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2009 - Anomaly (Bronx Born Records)

* peaked at #27 on the Billboard 200 on 9-15-09

2014 - Space Invader (Entertainment One Records)

* peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200 on 8-18-14

2016 - Origins Vol. 1 (eOne Music)

* peaked at #23 on the Billboard 200 on 4-13-16

2018 - Spaceman (eOne Music)

* peaked at #49 on the Billboard 200 on 10-19-18

2020 - Origins Vol. 2 (eOne Music)

* peaked at #81 on the Billboard 200 on 9-18-20

MY THOUGHTS ON ACE FREHLEY:

Ace Frehley's origins, no pun intended, into the world of rock and roll dates back to the mid 60's. The Bronx, New York native toiled around, joining several local bar bands. He had some short lived success with the bands Cathedral and Molimo but it was his fateful answering of a newspaper ad from a band seeking out a lead guitarist that would change his life forever. That band of course was Kiss and once Ace plugged in and jammed with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss, all of them knew that Ace was their new guitarist. Kiss, of course, went on to be one of the most successful acts of the 70's, especially due to their live shows. By 1978, however, there were cracks in the armor when it came to the band. Ace actually threatened to leave the band around this time but the band chose to release four solo albums by all the members as a way to perhaps bring them together. In fact, it may have been the thing that pulled them apart. it especially gave Ace the confidence that he could pull off a solo career if he decided to do so. As the 80's approached, Ace was more and more unhappy with the musical direction of Kiss. He wanted them to put out a really hard rock album to win back their fallen fan base. When Kiss released the 1981 concept album "The Elder", the writing was pretty much on the wall. Ace was done. Though he appeared on the cover of Kiss' 1982 album "Creatures Of The Night", he did not play on the album at all. He helped the band promote the album, but by the time for the tour, Ace had left the band. In the mid 80's, Ace formed the band Frehley's Comet and their self-titled debut came out in 1987. The album had some success behind the singles "Into The Night" and "Rock Soldiers". The band's sophomore effort, "Second Sighting" was not well received by fans and critics alike. In 1989, Frehley dropped the Frehley's Comet moniker and began releasing music under his own name. His first album just as Ace Frehley would be "Trouble Walkin'". While this album wasn't hugely successful, it was really Ace at his best, a really solid hard rock album. The album features a great take on the Kiss song "Hide Your Heart" which was also released that year. In the mid 90's, Kiss was doing fan conventions all over the country where the band would perform acoustically and pull out some old, rarely played favorites. One night, Peter Criss was in the crowd and the band invited him on the stage to perform "Hard Luck Woman". MTV Unplugged came calling for Kiss to do one of their shows. Kiss decided to invite Peter and Ace to take part in that show which made the wheels begin turning about a full on, full make-up Kiss reunion tour. In 1996, Ace was back with Kiss for the reunion tour. Ace would continue with the band for a few more tours but in 2002, he officially left Kiss again and seemingly for good. Some of the same problems that the band was dealing with in the late 70's began resurfacing again and Ace opted out. In 2009, Ace came back with his first solo release since 1989 with "Anomaly". The success of that album led Ace to form a relationship with eOne Music, where he still is today. He has released four albums with eOne in 6 years, starting with 2014's "Space Invader". 2018's "Spaceman" was Ace's last studio album of original content released and he also put out two cover albums, 2016's "Origins Vol. 1" and 2020's "Origins Vol. 2". Ace Frehley is a legend and one of the most influential guitarists in rock and roll history. While some say his style is somewhat sloppy, I say that's what gives it character. I would say his guitar playing on 1975's Kiss "Alive", probably was one of the blueprints for guitarists in the 80's and 90's. His influence reaches bands such as Skid Row, Guns N' Roses and Pantera as well as bands like Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Foo Fighters. I've been a Kiss fan since I was in diapers! Ace was always my favorite member of the band and I'm very happy that he has been super active the last 10 years. It sucks that the guys in Kiss just can't get on the same page because Ace seems like he's so full of creativity right now. But, who knows. I mean, Kiss is on a farewell tour.... AGAIN!! I'm not sure those guys want to create any music anymore. At least not as the band. If that's the case, I'm happy Ace is still plugging away at this music thing.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Kiss

Alice Cooper

Van Halen

Def Leppard

Cheap Trick

TEN ACE FREHLEY SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Rip It Out

2. New York Groove (Hello cover)

3. Do Ya (ELO cover)

4. Into The Night (Russ Ballard cover)

5. Fox On The Run (Sweet cover)