Ace Frehley – THE LIMELIGHT REHEARSAL CD

On June 26, 1988, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons from KISS surprised concertgoers when they joined Ace Frehley’s Comet on stage at New York City’s Limelight club for a performance of ‘Deuce’. Frehley’s Comet was on tour at the time in support of their Second Sighting (1988) album. Although Paul, Gene and Ace had done some TV promo spots together in 1982, this was the first time they shared a concert stage together since 1980. The next time they would do so would be for ‘MTV Unplugged’ in 1995.In December 1982, KISS had begun their Creatures of the Night Tour without Frehley: he was replaced by Vinnie Vincent. Frehley retained a one-quarter share in the KISS partnership until 1985. In 1984, Frehley began his post-KISS solo career by assembling a band that included, among others, drummer Anton Fig (who had performed on Frehley’s 1978 solo album and on two KISS albums). Bassist John Regan (who had worked with Peter Frampton), whom Frehley met in 1980, was also an original member of the band, as was vocalist/guitarist Richie Scarlet and keyboardist Arthur Stead. The group, whose name alternated between ‘Ace Frehley’ and ‘Frehley’s Comet’, recorded a series of demos throughout 1984 and 1985 and performed their first live show at S.I.R. Studios in New York City on November 30, 1984. They also played a handful of shows in the Northeast United States in March 1985.Frehley’s Comet eventually signed to Megaforce Records and the group released their self-titled debut album on July 7, 1987. The album was co-produced by Eddie Kramer, who had produced not only a number of KISS albums, but Frehley’s 1978 album and some of his 1984–85 demos. Despite the positive reviews and healthy sales of the record, Frehley was unable to maintain much commercial momentum. Two 1988 Frehley’s Comet albums, the live EP Live+1 and second studio album Second Sighting, peaked at No. 84 and No. 81, respectively. A pair of tours in support of Alice Cooper and Iron Maiden ended prematurely, with the band claiming lack of payment in both cases. In order to reverse his band’s declining commercial fortunes, Frehley dropped the Frehley’s Comet moniker and issued 1989’s Trouble Walkin’ under his own name.