ACE FREHLEY Plans To Pay Tribute To THE WHO, ROLLING STONES, LED ZEPPELIN, THE BEATLES On Upcoming Covers Album – “I Was Actually Going To Ask GENE SIMMONS To Play Bass On A Track And Sing With Me… I Haven’t Gotten To That Stage Yet"

Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley is in the early stages of recording his next album, which is a covers project.

“The album’s going to be about my influences,” Frehley tells Billboard’s Christa Titus. “I’m probably going to do a Rolling Stones song, a Who song, possibly a Led Zeppelin song, maybe a Beatles song. Stuff from bands that I grew up on and greatly influenced me. Those are the songs I’d redo, besides vintage KISS stuff and a Frehley’s Comet track.”

Frehley hasn’t thought to ask former Beatle Paul McCartney to join him in the studio if he does cover the Fab Four — Frehley chuckles at the idea — but he has put the ask out to guitarists Lita Ford, Slash and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam. “I was actually going to ask (former KISS bandmate) Gene Simmons to play bass on a track and sing with me. I haven’t gotten to that stage yet,” he says.

Frehley says he has done some overdubs and intends to track another six to eight songs, then pick the best 12 to focus on. The album’s track list isn’t solidified, but he says he’s “probably going to redo both “Cold Gin” and “Parasite”. On KISS records, I’m not singing lead. So I’m going to sing lead on them like I do live so there’s (studio tracks) out there with me.”

Read more at Billboard.com.

Frehley recently announced his first Australian shows since 2010, and his first ever dates in New Zealand.

Says Ace, “I can’t wait to get down to New Zealand and Australia with this new lineup. I’ll be performing Ace classics as well as songs off my new CD Space Invader for the enjoyment of the fans. Let There Be Rock!”

Joining Ace on stage will be Richie Scarlet, who rode shotgun performing rhythm guitar and vocal duties on Ace’s Trouble Walking platter and has toured with Sebastian Bach; bass guitarist Chris Wyse (Ozzy Osbourne, The Cult); and Scot Coogan (Lita Ford, Nikki Sixx).

The 2-hour set features everything an Ace or KISS fan could hope for. Included are all his solo anthems – “New York Groove” (a bona-fide Top 20 Hit in Australia and NZ), “Snowblind”, “Rock Soldiers” and highlights from his latest Top 10 Billboard album Space Invader. Plus KISS diamonds such as “Strutter”, “Cold Gin”, “Love Gun”, “Deuce”, “Shock Me” and “Detroit Rock City”. Plus as a special treat for KISS fans, some rare KISS gems that you simply won’t hear anywhere else – “Talk To Me”, “Rocket Ride”, “Strange Ways”, “Parasite” and “King Of The Night Time World”.

Tour dates:

April
24 – Wellington, New Zealand – James Cabaret
25 – Auckland, New Zealand – The Studio
29 – Brisbane, Australia – Tivoli Theatre
30 – Sydney, Australia – Metro Theatre

May
1 – Hobart, Australia –  Wrestpoint Showroom
2 – Melbourne, Australia –  Forum Theatre
6 – Adelaide, Australia –  The Gov
7 – Perth, Australia –  Astor Theatre