That Metal Show - Season 14, Episode 10: Ace Frehley, Mark Farner, Nita Strauss

MUSICAL GUEST – Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper)

Nita talked about playing with Alice Cooper being a dream-come-true. She was in band called The Iron Maidens. Alice Cooper’s manager saw her playing the National Anthem at an L.A. KISS arena football game, and recruited her for the band. She’s working on a solo record now, but it won’t come out until the touring with Motley Crue ends.

TAKE OR LEAVE IT – Twisted Sister to stop touring after dates in 2016

JIM – Take it, but hates to see them go.

DON – Take it, but doesn’t think that they’re done. Feels like they will do reunion shows like all of the others that have announced their retirement.

EDDIE – Take it. He’s a firm believer in bands not staying too long at the party. He’d rather see them go out on top.

GUESTS – Ace Frehley (KISS) and Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)

ACE FREHLEY

Ace discussed being sober for 8 years. He said that it was tough for the first year or two, but he’s over it now. He is already working on another record. It’s going to be a chronological album of cover songs that influenced him. There will be some KISS songs included (the ones that he wrote).

Eddie discussed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction with Ace. He had a great time, and refused to let any negativity ruin the moment. The only downside for him was not being able to perform with KISS, or with Bruce Springsteen because they ran out of time. They were supposed to play AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell” together.

Ace said that he had no hard feelings towards Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. He said that he will never say never, and that he always leaves the door open for a reunion when Eddie asked him if he thinks that would be the last time that the four original members of KISS stood shoulder to shoulder. Ace said that Gene tried talking to him on stage, but that he couldn’t hear him because of all of the damage that has been done to his hearing through the years standing in front of Marshall amps. It also didn’t help that he took some diuretics to try and slim down for the event. He was dizzy and thought that he was going to pass out.

Ace talked about being a roadie for Hendrix in the early 70s (he set up Mitch Mitchell’s drums).

He is working on a new book (still untitled). The stories will be as good (if not better) than his first book because more things are coming back to him.

MARK FARNER

Grand Funk Railroad never played with KISS, but Ace was a roadie for a festival where Grand Funk and Hendrix played. He said that he doesn’t remember Ace as a roadie, but remembers falling off of the top of an equipment truck when he was mesmerized by Hendrix’s playing.

He wrote 90% of the songs for Grand Funk. He said that he’s always writing. “I’m Your Captain” started out as poetry, and ended up becoming a hit song when he put guitar to it.

He is currently finishing an EP called Take You Out at Steve Vai’s studio in L.A. He is going to be doing a concert for Viet Nam vets at Fort Irwin in California. “I’m Your Captain” was voted as the favorite song of Viet Nam vets.

Eddie asked him about his departure from Grand Funk. Don Brewer (the drummer of the band) said that they had to sign their ownership of the trademark into the corporation. Mark was a high school dropout, and Don had gone to law school. He mistakenly trusted Don, who ousted him from the corporation and left him out on his own.

Surprisingly, he is forgiving about the situation, and holds no grudges. His biggest regret is that the fans sake, the band goes on using the name without the guy who wrote 90% of the music. Ace called him the most talented member of the band by far.

PUT IT ON THE TABLE – Ace Frehley / Mark Farner

If you could be in any other band, what band would it be, and what would you play?

ACE – Led Zeppelin, guitar

MARK – Frank Zappa’s Mother’s Of Invention, Kazoo

What is the one song that you wish that you wrote?

ACE – “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones

MARK – A song by Toby Keith (liked the lyrics, couldn’t remember the name of the song) “I’m not as good as I once was, but I’m good once as I ever was.”

What is your one vice?

ACE – Cheescake with strawberries

MARK – Women (all shapes, sizes and creeds)

What is the best concert that you have ever attended?

ACE – Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels with The Who and Cream opening.

MARK – Led Zeppelin (w/ Grand Funk Railroad opening) at Olympia in Detroit in 1970. It was their first and last date on the show. The plug got pulled on them because they were too good.

What is the weirdest rumor that you have ever heard about yourself?

ACE – That he was dead. Bill Aucoin called him to ask if he was ok. When he asked why, Aucoin told him that there was a rumor that he died.

MARK – That he said that he did a lead on stage, and said that if anyone could do it any better to come on stage and perform. It was rumored that Eric Clapton was in the audience and came up on stage. It never happened.

RANK – KISS albums (by Ace Frehley)