The Spaceman speaks!

Kiss fans will clamor over this book of brain droppings from the one, and only, member of the band to have more personality than his made up character.

Paul “Ace” Frehley remains a true icon of rock and his take on his life is one wild ride. Ace takes us through his youthful days as a gang member and how he used the guitar to escape a life of crime. Ace then explains the Kiss phenomenon as he remembers it, which is with gaps, as he details his heavy use of drugs and alcohol.

Although two other authors besides Ace helped write the book, the story maintains Frehley’s true voice. The writing comes across with Ace’s deadpan demeanor, which is not to say it is boring – far from it. Ace calls a spade a spade, or in this case, an Ace an Ace, as he tells his tale in a very matter of fact manner, staying away from melodramatic bullshit. The book comes across as if he were sitting next to you on a barstool in a beat up gin joint in the Bronx.

One interesting note is that Ace is not a huge fan of Gene Simmons. Resentment towards him is not far from the surface as Ace reveals the way Gene has treated his daughter, his best friend, Peter Criss and himself.

Ace also is very candid in revealing the things he believes he did right, and the many, many things he did wrong over the course of his lifetime.

The story sort of has a happy ending, but then again, Ace does not romanticize. He is happy, sober and still making music, which seems to be enough.

It’s refreshing to see Frehley be totally honest and totally human. He comes across as a guy who, if not for a few risks that he took, and a few big breaks, would probably be pumping gas somewhere, just being an average Joe. Instead, he is Ace Frehley, iconic rock star.

There have been many books written about the band but none so human as this. Ace was not concerned with business, or marketing, when he was in the band, and he is not concerned with those aspects of his career now.

The result of Ace’s perspective allows fans to see Kisstory from a unique and interesting angle.