Ace Frehley Goes Hollywood: The Kiss Guitar Great Talks 'Detroit Rock City' + His Favorite Films
As a member of Kiss, Ace Frehley co-starred in the high-camp NBC TV-movie Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978) and later lit up the big-screen in the beloved cult comedy Detroit Rock City (1999). He also played a down-and-dirty outlaw in the gritty crime thriller Betrayed (2005).
Given the theatrical nature of Kiss and the grand, sweeping scope of his band Frehley’s Comet, as well as his subsequent solo work, it seems natural that Ace would also be a lifelong film buff. It turns out, he is.
After a recent taping of That Metal Show, Ace took some time to elaborate on a few of his cinematic passions. Be sure to watch his TMS ep this Saturday at 9/8C!
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VH1 CLASSIC: So, Ace, we’d just like to throw some movie titles at you and get your reaction
ACE: Ha! Good luck!
Tell us about Detroit Rock City.
I had a couple of scenes in that. It was pretty much about some kids. I was pissed off at Gene. He cut out my daughter Monique. She had a couple of big scenes with the kid that was in Terminator 2, Eddie Furlong. But Gene cut her out. (Laughs) The son of a bitch!
You actually acted in the movie Remedy from 2005.
That was a trip. In that bathroom scene, I really seem like a heroin addict—because I was loaded at the time! I was playing a heroin addict, and it wasn’t too far of a stretch. (Laughs)
Could you play a sober guy now? Would you ever go back to acting?
I’d love to do a film! I’d love to do a comedy or a sci-fi movie. I don’t want to do anything dramatic. I can definitely be funny. I’m not really a dramatic actor.
Okay, the infamous Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park.
That was hysterical. It was a lot of fun. It was very tongue in cheek. We shot a lot of it at Magic Mountain. I had a moped. They shut the park after six o’clock, and I used to zoom around the park on my moped. It’s really nicely paved. I only had a couple of crashes!
What are your thoughts on This Is Spinal Tap?
Fun! I heard Gene didn’t think that movie was fun. He thought it was serious. I thought it was hilarious. The guys did a great job. Chris Guest is terrific. I love the stuff he’s done after that—Best in Show, all those crazy movies. Spinal Tap is a funny movie. Great cast. Terrific.
Off the top of your head, what are a couple of your own favorite movies?
I gravitate toward old sci-fi. You know, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Forbidden Planet. Those two right there are just great.
Forbidden Planet alone was like Star Wars in its day. They were forerunners. They were ahead of their time, those films. Special movies.
Do you know anything about the fan-financed, independently produced version of The Elder that's in the process of being made? It’s based on the album, Music From “The Elder.”
I haven’t heard anything about that. What about the soundtrack? (Laughs). Good luck to them! Maybe I can write a couple of songs for the movie. That’d be cool.
Mike "McBeardo" McPadden is the author of Heavy Metal Movies: Guitar Barbarians, Mutant Bimbos, and Cult Zombies Amok in the 666 Most Eye- and Ear-Ripping Big Scream Films Ever! (Bazillion Points, 2014).