The book covers the period from the early days of his life, his tenure with kiss, solo career up to today. This is the official fb page for drummer anton fig, best known for his work on the late show with david letterman, ace frehley, joe bonamassa, etc. Kiss hired the south africanborn studio drummer anton fig, who played on ace frehley, to play on the dynasty sessions. You are planning on writing another book is that correct. Provided to youtube by atlantic records breakout ace frehley frehley s comet. Behind the mask that many guitarists have told him. Top 10 ace frehley songs kiss and solo written by chris holmes february 20, 20 music, popdose lists a countdown of the top 10 songs written or performed by ace frehley, both as the lead guitarist in kiss and as a solo artist. I wanted to see what else he was capable of, besides rock and what he does on letterman. Anton formed the acclaimed band spider, who originated the hit better be good to me later covered to great success by tina turner. Frehelys comet is just as good perhaps even better than kiss albums from the same era like asylum and crazy nights but is a letdown when compared to 1978s far superior ace frehely. Anton fig talks about his time with kiss they never. Some pictures are taken from peter criss book makeup to breakup and lydia criss book sealed with. He later performed session work on the kiss albums dynasty and unmasked, and later became a member of ace.
Later he studied at bostons new england conservatory of music graduating with honors in 1975. Some of the many recordings anton has made include selections with bob dylan, mick jagger, kiss, cyndi lauper, madonna, gary moore, spider, ace frehley, joan armatrading, rosanne cash, joe cocker, john phillips, warren zevon, sebastian bach and paul butterfield. After moving to nyc he became part of the session scene. Bassist john regan who had worked with peter frampton, whom frehley met in 1980, was also an original member of the band as was vocalistguitarist. Born in cape town, south africa, anton began playing drums at age four. In the groove features the paul shaffer band, the ace frehley. He was a part of the shows studio band led by paul schaffer. Tracks 2, 3, 9, 10, 12 recorded at ace in the hole studios, westchester, ny. Longtime drummer anton fig, whose friendship with ace began in that 1978 record, also appears on off my back and pursuit of rock and roll longtime collaborators scot coogan and matt starr also play drums on spaceman. The recording also featured anton fig on drums and will lee on bass, both of whom featured on the ace frehley 1978 kiss solo album. A dvd capturing this performance was subsequently released. Heres what ace said about anton in the interview interesting info.
Frehley selfproduced the album, which was recorded at the creation lab in turlock, california. Having spent the last 29 years as the house drummer on late night with david letterman and its successor the late show with david letterman, and even longer as one of new yorks most indemand session drummers, anton fig is one of americas most. Criss was hindered by injuries to his hands that he had suffered in a 1978 car accident. I recall in an old hit parader interview circa 1989, ace complained that he had to follow a stupid schedule on second sighting, and the album suffered for it. At the time it was apparently close to making the album, but was eventually cut. The book also contains various pictures from frehleys life. Danielle ciccimarra, dominique ciccimarra, monique frehley drums anton fig lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, acoustic guitar ace frehley organ hammond marti frederiksen tracking by alex salzman writtenby frehley. From this book i reasoned if ace had spent more time loving his guitar technique as much as he loved booze and drugs, he would have been a world beating guitarist. In 1984, frehley started his postkiss 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. Rhythm guitarist todd howarth lends a hand with songwriting and vocals, while late night with david letterman drummer anton fig handled percussion. Space invader is the sixth solo album by former kiss guitarist ace frehley, released in the uk on august 18, 2014 and in the us on august 19 via eone music.
No regrets is a book cowritten by former kiss lead guitarist ace frehley, joe layden and john ostrosky. Drummer anton fig enjoyed a nightly dose of fame on nbctvs popular late night with david letterman. Session drummer anton fig who played on frehleys solo album filled in on. I dont believe peter really wanted to leave the band, but. Official youtube channel for anton fig, best known for his work on the late show with david letterman, ace frehley, joe bonamassa, etc. Fig was featured on ace frehley s album anomaly, released on 15 september 2009.
On dynasty, peter was pretty much out of commission, reflected stanley, so i wouldnt point to it as a classic kiss album. Fig and will lee, who played bass on three of the albums tracks, later gained prominence as members of the worlds most dangerous band and the cbs orchestra along with paul. Ace frehley is one of my absolute favorite records that ive played on. First off, frehley played all of the guitar parts on spaceman, as well as bass on all but two songs. Frehley also named his band after the title of this album, and in this way, it is also considered the selftitled debut album credited to frehley s comet, as opposed to a frehley solo release.
The heavy metal track breakout from the frehley s comet album includes a four minute drum solo from anton fig. The opener rip it out starts out with a bang of raw energy with great guitar solos by the spaceman himself. Ive said before here that the drumming on the 1978 solo album and on anomaly is outstanding really helps the songs. Longtime drummer anton fig, whose friendship with ace began in that 1978 record, also appears on off my back and pursuit of rock and roll longtime. Fig had been the drummer on ace frehleys 1978 solo album and. Frehley s comet is the second solo release by american musician ace frehley, former lead guitarist of kiss. The biggest song live is ace frehley s greatest hit, rocket ride. In the groove features the paul shaffer band, the ace frehley band, blondie chaplin, former letterman bassist will lee, sid mcginnis, and a top ten list from david letterman. In 1996, fig released a drum instructional video and book titled in the groove. Not much kiss and tell excuse the pun in this book, but it feels like he wants no regrets from writing this book. Tod howarth also sings lead vocals on something moved. Produced and cowritten by fig, the record represents 3 years of work and includes among others singers and musicians richie havens, brian wilson, ivan neville, sebastian bach, ace frehley, al kooper, chris spedding, donald duck dunn, blondie chaplin, paul shaffer, chris botti, randy brecker and richard bona. This is my own tribute to one of the greatest drummers in the world anton fig from the album ace frehley, 1978. Starman ace frehley played lead guitar on joe silvas cover of the david bowie song, released in 2014.
Some of the many recordings anton has made include selections with bob dylan, mick jagger, kiss,cyndi lauper, madonna, gary moore, spider, ace frehley. With future david letterman band members drummer anton fig and bassist will lee backing him up, frehley shows that he is more than a songwriting match for bandmates simmons and stanley. We talked to original kiss lead guitarist, ace frehley about his new solo album. Fig, still anindemand session drummer, appeared on various projects including his own drum instructional video and book sets.
Technically, unmasked was the last studio album to feature the original lineup. Anton fig known as the thunder from down under, is a south african session drummer. In episode 125 of one on one with mitch lafon, former late show with david letterman drummer anton fig joins mitch to discuss his most recent release figments which includes special guests ace frehley, sebastian bach and more, his time with david letterman, his future plans which include touring with. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Jason hook john regan james lomenzo anton fig jamie oldaker greg dangelo tod howarth chris wyse scot. In conjunction with its back in the solo album groove series, kissfaq has published an interview with drummer extraordinaire anton fig. Ace frehley breakout late night drumming with anton fig duration. The guy responsible for that is anton fig, the late show with david letterman drummer. Loaded deck is a greatest hits compilation of ace frehley s solo career released in 1997, after the widespread kiss reunion tour. It includes some of frehleys greatest hits such as new york groove, rock soldiers, and a cover of the move s do ya. Chaim witz, stanley eisen, paul frehley, peter crisscoula, anton fig, twisted sister, glen. Ace frehley on new solo album, possible kiss reunion. Madonna, gary moore, spider, ace frehley, joan armatrading, rosanne cash, joe cocker, john phillips, warren zevon, sebastian bach and paul butterfield. On 4 may 2009, anton joined joe bonamassas band for their debut appearance at the royal albert hall in london, where eric clapton made a guest appearance.
He later performed session work on the kiss albums dynasty and unmasked, and became a member of ace frehley s band frehley s comet. Fig was a member of exkiss lead guitarist ace frehleys solo project frehleys comet. Ace frehley breakout late night drumming with anton fig. You make it hard for me has long been known as a title of a song that ace frehley wrote with sebastian bach prior to the start of the kiss psycho circus sessions.
It is his first album of new studio material since 2009s anomaly. In 1996, fig released a drum instructional video and book titled in the groove and late night drumming, respectively. Frehley s comet second sighting 1988 megaforce worldwide, 1998 reissue ace was rushed on second sighting i think that might be why it seems a little tod howarth heavy, songwise. As the stories of their heyday have emerged in numerous books and documentaries over. No regrets is a book cowritten by former kiss lead guitarist ace frehley, joe layden and john.
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