KISS guitarist Ace Frehley publishes his memoirs, No Regrets, on November 1. Frehley has lived a colorful life, no doubt, and his book publishers have now posted a taster of what is to come in the book.
Here are a few choice quotes:
“When I was a kid I used to carry around this awful image in my head – a picture of three men tangled awkwardly in high-tension wires, fifty feet in the air, their lifeless bodies crisping in the midday sun.”
“There was always a little bit of mystery surrounding my dad, things he never shared; nooks and crannies of his past were always a taboo subject. He married late, started a family late, and settled into a comfortable domestic and professional routine. Every so often, though, there were glimpses of a different man, a different life.”
“In the beginning, I enjoyed school and team sports, but as I got older, my social life and music began taking precedence over my studies. I remember coming home with B’s, C’s, and D’s on my report card and hearing my parents complain… I’d just throw up my hands. Between bands and girlfriends, who had time to study?
“Much later, it was the same sort of ‘I told you so’ attitude that would compel me to challenge the other guys in KISS to an IQ test. Just for the record, I scored highest: 163, which is considered ‘genius.’”
“One day, by chance, I picked up my friend’s new electric guitar and checked it out. I plugged it in, turned the amp up to 10, and strummed a power chord. I immediately fell in love. It was a life-changing event! I was only 12, but I was totally hooked.”
Born on this day: 1946, Keith Hopwood, guitar, vocals, Herman’s Hermits
1951, Bootsy Collins, bass, James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic
1952, David Was, multiple instruments, Was (Not Was)
1953, Keith Strickland, guitar, The B-52s
1963, Natalie Merchant, singer, 10,000 Maniacs
1961, Bob Dylan signed with Columbia Records.
1962, The Rolling Stones (known as The Rollin’ Stones), consisting of Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, pianist Ian Stewart and drummer Tony Chapman, recorded their first demo tape at Curly Clayton Studios in Highbury, London. They recored three songs, Jimmy Reed’s “Close Together,” Bo Diddlley’s “You Cant Judge a Book by the Cover” and Muddy Waters’ “Soon Forgotten.”
1965, Queen Elizabeth II presented The Beatles with their MBEs at Buckingham Palace. According to John Lennon, The Beatles smoked marijuana in one of the palace bathrooms to calm their nerves.
1970, A wake was held at the Lion’s Share in San Anselmo, California to celebrate the life of Janis Joplin. The singer, who died of an accidental drugs overdose, had left $2,500 in her will to throw a wake party in the event of her demise. Joplin was cremated in the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Mortuary in Los Angeles; her ashes were scattered from a plane into the Pacific Ocean and along Stinson Beach.
1974, Barry White scored his only U.S. #1 album with Can’t Get Enough.
1991, Legendary American promoter Bill Graham was killed when the helicopter he was flying in hit a 200-foot utility tower in Sonoma County, California.
1993, Catholic churches in San Juan, Puerto Rico, asked residents to tie black ribbons on trees in protest against Madonna’s first live appearance in the country.
1996, The Spice Girls had their second U.K. #1 single when “Say You’ll Be There” started a two-week run at the top of the charts. The song included a harmonica solo played by Judd Lander, who also played the harmonica solo on Culture Club’s 1984 hit “Karma Chameleon.”
2004, Apple launched the U2 Special Edition iPod as part of a partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group. The new U2 iPod held up to 5,000 songs and featured a red Click Wheel and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures. The iPod was being introduced as the band released their new album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.
2006, Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor quit the band during the U.S. leg of their world tour. A statement on behalf of the group described the relationship with Andy Taylor as unworkable and one that could not be resolved. For more on this story, see This Day in Music Spotlight.
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler suffered a fall on Tuesday in his hotel in Asuncion, Paraguay. The singer was treated at a hospital for his injuries, according to a Reuters report.
The hard rock legends had a concert scheduled tonight in the Paraguay capital, which has been postponed. Doctors are recommending rest for Tyler, and there’s no word yet on when the concert will take place.
A hotel bellboy reported to local radio that Tyler slipped in the shower and “had a nasty fall.” He said that the frontman’s face was bloody and that he was missing several teeth.
Metallica are ready to take things to the next dimension. The metal legends are planning to make a 3D movie about themselves, according to the NME.
The band members are self-financing the film and have hired producer Charlotte Huggins, who worked on the 3D movie Journey to the Center of the Earth. Metallica are currently looking for a director for the movie.
There’s no word yet on what sort of movie it will be – whether it will be simply a concert film (like U23D) or something with a story (perhaps with a cameo from Lou Reed?). However, it’s probably a good bet that it won’t be Some Kind of Monster 2.
Guitar riffs get all the attention, but strewn through rock and roll’s rich history are spectacular bass riffs that are just as memorable. From Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” to The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You,” the oft-under-appreciated four-string has powered the engine in countless classics. For the purposes of this feature, we’ve steered clear of jazz riffs – which warrant a consideration all their own – and instead focused on rock and roll, with a smattering of funk. Starting from that premise, below are 10 songs that feature unforgettable bass lines.
“Come Together” – The Beatles (Paul McCartney)
This Beatles classic started out as a campaign song written by John Lennon for controversial ’60s figure Timothy Leary, who had thoughts of running for the governorship of California. Lennon’s efforts failed as a campaign song, but during the Abbey Road sessions, Paul McCartney suggested that The Beatles slow the track down and give it a “swampy bass-and-drums vibe.” “I came up with that bass line, and it all flowed from there,” Sir Paul later told Rolling Stone.
“Money” – Pink Floyd (Roger Waters)
Roger Waters came up with the unforgettable bass riff that drives this Pink Floyd classic, which had the unusual characteristic of being composed mainly in a 7/4 time signature. “It’s Roger’s riff,” David Gilmour told Guitar World, in 1993. “Roger came in with the verses and lyrics more or less completed. We just made up middle sections, guitar solos and all that stuff.” Gilmour went on to point out that, while a 4/4 progression was used for his guitar solo, the band “made the poor saxophone player [continue to] play in 7/4.”
“Tommy the Cat” – Primus (Les Claypool)
Primus’ style has been variously characterized as thrash-funk, progressive metal and, in the words of MTV, “post-punk Rush spiked with the sensibility and humor of Frank Zappa.” What’s indisputable is that Les Claypool is a mad scientist of slap-bass, and never more so than on this early Primus classic. For a time, the song became so popular among Primus fans that, in concert, Claypool would introduce all the band’s other songs with the words, “This next song is not ‘Tommy the Cat.’”
“The Real Me” – The Who (John Entwistle)
Of all the amazing bass performances turned in by John Entwistle, this Who song from 1973’sQuadrophenia album ranks at the top. Remarkably, in a 1996 interview, Entwistle revealed that his famous bass part was done “first take.” “I was joking when I did that bass part,” he told writer Ken Sharp. “The band said, ‘Wow, that’s great, that’s great!’ I was just messing around. They just loved the song. I was sitting on top of my speaker cabinet playing a silly bass part and that’s the one they liked.”
“Under Pressure” – Queen and David Bowie (John Deacon)
Confusion has reigned regarding who came up with the famous bass line for this Bowie/Queen collaboration. In 1982, bassist John Deacon told a Japanese publication that Bowie had written the riff. Bowie, however, has always maintained that the bass line was written before he became involved. The truth seems to be that Deacon himself came up with the riff during sessions for the Hot Space album, but he subsequently forgot it. Fortunately, drummer Roger Taylor recalled how the figure went, and rest is history.
“The Lemon Song” – Led Zeppelin (John Paul Jones)
Recorded by Led Zeppelin in the midst of their second tour of America, “The Lemon Song” was a “live-in-the-studio” song that dripped with sexual innuendo. Much of its power derived from John Paul Jones’ stunning bass performance, which evidenced a funk influence that had been undetectable in his previous Zeppelin sessions. Remarkably, Jones subsequently revealed that he had improvised the lines as the song was recorded.
“Give It Away” – Red Hot Chili Peppers (Flea)
Hard to believe, but many radio station programmers at first refused to air this colossal Chili Peppers hit, citing “lack of melody” as a reason. Guitarist John Frusciante and bassist Flea created the main riff and the memorable bass line during their tenure in the side project, H.A.T.E. (featuring members of Fishbone). Anthony Kiedis’ hard-hitting vocal was directly inspired by Flea’s bass. “I was so struck by Flea’s bass part, which covered the whole length of the instrument’s neck, that I jumped up and marched over to the microphone, my notebook in tow,” he later said.
“Walk on the Wild Side” – Lou Reed (Herbie Flowers)
The famous bass line in this most famous of Lou Reed songs was played by session bassist Herbie Flowers. Flowers actually came up with the idea of using twin, interlocking bass lines – one played on acoustic bass and the other on electric. Flowers later claimed, probably jokingly, that he suggested the overdubbed second bass part so that he would receive double pay for the session.
“Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” – Sly and The Family Stone (Larry Graham)
This 1969 classic is rightly regarded as one of the greatest and most influential funk songs of all time. The engine that propels the track is Larry Graham’s slap-bass performance. Graham himself pioneered the technique, which has since become a mainstay of modern funk. Everyone from Flea to Bootsy Collins to Les Claypool owes a heavy debt to Graham for perfecting this percussive and rhythmic style.
“Sunshine of Your Love” – Cream (Jack Bruce)
The monster bass riff (doubled on guitar by Eric Clapton) that anchors this Cream classic was sparked by a Jimi Hendrix Experience performance that Jack Bruce and Clapton attended in 1967 in London. Bruce immediately went home and composed the riff, and later he and poet Pete Brown penned the lyrics during an all-night session. Coupled with perhaps the best example of Clapton’s renowned late ’60s “woman tone,” the riff remains a thunderous landmark in rock history.
Veteran rockers Journey are the 2011 recipients ofBillboard’s Legend of Live award. The band will be presented with the honor at the Billboard Touring Awards on November 10 in New York City, according to Billboard.com.
“I’m so honored to come to New York to represent the band for all the years and dedication that everyone’s given,” Journey guitarist/co-founderNeal Schonsaid.
The publication said that the award “honors groups or individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to live music and the touring business, and acknowledges the recipients’ commitment to the art of performing live and reaching fans through the concert experience.” Recent winners include Rush (2010), Ozzy Osbourne (2009) and The Allman Brothers Band (2008).
Born on this day:
1924, Earl Palmer, drums, Little Richard, Fats Domino
1941, Helen Reddy, singer
1944, Jon Anderson, vocals, Yes
1947, Glenn Tipton, guitar, Judas Priest
1951, Richard Lloyd, guitar, vocals, Television
1955, Matthias Jabs, guitar, Scorpions
1961, Chad Smith, drums, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot
1970, Ed Robertson, vocals, guitar, Barenaked Ladies
1981, Austin Winkler, vocals, Hinder
1984, Katy Perry, singer
1963, The Beatles kicked off their first tour of Sweden. The local pop reviewer was not impressed, saying The Beatles should be grateful to their screaming fans for drowning out the group’s terrible performance.
1964, The Rolling Stones appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in New York. A riot broke out in the studio and Sullivan was quoted as saying, “I promise you they’ll never be back on our show again.”
1968, Led Zeppelin made their U.K. live debut at Surrey University, England. In 2003, the poster for the gig, which stated the “First big dance of the term” and billed the group as The New Yardbirds, sold at auction for £2,400.
1968, The double album Electric Ladyland by the Jimi Hendrix Experience was released. It was also made available as two albums with changed artwork after complaints about the naked women who were pictured on the sleeve. The female models were each paid £5 for the photo shoot and another £5 if they posed completely naked.
1992, Roger Miller died of died of lung and throat cancer in a hospital in Los Angeles. He scored the 1965 U.K. #1 and U.S. #4 single “King of the Road.” Miller won 11 Grammy Awards as a songwriter.
2003, Johnny Cash’s step-daughter Rosey Nix Adams and her fiddle player Jimmy Campbell were found dead on their tour bus in Clarksville, Tennessee from Carbon monoxide poisoning. Heaters that had been left on were blamed for the accident.
2004, John Peel died in Cuzco, Peru, of a heart attack, at age 65. He was BBC’s longest-serving radio DJ and the first DJ to introduce The Ramones, Roxy Music, The Smiths, The Fall, Rod Stewart, Blur, the Sex Pistols, T. Rex and others to the masses. He founded Dandelion Records in 1969, which released records by Kevin Coyne, Bridget St. John and Medicine Head. He was also known for his “Peel Sessions,” releases of live radio sessions. Peel was appointed an OBE in 1998.
Although millions of fans are anxious at the idea of Black Sabbath’s original four members reuniting, guitarist Tony Iommi said it won’t be terribly easy getting the boys back together.
“The band can decide to do something, but there are a lot of people involved, and everybody’s got individual managers,” Iommi told Rolling Stone. “It’s not as easy as like it was in the old days – us all going in one room and it all works. I mean, we can certainly do that, but it’s a bit more involved than that.”
But, the riff master did say that all four members – Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – are on good terms.
“I talk to Ozzy a lot – we’ve always been in contact. And I talk to Bill occasionally,” he said. “Geez, I played with him until Ronnie [James Dio] passed away. We still stay in contact. Geezer is not one for being on the phone, we normally e-mail. We all get on well – I don’t think there’s any bad vibes or anything.”
After recently completing the highest-grossing tour of all time and working on a deluxe reissue on 1991’s Achtung Baby, it seems that U2 aren’t sure where they are headed next. In an interview with Rolling Stone, frontman Bono talked about questioning the band’s relevance.
“I’m not so sure the future hasn’t dried up,” said Bono, who revealed he’s been taking heat from his bandmates for such talk. “The band are like, ‘Will you shut up about being irrelevant?’”
Although the singer said he’d be content with ending U2 in 2011 (“We’d be very pleased to end on No Line on the Horizon”), he also doubted that the band would actually stop. Bono said that working on the deluxe Achtung project has helped light the band’s way to a possible future.
“Ironically, being forced to look back at this period reminds me of how we might re-emerge for the next phase,” Bono said. “And that doesn’t mean that you have to wear some mad welder’s goggles or dress up in women’s clothing. Reinvention is much deeper than that.”
Ahead of next week’s release of Metallica’s collaboration with Lou Reed, bassist Rob Trujillo has reflected on his early encounters with the band back when he was a member of Suicidal Tendencies.
Trujillo told Classic Rock Revisited (via VH1’s Dave Basner) that he used to listen to Metallica’s Ride the Lightning album on his Walkman to get fired up for Suicidal Tendencies shows while jogging.
Later, in the early ’90s, Suicidal Tendencies toured with Metallica. “I remember sharing the stage with them and seeing this band larger than life on a daily basis and just thinking, ‘Wow, it’s amazing that a band can take it to this level,’” Trujillo said.
Of Lulu, the Metallica and Lou Reed album due for release in North American on November 1, Trujillo said, “It’s a very special place for me to be a part of this next wave of Metallica.”
“When I was a kid I used to carry around this awful image in my head – a picture of three men tangled awkwardly in high-tension wires, fifty feet in the air, their lifeless bodies crisping in the midday sun.”
1946, Keith Hopwood, guitar, vocals, Herman’s Hermits
The hard rock legends had a concert scheduled tonight in the Paraguay capital, which has been postponed. Doctors are recommending rest for Tyler, and there’s no word yet on when the concert will take place.
Metallica are ready to take things to the next dimension. The metal legends are planning to make a 3D movie about themselves, according to the 
Veteran rockers Journey are the 2011 recipients ofBillboard’s Legend of Live award. The band will be presented with the honor at the Billboard Touring Awards on November 10 in New York City, according to 
Born on this day:
Although millions of fans are anxious at the idea of Black Sabbath’s original four members reuniting, guitarist Tony Iommi said it won’t be terribly easy getting the boys back together.
“I’m not so sure the future hasn’t dried up,” said Bono, who revealed he’s been taking heat from his bandmates for such talk. “The band are like, ‘Will you shut up about being irrelevant?’”
Ahead of next week’s release of Metallica’s collaboration with Lou Reed, bassist Rob Trujillo has reflected on his early encounters with the band back when he was a member of Suicidal Tendencies.