Ace Frehley Claims His New Album '10,000 Volts' Will Make KISS 'Look Like Imbeciles'

As Ace Frehley prepares to release his eighth studio album, 10,000 Volts, on Friday, 23 February, via MNRK Music Group (formerly eOne Music), the original KISS guitarist and longtime solo artist is discussing his new music and how it makes his former bandmates “look like imbeciles”.

In a new Guitar World interview, Frehley compared his new album to the 1976 record by KISS, Rock And Roll Over, claiming that there’s “no bullshit” in his new songs. Elsewhere, he claimed that singer Paul Stanley and bassist/backing vocalist Gene Simmons have been trying to “destroy [his] reputation”.

“Not to focus on the past, but the songs on 10,000 Volts are reminiscent of the hard yet pop rock songs from KISS’s Rock And Roll Over,” Frehley began. “There’s no bullshit in any of these songs. There’s no filler and zero wasted space.”

Praising the three-minute tracks on his new album, Frehley responded to calls that he’s not that creative in his solo career by stating: “Paul and Gene have tried to destroy my reputation over the years – we know that. And unfortunately for them, 10,000 Volts is going to make them look like imbeciles.”

He continued, “KISS hasn’t put out a record since 2012 [Monster], and here I am, 17 years sober, and it’s my sixth record since leaving KISS. I keep chugging along, and nobody can stop me. Creating amazing music is the best way to combat someone putting you down. That’s how I shut them up.”

Later in the interview, Frehley fired at longtime KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer when discussing his “instinct” guitar playing: “I’ve never had a guitar lesson. I was born with a certain technique that many people, namely Tommy Thayer, can’t duplicate. And with Tommy, yeah… that’s over now. It’s back to the breadline for him!”

You can pre-order 10,000 Volts here.

Last March, Stanley said the band would be better off called “Piss” if the original line-up, including Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss, reformed.

While on The Howard Stern Show, Stanley was asked about the band’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and why they didn’t perform. 

Claiming that the Rock Hall wanted to induct KISS with the other two original members, Stanley fired back, “At this point, that would be demeaning to the band, and also would give some people confusion. 'Cause if you saw people onstage who looked like KISS but sounded like that, maybe we should be called Piss.” 

That comment drew Frehley's ire, with the Detroit Rock City guitarist demanding an apology from Stanley. 

Appearing on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk, Frehley threatened to share “dirt” on his estranged former bandmates and said, “Paul, if you’re not listening, I’m sure one of your associates in the KISS group are.

“And I’m telling you that I want my formal apology for what you said and a retraction and an apology within seven days. And if I don’t get that within seven days, I’m coming back on Ed Trunk’s show, and I’m gonna tell some dirt that nobody knows about Paul and Gene.”

Seven days passed, and Frehley didn’t share said dirt. He added, “I have a 120-page manuscript that I wrote after I finished my [2011] book [No Regrets – A Rock 'N' Roll Memoir].

“My attorney has it in a safety deposit box. God forbid anything happens to me. My attorney is instructed to release it… So they can’t intimidate me by trying to hurt me or say, ‘You’d better not say anything about me live on the radio.’ Because then they’re totally screwed. Their careers will be ruined.”