Born Paul Frehley on April 27, 1951, in the Bronx, New York, Frehley began playing guitar when he received an electric six-string for his 14th birthday in 1965. Already a big fan of the Rolling Stones, he was blown away when he caught a multi-band live show in N.Y.C. in early 1967, featuring both the Who and Cream, among others, which solidified his desire to pursue rock guitar more seriously (and put a promising art career on the back burner). Frehley began playing in local bands soon after, adding both Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix to his influences -- and around this time, adopted the nickname "Ace." Although none of the bands he played with had taken off, he answered an ad in a local paper for a new hard rock, theatrically based group in early 1973.
A few weeks after his initial tryout, Frehley was hired as the lead guitarist for the new quartet, joining bassist/singer Gene Simmons, rhythm guitarist/singer Paul Stanley, and drummer Peter Criss to form the band Kiss. By year's end, the greasepaint- and costume-wearing band was signed to Casablanca Records, and by 1978, had become one of the world's top hard rock bands. A string of platinum albums and sold-out tours lasted from 1975 until 1979, until the trappings of fame threatened to break up the band. Frehley's best friend in the band, Criss, left Kiss in 1980, as the group unsuccessfully experimented with non-metal styles. Ace Frehley's use of alcohol and drugs increased due to his ever-increasing unhappiness in the band, and, by 1982, he'd exited Kiss.
Within a year or two after his split from Kiss, Ace began putting his own solo band together, Frehley's Comet. The band played local N.Y.C. clubs, but failed to issue a record until 1987's self-titled debut for Megaforce Records. Instead of following the heavy metal direction of his exceptional 1978 solo album, Frehley's Comet tried to keep pace with the current pop-metal movement (Mötley Crüe, etc.), issuing two other albums (and a live EP) by 1989. Around this time, Frehley put his old art talents to use once again through computer graphics, with a few of his images even being featured in an art exhibit. Despite mudslinging in the press between Simmons/Stanley and Frehley in the early '90s, all four original Kiss members made up in time to reunite for a 1995 taping of MTV Unplugged. The taping was such a success that it led to a full-blown reunion of the original lineup, resulting in the massively successful 1996-1997 Alive Worldwide Tour.
Frehley continued as a member of Kiss until the end of their Farewell Tour (lasting longer than fellow original member Peter Criss, who dropped out in 2001). Live appearances, including gigs at the massive Rocklahoma festival, kept Ace busy until 2009, when he released the album Anomaly on his own label, Bronx Born Records. In 2011 he published No Regrets, a detailed and frank memoir that recounted, among other things, his aforementioned struggles with alcohol and cocaine addiction. In 2013 he celebrated seven years of sobriety and spent much of that year appearing at horror, sci-fi, and pop culture conventions.
The following April, after a long wait, Kiss was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, before August brought the release of Space Invader, a solo album that took a heavier approach than Anomaly. Released in 2016, Origins, Vol. 1 was an all-covers album featuring songs from Ace's favorite bands, up to and including Kiss, with new versions of "Parasite" and "Cold Gin" sitting next to songs from Thin Lizzy and Cream. The following year, Frehley joined Kiss bassist/vocalist Simmons on-stage at a Hurricane Harvey benefit for the Children Matter organization in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the former bandmates had performed together in over 16 years. In 2018 Frehley issued his eighth solo long payer, Spaceman, which featured a power pop cover of Eddie Money's "I Wanna Go Back" and the rowdy single "Rockin' with the Boys," the latter of which was written during Kiss' '70s heyday.
In the fall of 2018, Frehley revealed that he was changing his entire solo backing band from guitarist Richie Scarlet, bassist Chris Wyse and drummer Scot Coogan to Gene Simmons‘ solo band members consisting of Philip Shouse on guitar/vocals, Ryan Cook on guitar/vocals, Jeremy Asbrock on guitar/vocals, and Christopher Williams on drums.
He then released a second covers album, Origins, Vol. 2, in September 2020.
Biography by Greg Prato
Website: http://www.acefrehley.com
Ace Frehley (1978)
Frehley's Comet (1987)
Second Sighting (1988)
Trouble Walkin' (1989)
Anomaly (2009)
Space Invader (2014)
Origins Vol. 1 (2016)
Spaceman (2018)
Origins Vol. 2 (2020)
10,000 Volts (2024)
Speedin' Back To My Baby
Ace Frehley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My radio's blastin' and I'm passin' cars faster and faster, aha
I'm feelin' kinda down 'cos I left her with a frown, my baby, oh yeah
We always seem to fight when things are goin' right and maybe, aha
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
You know, maybe I should turn around, maybe I should stop
Maybe I should turn around
I'm lookin' for a station,
'cos there's no acceleration to get back, oh yeah
My gage is showin' red and my battery's dead, I'd better find one fast
The whole thing began 'cos I saw her with a man, my baby, oh yeah
I really wouldn't mind, but you know I've got my pride to think of, aha
You know, maybe I should turn around, maybe I should stop
Maybe I should turn around
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
I found me a station, now I got acceleration to get back, oh yeah
She's my only girl and to me she's just the world, so maybe, aha
You know, maybe I should turn around, maybe I should stop
Maybe I should turn around
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
In Ace Frehley's "Speedin' Back To My Baby," the singer is driving down the road at high speeds while his radio is blasting, and he's passing cars left and right. Despite the excitement of the ride, he's feeling down because he left his girlfriend with a frown on her face, likely because they had a bad fight. As he debates whether to turn around or not, he keeps speeding towards his baby, no matter the cost.
The song is a classic example of rock n' roll rebellion and the desire for fast cars and quick women. The lyrics describe the singer's reckless attitude towards life as he pushes the limits of his car and himself on the open road. Despite the risks involved, he's determined to make it back to his girlfriend and make things right between them.
The song's lyrics are a testament to the allure of speed, excitement, and danger, while also exploring the complex emotions that come with relationships. It's a perfect blend of rock and roll passion and storytelling, with Ace Frehley's signature guitar riffs adding to the overall intensity of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm drivin' down the road, doin' 95 miles per hour, oh yeah
I'm driving at an incredibly fast speed of 95 miles per hour, with the wind blowing my hair, and I'm enjoying it
My radio's blastin' and I'm passin' cars faster and faster, aha
I'm listening to loud music and overtaking cars one after the other, getting more and more excited
I'm feelin' kinda down 'cos I left her with a frown, my baby, oh yeah
I am upset because I left my partner with a sad expression on her face
We always seem to fight when things are goin' right and maybe, aha
We argue with each other whenever things seem to go well between us, and it's a possibility
Maybe I should turn around, maybe I should stop, maybe I should turn around
Perhaps I should turn back and return to my partner instead of continuing on this journey
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
I'm racing to return to my lover, without any second thoughts or doubts
You know, maybe I should turn around, maybe I should stop
I am considering the possibility of stopping or turning back
I'm lookin' for a station,
'cos there's no acceleration to get back, oh yeah
I am searching for a station because my vehicle is lacking acceleration required to return quickly
My gage is showin' red and my battery's dead, I'd better find one fast
My car's gauge is indicating low fuel and battery is nearly dead, I need to find help quickly
The whole thing began 'cos I saw her with a man, my baby, oh yeah
The reason behind my sadness is seeing my partner with another man
I really wouldn't mind, but you know I've got my pride to think of, aha
I don't want to admit it, but it bothers me that my partner is with another man and my ego is taking a hit
I found me a station, now I got acceleration to get back, oh yeah
I've found help at a station and now my car has the needed power to make a quick return
She's my only girl and to me she's just the world, so maybe, aha
My partner is very important to me and means everything to me, and it's a possibility
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
I'm on my way back to my partner without any uncertainty, and with a strong sense of determination
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
I'm repeating my determination to return to my partner without a doubt
Speedin' back to my baby, and I don't mean maybe
I'm emphasizing my intention of rushing back to my partner and not wasting any time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ACE FREHLEY, JEANETTE FREHLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
leokimvideo
Too good for a Kiss album. Ace's solo album is the best by far.
Daven Watts
leokimvideo yup
Grampa Gaming Guy
I thought Gene's was the worst, I was in second grade, I had them all. Gene's was horrible, Ace's best, Paul Stanley's was pretty good, and Peter Criss's was also really tight. Gene's, ugh. Worst thing ever.
Michael Mace
@Grampa Gaming Guy When You Wish Upon A Star?? Like, WTF
Grampa Gaming Guy
@Michael Mace I never wished upon a star. I wished Ace would come and play a set in my garage, lol. That would have made my entire life when I was 10. Would probably make my life at 48, lol.
Thomas Gallagher
Ace assembled a great band ( Anton Fig, Will Lee on bass) and Eddie Kramer producing, by far the best solo album of the four and as good and any hard rock record of the late 70’s.
Brian Lobo
Yeah essentially David letterman’s band. Anton has a cracking snare and punchy bass drum sound that grooves the songs throughout the album.
Michael Mace
Whenever I'm feeling old or down I can always count on Space Ace
paul schaefer
With music like this our soul will never get old.
DrTomoculus
The older I get, the better this album gets! I knew it was good when I was 11 and that Ace Frehley was the best member of KISS.
This and New York Groove were not my favourites when I was a kid. That was reserved for Wiped Out and I'm In Need of Love. But nowadays Speedin' Back to My Baby just rocks to my ears. It's no different than what Joan Jett would do a few years later. Frehley could do I Love Rock 'n' Roll and it literally would sound no different.