Review: Ace Frehley plays The Tivoli, Brisbane, April 28, 2015

Don’t panic, the ex-KISS guitarist hasn’t lapsed back into substance abuse. In the tradition of KISS’ “you wanted the best, you got the best!” that was backing guitarist Richie Scarlet’s triumphant proclamation as smoke billowed from Frehley’s guitar at the climax of his signature song Shock Me, the penultimate tune of his main set at Brisbane’s Tivoli last night.

While his former KISS bandmates have cast aspersions on his playing ability in recent years, the eight-years-sober Frehley — who turned 64 on Monday — demonstrated his prowess with multiple solos that showed why the Spaceman inspired a generation of guitarists.

Frehley was resuming his Australian tour after a couple of dates in New Zealand. And for those fans to whom Frehley is the one true KISS guitarist, it was a treat to see and hear the “original and best” cranking out the classic tracks. And signs of his rich KISStory were everywhere, from his iconic burnt-orange Les Paul with lightning-bolt strap, to the high quotient of KISS T-shirts in the crowd, to the KISS-heavy setlist including ballistic boners Rocket Ride and Love Gun, megahits Strutter and Deuce, Aussie favourite Talk to Me, Stones cover 2000 Man and rare gems Parasite and Strange Ways.

On his last visit to Brisbane he took aim at his KISS replacement Tommy Thayer, but last night Frehley was content to let the music do the talking.

And it wasn’t all about KISS. Fans were treated to tunes from his latest solo album Space Invader (the title track, Toys, KISS-esque single Gimme a Feeling), his other old band Frehley’s Comet (Rock Soldiers), and of course his classic ’78 solo record (Snowblind, New York Groove).

Frehley liberally doled out guitar picks to the crowd, from a handy dispenser on the microphone stand.

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