So, KISS’s new album, Monster…
Y’know how KISS’s new album is going to be called Monster? And y’know how they just opened KISS by Monster Mini Golf in Vegas? Well I’ve been wondering… is the album called Monster because of some marketing arrangement with Monster Energy Drink or something? Just curious. Certainly wouldn’t put it past Gene Simmons to pull of such a marketing coup. If so, I wonder if it’ll set a trend. Will Ace Frehley put out a CD called Red Bull? Will Danzig’s next record be titled Fresh Step Cat Litter? Will the next Metallica album be called Tampax?
INTERVIEW: Ace Frehley
It’s the Les Paul that launched a million guitarists: the 1974 Cherry Sunburst three-pickup Gibson Les Paul used by Ace Frehley during KISS’s breakthrough era. The guitar, known as the Budokan Les Paul in honour of the historic Japanese venue where it was given one of its best-known public showings, left Ace’s stewardship a few years ago, and it was long since retired from the road. But now it’s back, in spirit at least, in the form of Gibson Custom’s new Ace Frehley “Budokan” Les Paul Custom. This limited edition instrument will be available in four versions: fifty signed guitars aged by Tom Murphy in the Gibson Custom Shop; one hundred aged (but not signed) pieces; a further 150 finished with Gibson’s VOS (Vintage Original Spec) process; and 1000 pieces of an Epiphone version which retains most of the design features of its Gibson big brother. Ace took some time to talk with I Heart Guitar about the new guitar, the 30+ year old classic it’s based on, and his future plans.
“It was my favourite guitar that I used pretty much exclusively through the 70s and 80s, I guess,” Frehley says of the original instrument. “I continued to use it even with Frehley’s Comet. I don’t even remember when I got it! It was some time around 1975, 76. I had three or four backups, but the particular one that they just released, which is called the Budokan guitar, it was always my favourite guitar, my number one. It just felt the best and played the best.”
Hey! What? Vinnie Vincent stole my photo!
Exhibit A: Above – My photo from NAMM this year (See the post here).
Exhibit B: Rotating images at the website for Vinnie’s guitar, http://www.vinnievincentmodelguitar.com/
Exact same pic! All the reflections and shadows are identical. Vinnie, dude, if you wanted to use the pic I coulda given you the hi rez version! How about at least a credit or a link, huh? Professional journalist here with family to feed!
NEWS: Megadeth, Metallica & Lou Reed, new KISS album, fake Van Halen teaser
Jam Master Series Standard A-Style Mandolin – click the pic for more info.
Here are my latest news stories for Gibson.com. How about that fake Van Halen track, eh?
And did anyone else notice that the new Megadeth and Metallica albums come out on the same day?
Megadeth Album Recalls Entire Discography
Metallica & Lou Reed Album Called Lulu
And don’t forget my recent Susanna Hoffs interview. A different, longer interview will be on I Heart Guitar in a few weeks.
NAMM 2011: Vinnie Vincent Model Guitar by Guitarmageddon
Here’s something for all you KISS fans: the official Vinnie Vincent guitar by Guitarmageddon Guitars.
Custom pickups and configurations are available by special order, and the guitar will be available in various models including a 6/12 string double neck and a 4-string bass. Special cases are also available to protect your chunk of rock power.
Here’s some more info:
Vincent John Cusano, a.k.a. Vinnie Vincent, presents, in association with Guitarmageddon Guitars, the world premier of the official Vinnie Vincent model guitar, to be unveiled at the winter NAMM international music industry trade show. Each Vinnie Vincent model guitar is handcrafted by Tom Palecki (Vincent’s only choice of luthier) from Vinnie Vincent’s original specifications of the very first classic prototype designed by Vincent, down to the very last minute detail. The result is sheer perfection, from its original double V body and headstock design and original classic colors, to its custom “V” abalone neck inlays and sleek neck design to insure complete comfort and ease in playing. Whether you’re a “slowhand” or “speedfreak,” “the boyz are gonna rock” with the official Vinnie Vincent model guitar, which offers the best of all worlds, from its exotic looks, comfort and ease of playability to its versatile pickup configuration, offering the most discriminating shredder a virtual cornucopia of sound from its rich warm tone to blistering overdrive.
After years in the making, all the elements came together to make possible the availability of this truly spectacular creation to all who have dreamed of owning this work of art. Not only is the Vinnie Vincent model fully authorized, but each Vinnie Vincent model guitar will be consecutively numbered and will come with a certificate of authenticity signed by Vinnie Vincent.
For ordering information, pricing and availability, send an e-mail to order1@vinnievincentmodelguitar.com.
Hi! I'm Peter Hodgson. I write for Gibson.com, Australian Guitar, Australian Musician, Mixdown Magazine (including my instructional column, 'Unleash Your Inner Rock God,' which has been running since 2007), guitarworld.com, Tone Deaf, Beat (including their weekly hard rock/metal column Crunch) and The Brag. And I'm Assistant Social Coordinator with Seymour Duncan.
I've been playing guitar since I was 8 years old, and I've been writing for magazines since I was 18. I've also worked as a guitar teacher (up to 50 students a week), a setup tech, a newspaper editor, and I've also dabbled in radio a little bit. I live in Melbourne, Australia, and my hobbies include drinking way too much coffee, and eating way too much Mexican food.
You can check out my guitar playing at Reverbnation or on YouTube, and feel free to email me at iheartguitarblog@gmail.com