Alive II was released and found its way into my collection of albums which still was comprised of mostly KISS albums. Alive II brought a temporary renewed interest in KISS. It was cool to hear the live translations of some of my favorite songs from the previous three studio albums. Side four was a few studio tracks. At the time I wondered why they didn’t do all four sides live. I recently noticed that they didn’t include any songs that were on the first live album. All three lives sides only included songs from Destroyer, Rock And Roll Over, and Love Gun. Side four would have been where those favorites from the first three albums would have lived.
The photo on the inside cover showed what looked like an amazing stage set up with stairs and fire and rising platforms. I enjoyed the record but it didn’t carry quite the impact it would have year later only because of the competing demands for my attention. I was in a new environment with new activities, new friends and hearing a lot of new music. Priorities were changing. It isn’t that I liked KISS any less, they just occupied less real estate in my mind.
All through the KISS Age, Ace was my favorite. Was it the spaceman character or the lead guitar that captured my imagination? I can honestly say that I don’t know for certain. I begged my parents for an electric guitar for a few years in hopes of learning to play like Ace. They never did. Six years later, I bought my first real six string at the 5 and dime, well actually it was a pawn shop down town. It was a horrible budget model but I’m getting ahead of the story. I only mention it because the root of my desire to play guitar was right here with Ace Frehley in the KISS Age.