The fans were piling into the arena at Mohegan Sun and were getting ready to rock as guitar virtuoso Ace Frehley takes the stage, delivering iconic riffs and electrifying energy in a night of pure rock ‘n’ roll bliss!”
First band of the evening was a Canadian hard rock musician and music producer Aldo Nova. He is also known as Aldo Caporuscio. He is a guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist. Nova was born in Montreal, Quebec, to Italian immigrant parents from a small village near Rome. He adopted the stage name Aldo Nova when he started playing guitar and keyboards at age 15.
In 1997, he won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year as co-producer of Celine Dion’s 1996 album Falling into You. He co-wrote four songs on the 2000 album Uno by La Ley, which won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album.
As he came out on stage the band was playing “Monkey On Your Back.” The fans were just starting to pile into the venue as their set was starting. The fans were cheering as the band continued with “Heart To Heart,” “Under The Gun,” and “Foolin Yourself.” The fans were singing along to the songs they knew. The band played a few more songs before ending their with their biggest hit “Fantasy.”
Next band of the evening was an American hard rock band that formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1988 Slaughter. The group was founded by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum, who previously played together in the band Vinnie Vincent Invasion. The addition of guitarist Tim Kelly and drummer Blas Elias allowed Slaughter to quickly gain attention for their lively performances, catchy hooks, and melodic guitar solos. In 1998 Kelly had a tragic car accident and died. He was then replaced with guitarist Jeff Blando and has been with the band ever since.
Their music was heavily influenced by the hard rock and heavy metal scene of the 1980s, with an aggressive yet melodic sound. To date, Slaughter has released five studio albums, two live albums, and one compilation album. Their debut album Stick It to Ya, released in 1990, has sold over two million copies worldwide and went double platinum.
From the moment they stepped onto the stage, it was evident that they were on a mission to captivate and enthrall. They opened their set with “Mad About You.” The fans were excited to see the band and were now on their feet ready to rock and roll. They continued with “Burning Bridges,” “Spend My Life,” and a Led Zepplin cover “Immigrant Song.”
The setlist was a masterful blend of Slaughter’s greatest hits and fan favorites, with classics like “Up All Night,” “Fly to the Angels,” and “Real Love” igniting frenzied sing-alongs from the crowd. The fans were loving every minute and were cheering, singing along and dancing to the music. The band was full of energy and was feeding off the crowds energy.
Beyond the music, Slaughter’s connection with their fans was palpable throughout the night. Mark Slaughter’s engaging banter and genuine appreciation for the audience created an atmosphere of intimacy, as if each person in the venue was sharing a special moment with the band. As the final notes of their encore reverberated through the venue, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause and cheers, reluctant to let the magic of the night come to an end.
Finally, the band everyone was waiting to see was none other then “Ace” Frehley, an American musician who was the original lead guitarist, occasional lead vocalist and founding member of the rock band Kiss. He invented the persona of The Spaceman (a.k.a. Space Ace) and played with the group from its inception in 1973 until his departure in 1982. After leaving Kiss, Frehley formed his own band named Frehley’s Comet and released two albums with the group. He subsequently embarked on a solo career, which was put on hold when he rejoined Kiss in 1996 for a highly successful reunion tour.
In 1996, Frehley rejoined Kiss for a successful reunion tour, on which all four original members of the band performed live for the first time since original drummer Peter Criss’ departure in 1980. After the tour, they announced that the original lineup would return to the studio to record a new album. The resulting record, Psycho Circus, was promoted with a successful world tour, but it was revealed a couple of years later that Frehley’s and Criss’ involvement on it was minimal. “Into The Void”, which was Frehley’s lone contribution to the record, including vocals and lead guitar duties, is believed to be the only track that all four original members performed on; Frehley also performed the lead guitar solo on the song “You Wanted The Best”. After completing the “Farewell Tour” with Kiss in late 2001, Frehley left the band and resumed his solo career. After the end of the 2002 Winter Olympics, he performed one last time with Kiss.
From the moment Ace Frehley stepped into the spotlight, it was clear that he was in his element. With a flick of his wrist, he launched into the opening chords of his classic hit “Shock Me,” and the crowd erupted into wild cheers, signaling the beginning of an electrifying journey through rock history. He continued his set with songs from Kiss which included, “Shout It Out Loud,” and “Love Gun.” He also played a live debut of “Cherry Medicine.”
Throughout the performance, Ace took the time to interact with his fans, trading smiles, handshakes, and even a few guitar picks with those lucky enough to be in the front row. It was a testament to his enduring appreciation for the unwavering support of his loyal fanbase—a support that has propelled him to rock superstardom and beyond.
Their setlist continued with a mix of Kiss songs and a few of their original songs along with a drum solo. The fans were on their feet the entire night being captivated by the bands performance. As the final chords of “Rock and Roll All Nite” reverberated through the venue, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause and cheers. Ace Frehley had delivered a performance for the ages, reaffirming his status as a true rock ‘n’ roll icon and leaving his fans hungry for more.
Ace Frehley
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