A former member of Iron Maiden reveals the “asocial character” of Ace Frehley on his tours with Kiss – Al día

A former member of Iron Maiden has revealed some of the lesser-known intimate aspects of Ace Frehley. We talk about Dennis Strattonthe former guitarist and founding member of Iron Maiden, recalled in a recent interview his days as the opening act for Kiss. A time in which she forged a beautiful relationship with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanleyand in which he discovered something unexpected about the guitarist Ace Frehley.

We remember that Dennis Stratton joined Iron Maiden in 1979, just before the band recorded their self-titled debut album, ‘Iron Maiden’, which was released in 1980. Precisely, that album led to a tour that took the British band across several countries. Also as Kiss opening acta significant collaboration for Iron Maiden, as it allowed them to reach a wider audience and establish themselves as an emerging force on the scene.

Thanks to that tour, Dennis Stratton managed to forge a beautiful friendship with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. In this sense he spoke in a recent interview in Guitar World: “Oh yeah, I got along very well with Paul and Gene. We used to chat a lot behind the scenes. When we went to Stockholm in October 1980, Gene and Paul took me to dinner for my birthday with Dave Murray. “It was a very special gift for me.”

WHAT WAS ACE FREHLEY LIKE IN PRIVACY?

In those days with Kiss, Stratton lived all kinds of experiences behind the scenes. And one of the things that surprised him the most was the Ace Frehley’s secretive character. Despite the great admiration that he continues to profess for him and his work, Stratton confessed in Guitar World that He wasn’t very socialized. at that time.

“Ace played very well on that tour, but unfortunately he was very, very quiet. He never left his dressing roomso I only got to see him a couple of times,” He began detailing in this recent interview.

To finish by remembering: “I took some photos with him, but He only came out of his dressing room when Kiss was about to go on stage.. So unfortunately I didn’t have many words with him. But Eric Carr was brilliant and very kind.”

DENNIS STRATTON’S ROLE IN IRON MAIDEN

Dennis Stratton had a significant influence on the band during his brief but important period in it. Stratton joined Iron Maiden in 1979, just before the band recorded their self-titled debut album, Iron Maiden, released in 1980. His arrival brought an additional dimension to the band’s sound, contributing his technical skill and style. unique about playing the guitar.

One of Stratton’s most notable contributions to Iron Maiden was his ability to add guitar harmonies to the band’s compositions. This technique, characterized by interlocking guitar lines and complementary melodies, would become a distinctive signature of Iron Maiden’s sound for years to come. Songs like “Phantom of the Opera” and “Strange World” highlight these harmonies, which add depth and richness to the band’s overall sound.

In addition to his musical prowess, Stratton also played an important role in the creative aspect of Iron Maiden. during his time in the band. He collaborated on the composition of several songs on the debut album, contributing fresh ideas and perspectives that helped shape the band’s sound in its early days. His influence can be felt on songs such as “Charlotte the Harlot” and “Prowler”, where his contributions helped establish Iron Maiden’s musical direction.

However, despite his significant impact, Stratton’s tenure in Iron Maiden was relatively brief. After completing the tour for their debut album, He was fired from the band in 1980 due to differences in creative and musical direction. Although his time with Iron Maiden was brief, his influence would endure on the band’s sound and style for years to come.