Some
of you KISS fans may know me, some may not.
My name is Bill Baker and I worked with and
was friends with Ace Frehley back in the 90's.
I amassed a huge collection of Ace and Kiss
memorabilia that I would display at the NJ Kiss
Expos and my band "Fractured Mirror"
would also perform at them. I self published
the book "Ace Frehley - The Ultimate Fan
Scrapbook" in October of 2008.
 New
Jersey's CHILLER THEATRE convention has been
around for over 20 years. My friend Kevin created
it and I've gone to every one. When my book
came out 3 years ago, they were delivered to
me on the Tuesday just before the convention.
It was an odd coincidence that Ace was one of
the guests at Chiller that year. I hadn't seen
or talked with Ace in 13 years at that point.
I wanted to at least say hi to him and give
him a book. It was all worked out with his manager
Danny, and I was cut into his huge line and
it was like 13 years hadn't gone by. We got
some pictures together and I presented him with
one of my books. He looked through it and seemed
impressed. Although we're not the buddies we
once were, we are still friends and when I get
a chance, I always say hello. I had last talked
with him at the "Spooky Empire" convention
in Florida last October, and I gave him some
copies of paperwork that I thought he could
use for his book. My book is really my story
with tons of photos, not a biography on him.
His book is his story and I'm glad I didn't
try and do that because really he should be
the one to tell his story.
 Now,
one year later that I last saw him and 3 years
to the weekend that I gave him my book, he was
once again a guest at Chiller. There was a crazy
snowstorm that day and my wife Laure and I braved
the weather to go. There were a number of guests
I wanted to get autographs from and we were
meeting some friends there so we really had
to go. Later in the afternoon I ran into a longtime
friend Johnny P. and he was working with the
cast of "What's Happening". (Remember
that show?) Johnny asked me, "Hey, what
are you doing right now?" I told him we
were just checking out the guests. He said "Why
don't you come with us, we're going to take
them down to Ace's room for a picture, why don't
you come along?" Well, it sounded like
a good idea to me, rather than just duck my
head into his room to say hi, why not go in
with these guys. So we all walked down to the
room that Ace was in. On the way, I asked the
actors Roger and Dwayne, "Hey, I've known
Ace over 20 years and I haven't seen him in
a year, it would really give him a laugh if
I walked in with you two." They both said
OK, they were up for a laugh. So in we go. Ace
was busy with someone, signing some stuff and
I positioned us right in front of his table.
Me in between the two guys, and the actress
that played Dee was standing there too. Ace
looks up, does a double take, and says "Bill,
is that you?" I said, "Hey Ace, what's
happening?" He laughed and then the cast
got some photos with him. I said, "Hey,
I wanted to get in this picture too!" I
handed my camera to Ace's friend Mike, and Johnny
P. and I jumped in and got some pics with everyone.
The cast left and I gave Ace a hug and told
him it was good to see him. I said, "Hey
I heard your book is out, and since I gave you
one of mine, it would be nice to have one of
yours!" John, his assistant (who I've also
known for years) reached over and gave him one
which he signed to me. We got some pictures
together and while I was sitting there I told
him that I saw the clip of him falling off the
stage at B.B. Kings. Well, I had fallen off
that very same spot. Only I wasn't playing,
I was taking pictures. It's dark there and not
marked. I fell on my ass and Ace told me that
what saved him from being hurt was that the
bottom of the guitar hit the floor first. Lucky
he didn't break anything. I shook his hand and
said "Thanks!" and said goodbye.
A friend of my wife and I was recently killed
on her motorcycle and she was only 47 years
old. It has really made me value life and the
friends I have in it. Ace and I didn't have
a falling out or anything like that, we just
got involved in our own lives. I'm glad that
we are still friends and that he personally
gave me one of his books that looks like he
did a really good job on. I'm honored to know
that there is now two great books on Ace out
there, and mine is one of them.
I have this site to keep everyone apprised of
sales, events, and of what I'm up to lately.
I'm glad to have finally put this book together
for you, the fans. I'm proud of it and it's
really here! Only 2000 were printed and I offer
signed and unsigned copies, please visit the
order page for the choices available so you
can get your copy! This site is for you, the
fans! I amassed so much audio, video, and memorabilia
that I didn't want it to just sit on a shelf,
I want to share it with you. Go ahead and have
fun and check out "my world".
Thank You
|
|
