News

Shock Me: The Tragic Passing of Ace Frehley, My First Rock Hero (1951-2025)

When I was in grade eight, I nicknamed myself “Ace”.

I think the reason I picked Ace as my favourite Kiss member (and therefore favourite rock star) back then was twofold.  It didn’t have anything to do with the music.  I didn’t know what songs he wrote, and I didn’t hear any of the songs he sang for a short while.  Early in my Kiss fandom, I picked Ace because of his cool silver makeup, and the spaceman theme.  I was a science fiction kid looking for my next thrill now that Star Wars was over.  It was Kiss.

Frehley’s guitar playing wasn’t complicated, but it was impossible to duplicate.  Kiss know that:  they tried.  Any Kiss fan worth their salt can easily tell the difference between Ace and his final replacement, Tommy Thayer.  Tommy was the next best thing, but he didn’t have that chonky, gnarly feel that Ace poured into every solo and every rhythm track.

Ace’s style was based on the pentatonic blues scales of the classic rock bands he loved.  His rhythms, double tracked with a Les Paul and a Fender, was the foundation of the original Kiss sound.  His solos, blazing and breakneck, were squiggly delights of power.  I loved Ace.

When I got my first Kiss albums in September of 1985, I had yet to hear his voice.  When I finally did on Dynasty, I loved it.  Ace’s voice had a smooth, commercial sound that Gene and Peter’s did not.  I loved “2000 Man” and “Hard Times”.  Especially “Hard Times”, because the lyrics gave a glimpse of the childhood of the Bronx boy named Paul Frehley.

Ace’s first post-Kiss solo album was finally released in 1987, and I was immediately on board.  My sister bought Frehley’s Comet for my birthday that summer.  I loved the album:  “Rock Soldiers”, “Into the Night”, “Calling To You”, “Fractured Too”…I played it back to back all summer.  I dreamed of Ace opening for Kiss on their upcoming Crazy Nights tour.  Hah!  As if that would happen.

Ace’s premature loss is tragic, but what is most tragic is that Kiss refused to allow him back on stage with them during their farewell tour.  By now we have all learned that life is too short to not reconcile with our friends and loved ones.  Kiss never did and now they never can, and that is a tragic loss too.

On September 25 2025, Ace fell in his home studio.  He suffered bleeding in the brain, and was taken off life support on October 16.  Kiss fans worldwide steeled themselves for the news.

I hope Ace is not just remembered for the classic Kiss songs he wrote and played on.  I hope attention is paid to his solo albums, from which you could build an absolutely killer boxed set.  Tracks like “Insane”, “Juvenile Delinquent”, “Trouble Walkin'”, “Space Invader”, “I Wanna Go Back”, and “Mission To Mars” should all be given just as much attention as “Rip It Out”.

The first original Kiss member to fall was Ace Frehley.  That is a sad landmark.   Let us remember him not for the feuds, the drama, or the negative words that Gene and Paul bandied about too often.  Let’s remember Ace for his charisma and most of all, his music.

Rip it out, Ace, for Words Are Not Enough.

The Greatest Grandma – Rest in Peace Doris “Dolly” Winter: Jul 12 1924-Jul 30 2025

I wrote this over two years ago.  We thought she was gone, four or five times since 2022.  Now it is the sad time to post it.

 

For most of my life I’ve only had one grandparent.  I never knew Grandma Ladano – she’s been gone over 70 years.  Grampa Ladano died in 1981.  Grampa Winter left us in 1984.  For over 40 years, I’ve only had one grandparent and she’s the best one you could ever ask for.

I was a cheeky kid.  Around the time I started highschool, I started calling my grandma “Dolly”.  Everybody else called her Dolly (her real name is Doris), so we kids started doing it too.  She never quite liked it though.  I reverted to “grandma” in more recent years.  I can’t remember the last time I called her “Dolly” but that’s what her friends called her!

She babysat me when I was really young and I have so many memories of being at her house.  Playing games like Mousetrap and Clue.  Reading books, watching the Flintstones.  Grandma and Grampa took me to Welland to see the big boats at the canal.  How exciting that was!  I remember those big ships, so long that I could not even fit one into a single camera frame.

She was always good to us.  When visiting, she’d serve up my favourite pork chops:  in mushroom soup!  Or, I’d eat all her Rice Krispies.  My dad and I would dig carrots out of her garden.  Oh, how she hated us stealing her carrots!  Later on in life, I would have dinner at her house every Thursday night in between classes at school.  Thursdays were my busy day.  I had day classes and night classes.  There was a short break between the end of the afternoon class and the night class, and my grandma lived really close to the university.  I would eat with her for an hour and head back to school.  We always had a nice visit.  I remember during exams, I once forgot my pen so I quickly drove to her house, got a pen, and got back to my exam just in time to start!  Her house – so many memories!  An epic front hill, and lots of fun adventures in her yard.

She always tried to treat us right, though she didn’t know exactly what we liked.  One birthday, she wrote me a cheque and asked me to use it to buy “one of your CD records”.  Another time she bought me Ozzy Osbourne’s Blizzard Of Ozz, with him dressed as a priest holding a big cross!  I know she didn’t pick that one!  As a staunch Catholic she never would have picked that one!  She prefers John McDermott to John “Ozzy” Osbourne.

When we travelled with Grandma, she was always a bit slower than the others, so I always hung back a bit to make sure she was OK.  “Wait for the grandma!” I would shout as we walked through an airport in Toronto hauling all our bags.  “Wait for the grandma!”  I would always make sure we didn’t lose sight of her.  Calgary 1997 with Grandma and Aunt Marie was one of my favourite trips ever.

In the years following that, I enjoyed driving Grandma to the cottage.  I would pick her up after work, and we’ve drive up together.  I played the music a little lower for her.  She would point out things along the road that I couldn’t look at because I was too busy driving.  “Look at the dandelions!” she would say with excitement, not realizing I was too busy keeping my eyes on traffic.  She never drove, which we didn’t understand when we were little kids.  An adult who didn’t drive?  How unusual!

We loved spending time with her, shopping at Zellers or going to one of the restaurants she liked such as the Cedar Barn.  She hates this story, but I can’t help but laugh.  She wanted to treat my sister and I to lunch at the Cedar Barn, but when it came time to pay, they didn’t accept cheques or credit cards.  Cash only.  My sister and I scrounged enough together to pay for the lunch.  It was funny to us at the time.  She didn’t think it was funny, but I still smile.  Sounds like a scene from a movie!  Grandma invites the kids out to lunch, but then realizes she can’t pay!  I think it’s pretty funny.

Speaking of scenes from movies, in 1998 we all went to the theater as a family:  my mom, my aunt, my grandma and my sister.  My mom and sister came with me to see Star Trek: Insurrection.  Grandma and Aunt went to see You’ve Got Mail.  Grandma loved it!  Coming out, she said “I just saw the nicest movie.  It was called There’s Mail Waiting For You!”.  A few years later, she was telling us about another movie she liked called Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?  She had actually seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

Most of all, I’ll always cherish how much she loves a visit.  The longer the better.  Just a visit is all she needs to be happy.  As she got older, she had to sell the cottage.  She could no longer handle the travel.  She sold the cottage to my sister, and every summer I make cottage videos for her to watch.  One time I forgot my laptop.  She noticed right away!  The videos are a highlight of any visit.  But all she needs is a visit.

In the end, she got tired.  Tired of being tired all the time.  She stayed for us, but everyone has their time to go.

I had the best grandma.  I’m a lucky grandson.

Rest In Peace, Ozzy. There will never be another. (John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne, 3 December 1948 – 22 July 2025)

We all knew this day would come.  We just didn’t know it would be today.

Only a couple weeks after his final concert, Ozzy has joined his bandmates in Rock and Roll Heaven.

I really don’t have the words.  You’d think I’d be prepared for this.  I was not.  The biggest loss in metal, ever?

I’ll think of more to say later.

 

Rest in Peace, Ozzy.

I played Bark At the Moon and No Rest for the Wicked on the weekend.  MY albums.  MY Ozzy.

Ozzy – that guy who I thought was “crazy”!  He looked scary to a 12 year old.

Then I saw a picture of him in a cowboy hat.  “He doesn’t look so scary.”

He wasn’t.

Ozzy wasn’t the prince of darkness.  He was the clown prince of metal, and I think he loved it that way.  Joking, pulling faces, making people laugh just as hard as he made them rock.  Ozzy was my companion during the awkward teenage misfit years.  Ozzy was cool without being cool.  He was simply Ozzy.  There was only one.  He couldn’t be replaced in Black Sabbath.  Any time they tried, they embarked on a new journey, because you cannot replace Ozzy Osbourne.

Ozzy had a knack for a melody, and impeccable taste in guitar players.  From Randy Rhoads to Jake E. Lee to Zakk Wylde, he made them famous.

Ozzy’s real talent was as a facilitator of talent.  He brought together drummers, bassists and guitarists.  He formed bands that we still talk about today, from the original Blizzard of Ozz to the Wylde/Butler/Castillo lineup that is my personal favourite.  His knack for bringing people together, both in bands and in audiences was unparalleled.

There will NEVER be another Ozzy.  Only pretenders to the throne.

Rest in peace.

Rest in peace, Tommy Morais (1991-2024)

I was sad to learn this week that one of my earliest collaborators, Tommy Morais, passed away last year.  He was only 32.

I first met Tommy when he was just 18.  It was around the time of the release of the “new” KISS album Sonic Boom.  I was writing a complete set of Kiss reviews on Amazon to celebrate.  As it turns out, Tommy was also writing reviews for every Kiss album, and lots more that I was working on too.  I jealously read his writing.  He was good.

Eventually I decided to reach out to Tommy via email, and tell him how great his reviews were.  We became friends.  We didn’t agree on every Kiss album.  Tommy liked Animalize a lot more than I did!  He had the rock star hair and a glam image.  Tommy was no-holds-barred when it came to the music he loved.  He identified with the Kiss song “Freak”:

I’ve got streaks in my hairPeople point at me and stareIf they ask me I say: Yeah! I’m a freakAnd I love the clothes I wearLet them laugh ’cause I don’t careIt’s my cross, I’m proud to bearI’m a freak

Tommy was based out of New Brunswick and eventually moved to Ontario.  Meanwhile, I transitioned my writing from Amazon to WordPress.  Tommy was an eager reader, and was responsible for a couple Record Store Tales and several reviews.  Tommy wanted more Kiss!  So I wrote Part 26 and Part 27 of Record Store Tales by his request.  Tommy also contributed several of his own reviews to this site!  For me, Tommy wrote reviews of:

As you can see for yourself, Tommy was a wise rock fan beyond his years.  Every artist he reviewed for me really peaked long before he was even born.

I never met Tommy even though he was only a short distance away, relatively speaking.  We lost touch shortly after the Europe review.  I was really saddened to hear of his passing.

Gone way, way too soon.  Rest in peace Tommy.  Here’s some Kiss for ya.  I hope you’re rocking up there with Eric Carr.  You were an original.

Rest in Peace, genius: Brian Wilson (1942-2025)

Brian Douglas Wilson was 82 years old.  As sure as Beethoven and Bach were geniuses, so was Brian.  Born, raised and embodying California, Brian Wilson and his music was entwined with my life from an early age.

When I was a kid, riding in the passenger side next to my Uncle Paul, he would always pop a Beach Boys tape into his deck.  “Little Deuce Coupe” was a favourite.  He loved that early Beach Boys; the surf rock.  My mom grew up on that music too, but it was Uncle Paul who played it the most.

My wife Jen and her dad David always loved the Beach Boys.  She danced to “Surfer Girl” with him at our wedding.

Last summer, my dad and I watched a Brian Wilson documentary on TV.  We were both spellbound both by the man and his music.  My dad told me that my grandfather considered moving to California in the 1950s.  Imagine how different things would have been.  I’d never have been born.

Brian was a visionary composer, perhaps to his own detriment.  He was able to see forward, beyond what the producers of the time told him was possible or commercial.  He stretched his boundaries in composition and production, creating layers of music previously unimagined.  Unable to achieve his fullest visions at the time, the Smile album (1966) was shelved and Brian spiraled with depression and substances.  He became the butt of jokes, which was tragic.  It was good to see him return to making music before it was too late.

Rest in peace, you genius.

VIDEO: Dr Kathryn Ladano wins 2025 K-W Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year – Arts & Culture

Please join me in congratulating “visionary bass clarinetist” Dr. Kathryn Ladano on her recent win of the 2025 K-W Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year, in the category of Arts & Culture.  Dr. Kathryn, a professional musician and former teacher, suffered a devastating concussion that required five years (and counting) of therapy to function again, and the fight is still not over.

Hear all about it in her acceptance speech below.  It’s not just about her.

They even pronounced our last name right.  You can feel the emotion in the room.

No Show Tonight, Grant’s On A Cruise… and there’s bad news

No Contrarians Live tonight, as host Grant Arthur is on an 80’s themed rock cruise…

…Which has been tragic.

A few days ago, Grant posted that somebody went overboard, but he didn’t know anything more.  It turns out the person who went over, died tragically.  It was Kimberly Burch, fiance of Faster Pussycat frontman Taime Downe.

We send our prayers to Taime and Kimberly’s families in these dark times.

 

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Minimalist cover art
  2. Brown album covers
  3. Yellow album covers
  4. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  5. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  6. This Album Cover is Hell!
  7. Toys & Games
  8. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  9. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  10. They Swapped Covers!
  11. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  12. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  13. It’s A Piece of Art!
  14. Compilation Kaos!
  15. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  16. Amped Up!

 

 

Rest In Peace, John Sykes (1959-2025)

Like many, I first became awestruck by John Sykes via Whitesnake.  The year was 1987, and Much had just started playing Whitesnake stuff in heavy rotation.  While I heard Sykes on all the big 1987 hits, I saw Sykes in the music video for “Slow An’ Easy”.  The guy had it all!  Long flowing blonde curly locks, shirt open, a slide guitar (which I loved), a really cool studded guitar strap, and a way to play a riff.  To paraphrase a movie, I began watching his career with great interest.

I got some Whitesnake.  I got some Tygers of Pan Tang.  I bought the Blue Murder.  And then I discovered Thin Lizzy.  While it’s no secret that I’m not much of a Blue Murder fan (though I loved the idea on paper), I really dug John’s work with Thin Lizzy.

“Cold Sweat” was the name of the track, and I squealed in delight when John’s guitar squealed in the riff!  Even better was a song called “Bad Habits”.  This one merged the old-tyme style of Jailbreak with the production and guitar shred of 1982.

Though he hadn’t released any new music in a spell…we’re all going to miss John Sykes.

Rest in Peace.  F cancer.

Please help out Derek Kortepeter and his family recover from the fires in California

Derek Kortepeter is a talented musician from California, and long-time friend and reader of this site.  I have reviewed his albums numerous times, and he has collaborated with me in a writing capacity as well.  Sadly, now Derek needs help.

As you know, California is being wracked by uncontrolled wildfires.  Derek and his family have lost their home and almost all their possessions.  Like many in California, he is now staying on safe group but the damage done will last a lifetime.

Please read Derek’s family’s story and consider giving something, anything at all.

gofund.me/c36396a2

Rest in Peace Paul Di’Anno (1958 – 2024)

Paul Di’Anno was one of the first singers I knew and loved. He’s running free now, with Clive Burr, and no longer in pain.

Paul has clearly not been in good physical shape lately. Once walking with a cane, Paul had been in a wheelchair for some time now. Paul has now lost his wheels, and is free to fly.

When Iron Maiden released their debut album in 1980, they were building on five years of battles in the clubs, building their repertoire and their reputation. Much of it had to do with Paul Di’Anno, the short(er) haired lead singer with the punk rock attitude. His sneer was embedded in those first two Maiden albums, both legendary.  Replacing him seemed impossible at the time!

I can’t believe we have to do this, but on Friday we will be paying tribute to Paul on Grab A Stack of Rock.

This sucks!