Frehley's Comet

Before forming a band for his post-Kiss career, Frehley released a self-titled solo album in 1978. The album was the most commercially successful of the four solo albums released by Kiss members that year and provided a basis for Frehley's subsequent solo career. Frehley left Kiss in 1982 while retaining a one-quarter share in the band. He was unable to release further solo projects until 1985 without forfeiting that share.

Frehley assembled a band for his solo work, initially consisting of guitarist Richie Scarlet, bassist John Regan, keyboardist Arthur Stead and drummer Anton Fig, who had previously performed with Kiss and Spider. The lineup performed live for the first time on November 30, 1984, and recorded demos of 20 songs during sessions with producers Eddie Kramer, Tony Bongiovi, Chris Kimsey and Vini Poncia.

In May 1985, Rob Sabino, a friend of Frehley's from the Bronx who had produced one of Scarlet's solo albums in 1984, replaced Stead as keyboardist. Stead subsequently joined Public Enemy. British record label Bronze Records reportedly offered the band a recording contract during the summer of 1985 but withdrew the offer before the label ceased operations in early 1986.

In November 1986, Frehley signed a six-album contract with Megaforce Records. Sabino and Regan had left the band by this point, although Regan returned after touring with John Waite and Patti Smith. In December 1986, before recording began with producer Eddie Kramer, Scarlet was replaced by former Cheap Trick member Tod Howarth, who performed on guitar and keyboards.

Frehley's Comet was initially intended as the title of Frehley's next solo album. Frehley subsequently decided to use the title as the name of the band rather than release the album as a solo project. Fig did not tour in support of the album and was replaced by Billy Ward as touring drummer. Before the release of the second album, "Second Sighting", Ward was replaced by Jamie Oldaker, a former member of Eric Clapton's band. Oldaker first performed with the group on September 22, 1987, and subsequently toured with the band.

Two studio albums and one live release were issued under the Frehley's Comet name. The live release, "Live+1", contained four live recordings and one previously unreleased studio song. The band's final performance under the Frehley's Comet name took place in August 1988, when the group opened for Iron Maiden. Howarth and Oldaker left the band later that year.

For his third studio album, "Trouble Walkin'", released in 1989 and produced by Eddie Kramer, Frehley abandoned the Frehley's Comet name and released the album as a solo work. The change was partly attributed to concert promoters referring to the group as "Ace Frehley's Comet". Howarth was replaced by returning guitarist Richie Scarlet, while Oldaker was replaced by former Riot drummer Sandy Slavin. Anton Fig and former Kiss drummer Peter Criss also contributed percussion to the album. Frehley later stated that he had offered then-Kiss drummer Eric Carr the opportunity to appear on one of the album's songs, but that Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons persuaded Carr not to participate. The album featured guest vocalists including Criss and Sebastian Bach.

The tour in support of "Trouble Walkin'" ended after bassist John Regan resigned following a performance in Las Vegas on April 11, 1990. Frehley subsequently ceased performing live until July 1992.

Frehley put his solo career on hold when he rejoined Kiss in 1996. He later resumed his solo career with Richie Scarlet again serving as a member of his touring band. Following a 2018 Australian tour with Gene Simmons and his solo band, Frehley dismissed his solo band, including Scarlet, and replaced the musicians with members of Simmons' backing band.

Richie Scarlet toured with Frehley's Vomit in 2013. In 2014, Regan and Howarth formed the band Four By Fate. Frehley, Howarth, Regan and Fig performed together at several one-off reunion shows in 2017 and 2018. Return of the Comet, described as a semi-tribute band, was formed by members in 2018.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frehley%27s_Comet

Studio albums

Frehley's Comet (1987)

Second Sighting (1988)