FT: How was the overall response to your first solo album 'Silhouette' ??
TH: : Most of the Comet fans loved it, it was the old style, and it was the first release from me since (my departure) the break-up of the Comet.

FT: Any regrets on sound change? Any plans to revert to a more FC or AOR style ?
TH: Naw, no regrets really, I mean I can't stay in the same musical vein forever, no growth, means no new fans. The only way I could revert back to the Comet style would be if I was to do another "Comet" record,....some how I'm not too sure on the chance of that happening. AOR? Who knows at this point, I'm not even sure I do.

FT: when we last spoke almost 5 years ago you said this album was already in the works. Why did it take so long to get 'West of 8' done and out? What else have you been doing in the time between? what is the time frame of these new songs?
TH: (I'm not sure I understand this question, but I'll straighten it out) When we last spoke, five years ago, I was working on the second solo CD "Cobalt Parlor", later released in early 1997. I put a band together in 1998 to support this album and to record a follow up, which would turn out to be "West Of Eight". The band became disenchanted with the demise of "Shock" records, and a few band member "personal" problems sprang up, so I dissolved the project, re-recorded the bass guitar tracks and backing vocals and released the CD myself, again.

The group however did get back together again to do one show here in San Diego, California, a year after, warming up for Cheap Trick - July 2nd. The show went great and we video taped it, but there is no band really at this point. I'm doing some serious thinking about my "musical" future at this point, and may be experimenting with some direction and style change. {INTERVIEWER'S NOTE - Yes I am a bonehead here, and unaware of Cobalt Parlor! Sorry for screwing up the question. Thanks to Tod for straightening it out! :-)) }

FT: Sorry about this question, duh ! I wasn't aware of this album, so errr.. Can you give me any more details or comments on it ?
TH: The "Cobalt Parlor" CD is the effort after "Silhouette" It's dark, moody, my best lyrics ever I think, and it's all me once again, but this time I'm playing real drums! Kick ass! Released 1997.

FT: Is it still obtainable in shops or on-line ?
TH: Just on line through my website.

FT: On Silhouette you played everything, and you've used a drummer and an additional guitarist on certain tracks [Jamie Eden]. What prompted you to use more players? and what can you tell me about these 2 guys on West of Eight ?
TH: The West of Eight CD started out as a "band" CD. However when there was balance upset with the bass player, (he was fired after trying to work out some conflicts) and the rest of the band decided to give the whole thing a rest. The drum "tracks" were already recorded along with most of the other guitar player's tracks but with the then unfriendly split between me and the bassist, I had to re-record all the bass tracks, and re-sing all the backing vocals, so as to not have any later legal ramifications.

The deal was if you left or were fired from the band, that was it, you received nothing from future success. The other two players, James Eden and Dave Aaron, are great newer musicians without the resume that perhaps one would expect.

FT: The lyrics on this album are more story based as opposed to relationship based. What can you tell me about the lyrical inspirations for this album, and in particular tracks such as West Of 8, Carl & Edna, They Blow, Painting Spiders, Period Piece, and Evil Clown Song.
TH: WEST OF EIGHT.....This tune is just about San Diego. How I really love it here despite all my travels (maybe the south of France) I embellished on it in a manner where, maybe "There's no place like home".....a little wizard of Oz thing. The "coastal" saying here in SD is, there's no life east of 5 (Highway 5 running north and south), I just took that remark and turned it around to West of Eight (the freeway running east and west) wherein at the end of eight is the beach.......The Beach, a place I enjoy as do many others here!

CARL AND EDNA.......About my maternal grandparents. I loved them both very much, especially Carl. He took care of me a lot when I was young. Towards the end of his life though he became increasingly bitter, and had a bit of a falling out with my mom which they never resolved, very sad through my eyes.

THEY BLOW....It's about people who gossip, how it sucks, and just what they may get out of it - wrecking someone else's lives.

PAINTING SPIDERS.....Is just that. I was working on my late step grandmother's house, helping her out. While painting the trim I was constantly confronted by little spiders trying to defend their "Territory". After trying to dodge and ignore them I finally gave up. Although admiring their drive I just painted them right into the finish, and while doing this, I thought about my plight in life, the music career ups and downs, always trying to protect what I want.......it seemed very much a parallel to me.

PERIOD PIECE....This tune's about Kurt Cobain and the initial grunge thing. And while I grew to really like his (and others) music, I wasn't wild about his "final exit"...and then had my doubts about how and who did him in......can you say Courtney??...just a thought.

EVIL CLOWN SONG........My favorite stuff here,...Scary things that I read about,..Stephen King and such. Clowns are horrifying of course, if you really think about it, and I wrote this song long before I even heard that KISS had "Psycho Circus" coming out,...man, talk about a coincidence

FT: This album has a lot of music on it, 16 tracks. Why did you stick on so many ? Was there a lot to choose from ?
TH: There's only really 13 tracks on it, three were just short things. There wasn't that many songs to choose from, it's just with the end of the band, I thought it fitting to finally put them all on anyway. The proverbial slamming of this particular band door. PLUS I really thought that the fans would enjoy more tunes!

FT: This album is more groove oriented, and is definitely heavier. What sort of things have influenced the heavier sound and direction of this album ? Was there a conscience effort to get away from the FC feel of the first album ? And why did you decide to use less keyboards ?
TH: Influences came from the music that I started to really enjoy in the early nineties,...Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden.... I got away from the Comet style because I honestly thought that there might not be a future in it for me. I felt that I had probably better start sounding more up to date, (which is now out of date) and plus I always felt and knew that I had a heavy side that wasn't getting out to people just yet. The keyboards, I save for certain parts in my rock songs, now in the adult contemporary stuff that I also write, there's way more keys!

FT: What's this? Recordings or hobby ?
TH: Recordings, I'm working on non-rock stuff right now, I may side track just to see what I can offer in this "arena".

FT: what are your personal faves from the new album? anything that you'd push as a single or to radio?
TH: ''Misgivings" hands down, and "Period Piece"..."Evil Clown Song".

FT: As with Silhouette, are you taking care of all the packing and distributing or are you involved with any labels?
TH: Yes most of it for this CD, with the exception of Perris Records doing some distribution. The other CD, "Cobalt Parlor" I had a small record deal that fell through all too quickly.

FT: What sort of plans do you have for this project? any tours ? Follow ups ? Appearances ?
TH: No major plans, it's very hard to get out and tour, very hard and expensive. I may end up doing some KISS conventions again and play solo, acoustic, but not plans involving this CD at this point.

FT: How has the response been so far from the media, Frehley Comet and Cheap Trick fans?
TH: Real good, to "I liked your Comet stuff better"...I expect this, but I'm not sure that I can make a living from either perspective and that is dangerous water in which to tread.

FT: You really like new rock? Do you still listen to any of the classic stuff?
TH: Yes, I really do, at first it was kind of a piss off, but then I got into it, (again not the rap) the power, the freshness, the different places that the new artists went with melodies, and chord change ups,...very cool stuff. No I don't listen to much classic stuff. Maybe Van Halen,.....I really have had enough of classic stuff in my time, over and over and over and over,.....you get the picture, it's my business so I like to hear some refreshing stuff. ACDC is a great band really, but if I had to hear them one more time anywhere....

FT: when we last wrote you mentioned such influences as Steve Marriot, Jeff Beck, Beatles, Badfinger, and Marc Bolan. Could you give me a few other fave singers and songwriters, and perhaps a top 10 list of fave albums from your younger years ? [thanks!]
TH: Younger years?...man it's a wide spectrum there of records, and I say records 'cause that's what it was back then..........There's too many to list and remember but I'll give it a go here:

Beatles '65
Steely Dan/ Pretzel Logic
Aerosmith/Draw the Line
Van Halen/first record
Tommy Bolin/Teaser
Alice Cooper/billion dollar babies
Focus/Moving Waves
The Babies/first record
Robin Trower/Bridge of Sighs
Neil Young/ Harvest
Led Zepplin/ Houses of the holy

Singers?.....I think that I've listed them already, Steve Walsh of Kansas was a big influence, as was Paul McCartney, John Waite..

FT: Heard Steve's new solo disc yet? or the new Kansas? [Got a fave Kansas LP or tunes?]
TH: No but I will!....You know I can't even remember the names of the albums that I liked, but probably the first three....

FT: Have you been in touch with Ace Frehley in recent years? what's your take on the Kiss reunion ? [sorry, I had to ask! :-) ]
TH: No, not really, I think he feels that the Comet is dead, and there's no need in rehashing old musicians that were involved in it. The KISS reunion tour was great in 1996-97,.....but now?....Thanks but no thanks too much for me.

FT: I thought it was a joke all along! Didn't like the Psycho Circus CD either or all the skepticism of who actually played on it...
TH: I've heard a lot of this, and man you know it's probably true (about who really played on it)

FT: What do you see yourself doing in the future ? [ie anyone you'd like to work with ? things you wanna record ? ]
TH: I'm working on many styles of music right now, I may have to start thinking musically "smarter" in the very near future, because for some reason or another, fuckin' time won't stand still!!

FT: What sort of things would you like to try? Do you think it's necessary [in general for most artists] to follow trends and new sounds, or can you get by on your own styles? [if that makes sense!]
TH: Seriously I will probably try to do some more adult contemporary type music, what I call melodramatic haunting stuff,....based on the keys and guitar, but with a wider demographics than perhaps what the rock part of the business will allow. (for slightly older rockers!)

No it isn't necessary for an artist to chase too much of any trend, but one should keep their eyes and ears open to what is happening so as to embellish their own sound that they are currently trying to get across. SOME can get by on their own styles but then they are usually very well established.

FT: Can you give me a wee round-up of your '707' days ? [Info such as the other guys in the band, how the LP[s] were received ? highs and lows ? ]
TH: 707 was the first real recording band that I got in. I was living in Los Angeles at the time (I had already met Gene Simmons) and I auditioned for the band in 1980. Twice.

FT: You auditioned for 707?
TH: Yep, twice, before I got the gig......

Kevin Russell / guitars Lead vocals Jim McClarty / drums backing vocals Phil Bryant / Bass lead vocals Me, Keys/ guitar vocals

Then we went on the biggest tour that I've ever done to date. The REO Speedwagon "Hi-infidelity" Tour,...smallest crowds, 8,000 to the largest 50,000. The band went through a few changes. I replaced the original keyboardist/guitarist (after another musician initially replaced him for six months or so) Then when the band moved to San Francisco, we added another "lead" Singer, Kevin Chalfant around 1981 or '82 I think. A little man with a huge ego and an identify crisis confusing himself with Steve Perry, or so we had been told....

FT: [Ha ha]...is he still around?
TH: I think him and his head are back in Illinois......

... The band recorded an album titled "The Bridge" that went shelved in 1981....... then "Megaforce" for the movie that sucked the biggest ass since "Venom",..or any other piece of shit grade "B" flick! We got screwed on the whole thing really, but that's another long story. The band tried to survive through a few management changes and finally in 1983 the band broke, and very much dis-enchanted, folded. I went on to play with 'ol Ted Nugent in 1984. Kevin Russell and I have been talking lately and thinking about doing another 707 record, but so far it's just talk.

FT: Megaforce was a soundtrack?
TH: No, just the title track for the movie of the same name..

FT: What's he up to these days? How did that song end up on the Frehley's Comet album ?
TH: Kevin Russell's still up in San Francisco area, doing some teaching and playing some blues here and there. "Calling to You/Megaforce" ended up on the first Comet record because when Ace and I were going through my background, he thought it was funny the tune had the same name as his new record company, and then he decided that he liked the song, and wanted to change the lyrics a little bit.......so there it went!

FT: Anything else you wish to add on the new album !?
TH: I'm exhausted!

FT: From music or typing? :-)
TH: BOTH

FT: what's the deal with Stephen King [the song and thanks in the credits] ? Are you an avid fan ? friend ? .
TH: Oh yes, fan big time, I wish I knew him, I could write some great soundtracks for him!!!

FT: what do you do outside of music ? any hobbies, family, etc.. ?
TH: My hobbies are my old big block Corvette, painting acrylic portraits of the same, (hot classic cars) Building RC off road trucks. Snowboarding, and building my own studio! I work out most every day at the gym or home...gotta keep in shape. I'm recently married, (second time) and I have three kids:

Amber-19...Artist/Classic Mustang owner
Tommy-16...Artist/skateboarder
Tara-14...Singer/Sweetheart

Interview written & conducted by Kevin J. Julie Copyright - KJJ