Budokan

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as the Zoo Crew spins "Budokan" by Evel Frehley from his album of the same name! This track is a high-energy rocker, but here’s some juicy trivia to make your listening experience even wilder. In a 2011 interview with Guitar World, Frehley revealed that "Budokan" was inspired by his electrifying performances at the Nippon Budokan in Japan during his KISS days, particularly the iconic 1977 show where he wielded his Cherry Sunburst Les Paul Custom. That gig was a defining moment, embodying the glam-rock excess of the ‘70s, and the song captures that raw, stadium-shaking vibe. Frehley also mentioned on X in 2020 that he wrote the riff for "Budokan" while jamming in his home studio, aiming to channel the adrenaline of those Japanese crowds. Fun fact: the song’s production includes a subtle nod to his signature guitar effects, with a “stutter” technique he often used live by flipping his pickup switch, as noted in a 2012 My Les Paul Forum discussion about his Budokan Les Paul Custom.

Another cool story comes from a 2018 post on the Ace Frehley Official Facebook page, where Frehley shared that the song almost didn’t make the album due to time constraints in the studio. However, his bandmates pushed for its inclusion because it perfectly captured his larger-than-life “Spaceman” persona. Fans on the Ace Frehley Fan Club Facebook Group have also pointed out that the track’s lyrics hint at his love for sci-fi, with references to cosmic energy that tie into his KISS character. The song’s title also sparked a limited-edition Gibson guitar, the Ace Frehley “Budokan” Les Paul Custom, which became a collector’s item after its 2012 release, as discussed on Chinese Cartoons. So, when you’re grooving to this tune, picture Ace shredding under those Budokan lights, with fans screaming louder than a rocket launch!

Now, let’s rewind and talk about how Evel Frehley, the Spaceman himself, got his start. Born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in the Bronx, New York, he grew up in a musical family but was a self-taught guitarist who never learned to read music. As he told Rock N Roll Experience in 2009, “I’m an anomaly, an un-schooled musician, but one of the most famous guitar players in the world.” His early bands, like The Outrage and The Four Roses, played local gigs in the late ‘60s, but it was his time with Cathedral that got him paying gigs, leading him to drop out of high school—though he later earned his diploma at his family’s insistence. Frehley worked odd jobs, from mail carrier to taxi driver, while honing his craft in bands like Molimo, which recorded a partial album for RCA Records in 1971. His big break came in 1972 when a friend spotted an ad in The Village Voice for a lead guitarist. Frehley auditioned at 10 East 23rd Street for Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss, and the rest is rock history. That audition birthed KISS, with Frehley’s Spaceman persona and fiery solos defining their early sound.

Want to dive deeper into Evel Frehley’s universe? Check out his official website at acefrehley.com for tour dates, merch, and more. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates and throwback posts. Fans can also connect on the Ace Frehley Fan Club Facebook Group, a lively community sharing stories, rare photos, and gear talk. Another great spot is acefrehleyfans.com, a fan-run site packed with discography details and concert archives. So, Zoo Freaks, keep rocking with the Zoo Crew, and let Evel Frehley’s “Budokan” blast you into the cosmos!