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Tod Howarth
today |
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Can you tell us a little about your roots,
who are you, how old are you, where you come from and some information about
your family.
Tod Howarth:
Well let's see, my 'musical' roots started from "The
Beatles". All the music that I liked had to have
great melodies and harmonies. Then I eventually got into heavier music,
blues based, like "The Babys",
"Humble Pie", etc.
Eventually I also got into progressive rock, "Kansas",
"Styx",
"Yes". Then real heavy
stuff, alternative even. But never into speed metal or thrash or punk...that
never appealed to me.
I will be 48 years old this September, yes I'm
that old. I ride my mountain bike about 32 miles a week and do the gym four
days a week as well to keep in shape (an old stage habit now). I ride my
high performance quadrunner at the sand dunes here in the states, I
snowboard, wakeboard, and skii on both water and snow as well.
I am from San Diego California, I've moved to
Los angeles, San Francisco, and spent lots of time in Michigan, Illinois,
and of course New York. I now reside in San Diego (again). I've been married
twice, (currently happy in this second marriage) I have three children,
Amber 24, Tommy 20, and Tara,19. My parents are still alive and doing well -
they were 19 and 21 years old when I was born. Amber likes to draw and has
some artistic talent. Tommy is VERY good at drawing and may pursue a career
at it. Tara can sing and does a little backup on my "Winter"
CD - I hope to have her do some more in the near future.
Tod Howarth is
your real name?
Tod Howarth:
Yes.
Where you was music educaited?
Tod Howarth:
I had some piano lessons at an early age but then taught myself more without
the ad of a teacher. I then taught myself basic drums, guitar, and bass
guitar.
Can you tell us the name of your very first
bands you play?
Tod Howarth:
The first real band was "Coco Blue",
a local top-forty band as they were called back then. "Dartanyan"
was the next, then "May Blix".
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Tod Howarth
in Frehley's Comet |
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When you meet Ace Frehley for very the
first time?
Tod Howarth:
In the winter of 1986 in New York at SIR a rehearsal studio.
What happens he invaite you to play in
Frehley's Comet?
Tod Howarth:
Well I was very happy and I knew that it would be fun and a lot of hard work.
Ace and I got along great and we worked hard to get the Comet going in early
1987.
Don't you know who gave the name to the
band "Frehley's Comet"?
Tod Howarth:
I don't really know who coined the name, Ace perhaps or another earlier band
mate before I joined the final lineup. Good question!
Frehley's Comet personally for you was
serious project or "just for fun"?
Tod Howarth:
Very serious. This is a business, the music is fun, the writing, performing,
and women (were) the great part of it but still you had to watch the
business dealings. I took it very seriously.
Do you agree that Frehley's Comet had big
potential, but the band was't realized?
Tod Howarth:
Yes very much so. The record label didn't take the second effort serious
because the first one didn't go platinum I figure. We had so much to offer
in the future but the business side wanted fast, fabricated crap and we
didn't do that. Plus Alternative rock was coming in and kicking ass - we had
no real chance at that point.
When you released second album with
Frehley's Comet, named Second Sighting, you start in press about more
pop-music, but it wasn't really pop?
Tod Howarth:
No I didn't think that it was 'pop' but it wasn't really Kiss style anthem
music either - that's what most of the fans wanted from Ace now that I look
back on it. I wanted up to expand from the anthem stuff and actually go
heavier contrary to many critics and fans beliefs.
What are you working on right now?
Tod Howarth:
More solo stuff. I'm doing an acoustical Cd that will have some Comet
material on it and my earlier solo stuff along with some new songs from me.
Then I'll do another HEAVY CD. I'm also waiting on an offer from a big band
that contacted me about helping them out the same way I did for Cheap Trick,
backing vocals and keys.
Your solo album named Silhuette is really
my favourite and it sounds close to your songs on Frehley's Comet albums.
Tod Howarth:
Thank you, yes "Silhouette"
was closer to the style of the Comet and some of those songs were intended
for the Comet, but that style was quickly coing to a halt by, as I've said
before, alternative. Which I came to like very much even though it pretty
much killed my career.
When I see Into the night video I feel the
magic of the band... the New York, the night... this is great video. Can you
tell us something about videoshooting for this video. How long it takes,
where this is happens and who is this girl apperience in the video with Ace?
Tod Howarth:
That was a fun video and actually it was filmed in San Francisco in the
middle of the night (it took two nights really) It was kind of cool evenings
there, and the homeless hung around out of curiosity. The girl with Ace was
just an actress, although a pretty one! Ace tried to put the move on her but
failed!
Can you tell us some funny story from
Frehley's Comet days?
Tod Howarth:
Ace and I went to a restaurant one night and he got up to use the head. when
he came back he sat at the table and then flopped a live lobster on the
table that he'd picked out of the tank there. Man did he laugh about that
one. Ace and I used to joke about things while on stage during leads, laugh
at people that we knew on the side of the stage, and dress really weird at
truck stops while on tour.
Why you leave Frehley's Comet in 2 words?
Tod Howarth:
2 words?? well...'We're broke'
Are you in contact with Ace Frehley now,
are still are friends?
Tod Howarth:
I have not toalked to Ace in years. I saw him at a
KISS convention that I attended just before he re-joined KISS and then again
while he was on tour with KISS when I went back stage. We're friendly when
we talk but I think that he has some hurt feelings about things other people
may have told him that were not true... I'm not
really sure.
Do you read Into The Void book, what you
think about it?
Tod Howarth:
No I did not read it... sorry.
Who was lead singer in Frehley's Comet, you
or Ace Frehley?
Tod Howarth:
Both of us, Ace sang more on the first record and then we split the duties
on the next one. He knew that he wasn't really a singer but the fans wanted
to hear him.
Which bands you play after you leaving
Frehley's Comet?
Tod Howarth:
I went back to play with "Cheap Trick but right
after the Comet I played with some local bands that I formed, 'Hardware'
'Wetcamp'
Do you like KISS
and what is your favourite albums and why?
Tod Howarth:
No I never was a KISS fan. I thought that they were brilliant in the
marketing department and that their idea with the themes and costumes wer
fantastic but I was not really a fan of the music. Some tunes really rock
though. No, I don't have a favorite album really...
weird huh?
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Tod Howarth on stage
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Please write your complete discography like
solo artist?
Tod Howarth:
1."Sihouette", 2."Cobalt
Parlor", 3."West Of
Eight", 4."Winter"
Do you know something about Richie Scarlett,
where he is?
Tod Howarth:
I know little about Richie but he was always a nice guy to me. He's a great
guitar player but not the greatist singer. He did write a few grea tunes one
of which he co-wrote with the late Eric Carr, "Breakout".
I do not know where he is today.
When you last time playing live and what is
the show it was?
Tod Howarth:
A live benefit acoustic concert for the American
veterans, in fact I'm doing another one tonight here in San Diego. The last
big show was with Cheap Trick and then some shows with my last band
"West of Eight".
What on your plans right now?
Tod Howarth:
To keep recording and writing and performing heavy rock and easier tunes for
the 'maturing' fans...hah!
Can you tell us about Return Of The Comet
record session. Who invaite you for this project and how it was?
Tod Howarth:
That was an idea from John Regan, and John got me invovled in it along with
Doug Snazzle.
Do you know some russians?
Tod Howarth:
Yes, the guy who cuts my wife's hair, and mine is Russian (he's straight hah!)
and deep sea fishes and gives us some great smoked tuna. Another BIG guy is
a mechanic friend of me and my fathers. And then I have a few fans that
write to me.
Why Frehley's Comet never comes to Russia?
Tod Howarth:
We only got to tour for about a year. I'm sure that had we continued on we
would have come to Russia - I would have loved it.
Some fans say you
was in shadow of Ace Frehley in Frehley's Comet, is it true?
Tod Howarth:
If I'm to understand the question, Ace was the popular star of the band
because of KISS. I had no problem with that, but I also knew that I was a
better singer/songwriter. Ace was a the guitar hero who plays a great guitar,
where I was more of a stylist in my playing and leads.
Can you name your favourite song from
Frehley's Comet?
Tod Howarth:
"Something Moved" but I guess I'm biased!
How usually takes recording sessions Comet
days? And Ace Frehley is late as he did in Kiss?
Tod Howarth:
To record a record would take about a month and a half. 'Takes' could happen
in mintues of days depending on the mood and flow of the day and performer.
I don't know about ace in KISS.
Why don't you put a book about music,
personal carreer and Ace Frehley?
Tod Howarth:
That is happening right now - but it's just taking so long to do with all
the other projects!
Your third solo-album West Of Eight
released in 2000, any plans for releasing new solo record?
Tod Howarth:
Yes! I'm working on it!
I have your first solo album Silhouette
released in 1995 and I think it's great record. Some tunes remaind me
Frehley's Comet music.
Tod Howarth:
As I said, it was supposed to be a continuation of the Comet - sort of -
thank you so much for the compliment!
Can you tell me exactly the dates you was
in Frehley's Comet band and you left it?
Tod Howarth:
December 1986 to the summer of 1988 - a sad month.
First Ace's band called Frehley's Comet,
then band called Ace Frehley Band. On your web-site you name the band as
Comet, so which name is real and right?
Tod Howarth:
When I was in the band it was called 'Frehley's Comet' when I left and John
Regan was on the way out as well, it became the Ace
Frehley Band to show that Ace was in fact, in control of this part of the
band. Rightly so.
Your "The Live Video" was released on VHS
format, do you have any plans to release it in DVD format?
Tod Howarth:
I have no control of that decision. If the demand rises then it will happen
but it's up to the record company. If Ace was to
die for some reason or another you can bet your ass they'd put one out!
Which solo-record from you is most
successfull solo-record?
Tod Howarth: "Cobalt
Parlor"
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Tod Howarth message |
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I read on your web-site that you may be
putting one more heavy rock band together if you can find some great local
players, so is it happens?
Tod Howarth:
That is in the plans for later this year if I don't go back out on tour with
a bigger band.
I must say you have great voice, some songs
really strong and powerfull, I'd like to sighn them. Is it possible to find
lyrics for all of your solo-albums?
Tod Howarth:
Thank you! I'd have to e-mail you the lyrics to most of my solo tunes as
they are hard to find except on the hard to find CD's.
Your last words to russian KISS
fans, Comet fans and your fans...
Tod Howarth:
I really want to thank all of you for the KISS support ( and Love ) and then
to the Ace/KISS fans who followed us for as long as we went. You are a very
special type of fan and few musicians are lucky enough to have you all. Good
luck to Russia and the potential in your country that is rich and beautiful
in history. I attended the Russian jewel tour that came here in the States......fantastic.
LOVE YA' can't wait to get the opportunity to
see you all, play and sing my heart out for you! I look forward to the day
that I can get over to your country. |
