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Cold Gin
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| "Cold Gin" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Kiss | |
| from the album Kiss | |
| Released | February 18, 1974 |
| Recorded | November 1973 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:22 |
| Label | Casablanca |
| Songwriter | Ace Frehley |
| Producers | Kenny Kerner, Richie Wise |
| Kiss track listing | |
10 tracks
| |
"Cold Gin" is a song by American rock band Kiss, written by the band's lead guitarist Ace Frehley and released in 1974 on their eponymous debut album. The song has appeared on many Kiss live and compilation albums. Live versions of the song were often extended for about two minutes due to Frehley's soloing.
Guitar World listed "Cold Gin" as No. 7 on their list of greatest drinking songs.[2] The track is No. 14 on Liquor.com's list of top 15 drinking songs[3] and ranked No. 32 of the 50 best drinking songs on TimeOut.com.[4]
Background
[edit]"Cold Gin" is about a person suffering from poverty, loneliness, and alcoholism. However, the song's meaning is widely misinterpreted to be about a struggling couple who uses alcohol to cope with a toxic relationship or about how cold gin affects the male sex drive, but thorough lyrical analysis shows this is not the case.[5] Ace Frehley confirms what the song is about in his 2011 book No Regrets.[6]
Frehley said he wrote the song while he was on the subway.[7] According to Frehley, the riff for the song was inspired by the song "Fire and Water" by English rock group Free.[8] Gene Simmons actually wrote the bridge, according to Frehley, though Simmons turned down a writing credit: "Back then, it was definitely more of a brotherhood. It didn't matter who got credit, the only thing that mattered was if the song was good".[9] The song was recorded in 1973 and was one of two songs from the band's debut album written by Frehley, the other being the album's instrumental, "Love Theme from KISS", which was written by the whole band. Although "Cold Gin" was never released as a single, it has remained a concert staple during the years.
The studio version differs significantly from the demo version. In the demo, after the solo, Paul Stanley shouts "Whoa! Alright! C'mon!", but in the studio version, he shouts "Whoa yeah!". The second guitar solo was also cut and the outro was shortened.[10][11]
As Frehley was insecure about his singing ability, Simmons, despite being a teetotaler, sang the song on the original studio version and in most live versions, although Frehley sang parts of the song during the Alive/Worldwide Tour;[12] Frehley also sang the lead when performing "Cold Gin" with his solo band.
Live performances
[edit]"Cold Gin" soon became a fan favorite, with the band performing it on subsequent tours (the song was also featured on Kiss's breakthrough album Alive!) but it would be dropped for the Love Gun Tour and the band did not play the song for three years, until the Unmasked Tour. The band once again dropped the song from the setlist for the Aerosmith/Kiss co-headlined Rocksimus Maximus Tour/World Domination Tour but returned it for the Kiss Alive/35 World Tour.
Frehley performed "Cold Gin" during his solo tours, along with other Kiss songs.
Appearances
[edit]"Cold Gin" appeared on the following Kiss releases:
- Kiss - original studio version
- Alive! - live version of the song
- The Originals - studio version
- Double Platinum - studio version
- Killers - studio version
- Greatest Kiss - studio version
- The Box Set - Alive! version
- Gold - Alive! version
- Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums - studio version
- Kiss Alive! 1975–2000 - Alive! version - song was mistakenly credited to Stanley instead of Frehley
- Kiss Alive 35 - live version
- Ikons - studio version
- Kiss Sonic Boom Over Europe - live version
Covers
[edit]- Chyme-Dyne's version appeared on the band's 1985 album Bad Luck With Fast Food[13]
- Death Angel covered the song on their 1988 album Frolic Through the Park.
- Pantera and Skid Row performed the song together live while the bands were on tour in 1992. The performance was taped and later included on Pantera's 2000 home video 3 Vulgar Videos from Hell. At one concert, Frehley appeared as a special guest.
- A version by L.A. Guns appeared on 1997 compilation album Return of the Comet (A Tribute to Ace Frehley) and on their 1998 EP Wasted.
- Necro Tonz covered "Cold Gin" on their 1997 album Are You Dead Yet?[13]
- Swedish musician Håkan Hemlin covered the song for the 1997 compilation album KISS Covered in Scandinavia.
- Bernard Edwards Project Homicide covered the song on their 2000 album Bernard Edwards Project Homicide.[13]
- "Cold Gin" was covered by alternative metal group Disturbed at a one-time tribute show to Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott on February 23, 2005. It was known to be the guitarist's favorite song. The live performance included members of Drowning Pool and Anthrax, and featured David Draiman on vocals and Abbott's brother Vinnie Paul on drums.[14]
- Shotgun Sacred's version appeared on the band's 2005 EP A Dark New Order.[13]
- Swiss thrash metal band Gurd covered the song on their 2009 album Your Drug of Choice.[13]
- Finnish melodic death metal band Kalmah covered the song as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of their 2013 album Seventh Swamphony.
- White Light Cemetery covered the song on their 2013 self-titled debut album, with Kirk Windstein of Crowbar providing vocals.
- Ace Frehley plays a cover version of the song on his solo album Origins, Vol. 1, with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam on guitar.
- Silverchair played the song between 1994 and 1995.
- Warrior Soul recorded a version on their covers album Cocaine And Other Good Stuff, in 2020.
Personnel
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Prato, Greg. "Kiss - Cold Gin song review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
- ^ "Guitar World's top 10 list of greatest drinking songs". February 24, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ "The 15 All-Time Best Drinking Songs". Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ "The 50 Best Drinking Songs". Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ Rogers, William. "Cold Gin | Blogger Bill". Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- ^ Frehley, Ace; Layden, Joe; Ostrosky, John (November 1, 2011). No Regrets. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4516-1396-4.
- ^ Leaf, David; Sharp, Ken (December 14, 2008). KISS: Behind the Mask - Official Authorized Biography. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-0-446-55350-6.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "KFM-BFM Origins: Ace Frehley". YouTube. May 27, 2016.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "KISS Legend Ace Frehley - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? (Part 1)". YouTube. May 15, 2014.
- ^ "Cold Gin demos". YouTube. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
- ^ "Differences between the demo and the studio version of the song". Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
- ^ "Kiss performance of Cold Gin with Ace Frehley singing parts of the song". YouTube. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Cold Gin covers list". Kiss-related-recordings.nl. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
- ^ "Chicago Tribune: Chicago news, sports, weather, entertainment". Chicago Tribune. February 25, 2005.
Cold Gin
View on GrokipediaBackground and Writing
Inspiration and Development
In the early 1970s, Ace Frehley, the lead guitarist of the newly formed rock band Kiss, was grappling with financial hardship and isolation in New York City, which profoundly shaped the creation of "Cold Gin." Living in poverty, Frehley supported himself through menial jobs, including deliveries for a local liquor store, where he frequently brought a bottle of something cheap—not usually gin—to keep warm during chilly band rehearsals in unheated spaces. These experiences highlighted the harsh realities of urban struggle, fostering a sense of loneliness during his daily commutes on the city's subway system.[2] The song's genesis occurred during one such subway ride in early 1973, as Frehley traveled to a Kiss rehearsal. Without a guitar in hand, he conceived the initial melody and riff entirely in his mind, scribbling lyrics and ideas into a spiral notebook he carried. Frehley later recalled the moment vividly: "I wrote 'Cold Gin' in a New York subway, in my head, both lyrics and music. I had a spiral notebook with me." This spontaneous composition captured his immediate surroundings and emotional state, transforming personal desolation into a raw musical expression.[2][8] Thematically, "Cold Gin" rooted itself in alcoholism and escapism as desperate remedies for poverty and the uncertainties of Kiss's nascent career, reflecting Frehley's own battles with substance use amid the band's relentless grind. As Frehley detailed in his 2011 autobiography, the song portrayed a down-and-out individual finding fleeting comfort in drink, mirroring the escapism he observed and experienced in pre-fame New York. Developed amid Kiss's initial club gigs throughout 1973, the track was refined collaboratively, with bassist Gene Simmons contributing the bridge section to enhance its structure. By March 13, 1973, "Cold Gin" was already part of the band's first demo recording at Electric Lady Studios, underscoring its rapid evolution from personal anecdote to group staple.[9]Songwriting Credits
"Cold Gin" is officially credited as a sole composition by Ace Frehley, with the song published by Kiss Songs Inc.[2] However, Gene Simmons provided uncredited contributions to the song's bridge, including both lyrics and melody; in a 2025 interview, Frehley acknowledged this, stating, "Gene never took credit for it, but he wrote the bridge for Cold Gin," and noted that Simmons declined royalties due to the strong sense of brotherhood within the band at the time.[8][2] Producer Richie Wise offered minor input on the song's arrangement during studio sessions, focusing on structural refinements while the band remained open to his suggestions, though he received no writing credit.[10]Recording and Production
Studio Sessions
The recording of "Cold Gin" occurred at Bell Sound Studios in New York City from October to November 1973, as part of the sessions for Kiss's self-titled debut album.[11] This track was among the first completed during the process, alongside early cuts like "Deuce," "Strutter," "Watchin' You," and "Black Diamond."[12] Producers Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise adopted an approach centered on preserving the band's raw energy and live-band feel, opting to record the bulk of the material live in the studio to minimize artificial polish.[13] Kerner later described the sessions as "pretty much recorded live," emphasizing the goal of translating Kiss's high-octane stage presence directly to tape.[13] Key production techniques involved analog tape machines for limited overdubs, such as doubling lead guitarist Ace Frehley's solos to enhance texture without overcomplicating the sound.[13] Frehley's distinctive guitar tone was captured using a Gibson Les Paul routed through Marshall amplifiers, contributing to the song's gritty, hard-rock edge.[13]Personnel
The studio recording of "Cold Gin" featured the core lineup of Kiss, each contributing their standard instruments along with vocal duties as specified for the track.[14]- Ace Frehley (lead guitar): Performed all lead guitar parts, including the iconic opening riff and guitar solo, which he composed during the song's development.[8][14]
- Paul Stanley (rhythm guitar, backing vocals): Provided rhythm guitar throughout and contributed backing vocals to support the lead.[14]
- Gene Simmons (bass guitar, lead vocals): Delivered the lead vocals, as Frehley was initially reluctant to sing due to confidence issues, and played bass lines that anchored the track's hard rock foundation.[2][8][14]
- Peter Criss (drums): Handled all drumming duties, including the steady rock beat, with no vocal contributions on this recording.[14]
Composition
Lyrics
"Cold Gin" follows a straightforward verse-pre-chorus-chorus structure, with two verses, a repeating pre-chorus and chorus, a bridge, and an extended outro that reinforces the central motif. The lyrics explore themes of isolation, financial hardship, and the allure of alcohol as a fleeting escape from despair, portraying a protagonist navigating urban poverty and emotional numbness.[17][18] The song opens with vivid imagery of personal struggle in the first verse: "My heater's broke, and I'm so tired / I need some fuel to build a fire / The girl next door, her lights are out, yeah / The landlord's gone, I'm down and out," evoking a sense of abandonment and cold desolation in a rundown living situation. This sets a tone of loneliness exacerbated by economic woes. The pre-chorus introduces the refrain "It's cold gin time again / You know it'll always win," positioning gin not just as a drink but as an inevitable, victorious companion in hardship. The chorus amplifies this dependency: "Cold gin time again / You know it's the only thing / That keeps us together," suggesting alcohol's role in maintaining a fragile emotional or social cohesion amid isolation.[17][2] The second verse deepens the introspection with lines like "It's a dark, lonely road / That leads me to my home / And my memories have just been sold / My blood runs cold," symbolizing a journey through forgotten pasts and chilling detachment, where "My blood runs cold, my memory has just been sold" captures the erosion of identity under duress. The bridge, added by Gene Simmons, shifts to a more confessional tone: "Sometimes I don't know the way I feel / I need some soul, pyromania," hinting at inner confusion and a craving for passion or ignition beyond mere survival. These elements culminate in the outro's repetitive chants of "Cold gin time again," underscoring the cyclical nature of reliance on the beverage.[17][2] Interpretations of the lyrics often highlight their autobiographical roots for Ace Frehley, who penned the song during his own struggles with alcohol in the early 1970s, reflecting his experiences of urban hardship in New York City. Frehley has described writing it on a subway ride, capturing a narrative of a man turning to gin for warmth and solace in tough times, which mirrored his personal battles with substance use. More broadly, the song serves as a commentary on rock 'n' roll excess, illustrating how musicians and fans alike might seek temporary relief in alcohol amid the industry's grueling demands and emotional tolls.[2][19][18]Full Lyrics with Annotations
Intro(Brief exclamations that build anticipation, setting a raw, energetic tone for the ensuing vulnerability.)[17]
Woo
Alright
Verse 1(Establishes isolation and poverty: broken heater symbolizes literal and figurative coldness, while absent neighbors and landlord emphasize abandonment.)[17]
My heater's broke, and I'm so tired
I need some fuel to build a fire
The girl next door, her lights are out, yeah
The landlord's gone, I'm down and out
Pre-Chorus(Introduces gin as a reliable, almost personified escape that triumphs over despair.)[17]
It's cold gin time again
You know it'll always win
Chorus(Highlights dependency: "us" implies a shared human frailty, with gin as the binding force in solitude.)[17]
Cold gin time again
You know it's the only thing
That keeps us together
Verse 2(Progresses to psychological depth: the "sold" memories evoke loss of self, intensifying the theme of emotional freezing.)[17]
It's a dark, lonely road
That leads me to my home
And my memories have just been sold
My blood runs cold
Pre-Chorus(Repetition reinforces the inescapable cycle.)[17]
It's cold gin time again
You know it'll always win
Chorus(Reiterates the chorus for emphasis, building thematic momentum.)[17]
Cold gin time again
You know it's the only thing
That keeps us together
Bridge(Shifts to confusion and desire for inner fire, contrasting the external cold with a plea for vitality.)[17] (Guitar solo follows, allowing instrumental reflection on the lyrical tension.)
Sometimes I don't know the way I feel
I need some soul, pyromania
Chorus(Extended chorus variation, heightening the song's obsessive quality.)[17]
Cold gin time again
You know it'll always win
Cold gin time again
You know it's the only thing
That keeps us together
Bridge (repeated)(Reprise of bridge, underscoring unresolved turmoil.)[17] (Second guitar solo intensifies the emotional peak.)
Sometimes I don't know the way I feel
I need some soul, pyromania
Outro(Fading repetitions mimic the numbing, perpetual pull of addiction, closing the thematic loop on escape's transience.)[17]
Cold gin time again
Cold gin time again
Cold gin time again
Cold gin time again
Cold gin time again
