Sometimes a kiss will do, but sometimes one-quarter of a faux KISS might be an even better gift. One Delafield musician will spice up your party, wedding or other event by appearing as former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. And, by the way, Brian Schenk gives guitar lessons, too.
"So far I've had one client," Schenk tells me via e-mail, "a hair salon had me show up for their co-worker's birthday. I brought an acoustic guitar and sang her a KISS version of 'Happy Birthday.' It went very well. "
Schenk will stroll downtown Waukesha tonight from 7 to 9 p.m., promoting his services -- the Ace Frehley-gram Service and guitar lessons -- at the city's Friday Night Live event.
Schenk has been playing guitar for nearly three decades and has been teaching for two. He also performs Frehley's parts in two KISS tribute acts: Dynasty and Chicago's Kings Of The Nightime World.
"When I get the money," Schenk says, "I'm going to purchase a battery powered portable amp and do an electric solo with smoking guitar. I do Ace Frehley professionally ... so I have the costumes, etc."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
