Thanks to everyone who has watched! Some pointed out things I got wrong or were questionable, so I created another video to address these. Check it out here! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KCYUBrQOr-8.html
Ace was a MAJOR influence when I started playing guitar. MANY years later, this man is STILL a MAJOR influence. Thanks for the music ACE. Awesome video. Thank You. Subscribed
The 78 solo album or anything after he left KISS? They're all good, but nothing beats his 78 solo album. Paul's was good but not great. And I actually like Peter's album better than Gene's, even though he did have some winners. I guess I like Peter's album better than Gene's is because it's got Jazz influences, and I love Jazz. I'd see Jazz bands on a weekly basis in a local university auditorium before the pandemic happened. Great shows at $25.00 admission fee.
Play along with Ace's record for 1 week. Just jam thrru every track. Every day, for 1 week. The next week you will hear a difference, only for the better. 100% money back guarantee.
Ace is a musician and a human being that I will absolutely love and stand behind for the rest of my life. Time proves everything and everyone, and Ace is still just as much of an enigma to me today as he was when I was a little kid growing up in the 1970's. He's the only original member of KISS that can release a new album and give me the exact same goosebumps today that he and KISS inspired in me so many years ago. One thing that always seems to get overlooked is his voice. I LOVE it when he sings. He's got one of the most sincere and believable vocal tones/styles I've ever heard from ANY singer in any band or solo effort. It's like his hero Hendrix. When Jimi sings, you absolutely, positively, 1,000% believe what he's trying to convey to you, even if it's some celestial, "out there" concept. There's really no act or attempt at imitation in Ace's voice. It is what it is. And it's absolutely GLORIOUS to me, and always will be.
It was pretty awesome to see my childhood hero at Toad's Place (New Haven) last year. I thought the show was great and CT guy, Matt Starr, played drums.
I bought Dressed to Kill the day it released. But 1983 was the last year I followed Kiss. When the original lineup broke up, my interest did too. I still listen to Kiss, but just their first few albums.
@stevelongmusic880 It was a really good video and educational for people that didn't know his impact on music. Thanks for making it .🙏 I've been a Ace Frehley fan forever he is my guitar hero.
This is new for me that Ace does painting. And I like his paintings! But it's questionable, was his father a Duch immigrant? In Dortmund 1996 Paul introduced Ace as German: "Ace's mother, Ace's father came from Deutschland. He is one of you". Thank you for your interesting story😊
Thank you and thanks for watching! Iheart radio's 25 Things You Might Not Know About Birthday Boy Ace Frehley and several other sites list Ace's father as a dutch immigrant, so it sounds like Paul got confused :) But I appreciate the input as I have missed other things. The more we share the more we know :)
@@stevelongmusic880Thank you for the answer. When Paul introduced Ace as German, Ace said willingly:" Hallo, wie geht's?" Why should he, when he was Duch? It would make no sense at all. And it doesn't explain Ace's fascination for Nazi memorabilia. The Netherlands were victim in the First WW and then of the Nazi Invasion in 1940. As Duch descendant, why should he collect Nazi stuff from the historical German enemy? I also read, Duch immigrants BROUGHT Ace's parents with them to the US. However, Ace is from "space". And his music is supranational.
Thank you SO much for what was a factual video I have personal footage from when Ace toured in 2015 on my other hardly ever used RU-vid channel 'william broadstreet'. Tragically at the time I had bought a brand new camera for Ace's gig and the sound quality, especially on a song Ace rarely plays "Toys" is quite bad, but hey I was there. That the band tour with Thayer, a guitar player the number of serious guitarists in the industry that actually 'rate' Thayer I bet would be 0 - it is just tragic Paul's ego and arrogance has destroyed the bond, and the connection with the 'real KISS Army'. How anyone can pay to see a KISS hanger on, former KISS cover band guitar player wearing Ace's make up, and one time Gene's personal assistant in Thayer, who in what can only be described as an act of bastardly Gibson put out a 'Thayer' limited edition Les Paul, well the entire show is a fraud, putting Paul's fraudulent claims he does not use backing vocals when anyone with eyes can see he is a liar but again his ego imo makes Gene's look small. Stanley has always said to the fans "we love you people without you we'd be nothing" - yet HE refuses to entertain giving we fans what we want with one final gig with Ace in the band says to me so much about Stanley as a person, Gene's always been pussy whipped by Paul, but shame on him too. Only a few months ago a music journalist asked Thayer what it was like to be imitating Ace and did Tommee lose it or what - despite Thayer bragging quote "I think the fans accept me" - well sure so many people still insult their own intelligence to pay to see what is a fraud - but deep down Thayer knows not only is he a fraud, he is NOT rated within the industry not is he rated or regarded by his guitar musical peers. Ace still bends like no other, his vibrato sublime - but today, his health and substance use as he openly admits in his autobiography unlike Paul who's NEVER been wrong has taken a toll - but when you go and see Ace live he has nights when he is 'on' - and when he is not 'on'. But hey - I'll pay to see this icon until I am on the other side of the grass. Thanks again - wonderfully informative upload mate.
Just to let you know, just listened to your video and you referenced in 2020 that Ace stated that he had been clean from drugs for 14 years, well just saw him in concert tonight in Marion IL, and he announced that he has been clean for 18 years, which aligns with the 14 years that you heard in 2020, so sounds like he is still moving forward. Also, surprisingly, he closed tonight's concert saying that he encouraged the audience to go home and read their bibles, as soon as I heard him say that my first thought was AA, so again kind of aligns with his sobriety. Again, just wanted to post this as I thought it was interesting based on what you shared on your video. Thank you so much for the information you have shared.
Also Ace did not audition for Wicked Lester wrong again come on man. Wicked Lester had already broken up before this!!!!!! Please research your stuff more.
Hey man, yeah I have been corrected on my errors. It was my first, I missed some stuff, I'll do better on the next ones. Thanks for watching and the info, I appreciate it!
I paused the video at 6:02,anyone notice the flag in the upper left of the shot? I know it has the initials for Wicked Lester. But it also has the uncanny similarity to Van Halen's logo. Wonder if Gene just gave it away, l know that his name is printed on the back of their debut album among other people. Hopefully Ace is the guy who came up with the design, cutting out Gene & Paul on any kind of monetary reward. Same with the KISS logo! I'm not a greedy person, nor do l believe ACE is either. But l hope that he was wise to Gene and Paul early after meeting them. I have no respect for them, like l do for Peter Criss or ACE.
Yeah I saw that too, didn't mention it. I dunno if Ace was wise to them, doesn't look like Peter was. At the time, I think they were just happy making music and partying. Thanks for watching!
Ace wasn’t/isn’t the greatest guitar player, but he was the first player to really catch my attention back in 75 and made me want to pick up a guitar myself.
Ace never got me into guitar. Dave Murray of Iron Maiden did. But he's proof you don't have to spend years with a guitar teacher only to be a mediocre guitar player.
I was fortunate enough to see KISS in 1978 when i was 8 years old with my older sister. Picked up a guitar right after and never looked back. I also grew up in the Bronx, and the Duckies were no joke.
You said a mouthful there! It’s a hard solo! Try playing along with that! I still can’t quite keep up with him. I consider that to be technically proficient!!
what a backhanded compliment. Ace did indeed have skills. more so than the rest of the band. his technique was on par with Page. but his real talent was his ability to write solos that progressed and elevated the songs, rather than his ego.
Ace is definitely one of a kind. I play guitar, but not because of Ace. It was Dave Murray of Iron Maiden. But Ace is the inspiration that you don't always need to spend years with a guitar teacher to be a great musician. Focus and dedication are the key elements.
@@p_e_t_e- Even Gene admitted that Ace is a truly unique guitar player and very hard to imitate. One reason being since Ace is self taught, he was never shown how to hold a guitar pick. He holds it a certain way and that's a part of his tone. Makes total sense.
Ace Frehley is awesome and the reason why myself and thousands of others picked up a guitar. Has he made mistakes in his life, yes and so has everyone. While there's always going to be people who complain or just see the bad things in people who probably don't see the bad in themselves there's hundreds of thousands and probably millions of people who love Ace Frehley and with good reason. And just think of the many now famous people who have picked up the guitar and given us so much great music we would have never had if not for Ace and his many awesome songs
Exactly, Ace HAD his problems. Gene and Paul always accused him of this n that, when they’ve hardly covered themselves in glory. Gene is a raving narcissist and Paul is…..well Paul🤣🤣
Speaking of Jimmy Page, I read the one song Jimmy hated so much that he never played it in concert was Living Loving Maid. Musicians can be strange and unpredictable. But that's what makes them great musicians and the rest good or fair musicians.
Me too, my first concert was KISS in 77. I used to dress like Ace for Halloween, I was pretty much a KISS super fan back in those days and a proud card carrying member in the KISS army.
I was in 7th grade when KISS was blowing up and becoming the hottest band in the world in 1977 and 1978. When my classmates were talking about the members of the band, more often than not somebody was talking about how cool Ace was. My older sister (one year older than me) was SUCH a KISS freak that it just wasn't funny, so I had no choice but to become a fan, myself. 🙂
Great Video well done. I agree with most everything on here.. For clarification purposes, Ace did not audition for Wicked Lester, Wicked Lester disbanded or Gene and Paul left Wicked Lester to start something new. When Paul, Gene and Peter were a trio and started auditioning lead guitar players, The band didn’t have a new name yet. Once Ace was in the band, they were all coming up with ideas for names and Paul came up with the name KISS. Ace designed the logo..
Also Blackie Lawless wasn’t in the duckies, that’s a myth, per Ace. The story about the spray paint isn’t accurate, and Peter didn’t sing ‘into the void’
My daughter went to KISS with her dad and I when she was in the womb and today she's 5 years old and loves KISS ! Her favorite KISS songs are all the ones that are in the Scooby-Doo/ KISS movie !
you don't have to be a super technical guitar player to be one of the greatest. Ace is not that technical but the way he looks and sounds while up on stage, jamming on a Les Paul , always looking and sounding badass...that is why he is one of the greatest. one of the greats that made want to keep playing guitar and one of the main reasons i play Les Paul's most of the time. love Ace.
Interesting video, Ace sang “Into The Void” not Peter. It was also on all the releases not just the US release. Peter sang a song on Psycho Circus called “I Finally Found My Way”. ACE left Kiss after the Elder. Ace refused to go to Toronto for the recording of ELDER he sent tapes with his stuff on the Elder. Aces only contribution Creatures Of The Night was the I Love It Loud video and some other promotional stuff. Paul even wrote in his book he and Gene begged ACE not to leave.
"Begged " because the just signed a contract including frehley...Frehley didnt record much on the Elder because he was deeply addicted to alcohol...smashed by noon
@@chrismedek1324 Ace also didn’t think the Elder was the album they should be doing he wanted to do something heavier. He didn’t believe in the project. I have heard him say in interviews he wanted to leave before the the Elder. All of his ideas always got shot down by Gene and Stanley.
I sure he didnt.. The recording process was started at Frehley's just finished home recording studio..Gene Paul had problems getting him downstairs or even staying sober..Frehley also disliked Ezrin who replaced his solos on Destroyer..The Elder was doomed because of Ezrin's cocaine addiction...worked well for him on the wall...not so much here..Frehley couldnt go to Toronto he had legal troubles
Absolutely love Fractured Mirror, as a longtime fan of Kiss going all the way back to mid 70’s, I had always been a Paul S. fan, until I became an adult, that’s when I had realized how amazing Ace is, and his contribution to the Band. Thanks for this great info, the pictures are so rare but everything has been so educating! You have a new subscriber ❤
Hey Steve, If I may! Before any of the guitar hero inspirations you list for Ace, I was ground zero. I was the reason why he went For it! I also taught him how to play bar chords and we are life long friends! Plus Bob Kulick and I had a Band called Balance. Sadly Bob passed away recently! Check out the recent Blabber mouth blogs on Ace and you can Read about our history Kisstory. Just saying! All the best! I inspired Ace and Ace inspired a whole generation of great Guitar players!
@@danielthomas8507 thanks Daniel. I take great pride in the legend that Ace is and all the amazing musicians that he single handedly inspired to greatness! We are very close! I’ve never taken a bow with Ace in over 50 years! Now I am proud of it and of course I’m just setting the record straight with the truth! 👍😘happy guitar playing
Wow, this is awesome! I know there is still a bunch to know about Ace's past, and it's fantastic to hear from his inspiration! You had a hand in thousands of players picking up the guitar, including me! Thank you, and thanks for watching!
Hey peppy. I've known of your importance since very early on. I'm 60 now from upstate NY. Blues Magoos am I rite.? Kiss fan since 75. You were in Creem Circus Rock Scene mags.! Very cool.! Cheers to you. I'm thinking u had connection to Mountain also.! I know who you are.! Honered.!!
@@raymorrow170 hey Ray, very kind of you! Yes when I came up through the ranks it wasn’t so crowded. So I’ve crossed paths with many of the day! Thankfully, I’ve been able to survive and live my dream of making music for 60 years now! Most don’t know half of the things I’ve done but that’s just fine with me! I get to be successful and fly under the radar! Although, retired you never really stop and things keep coming to me! Your kind words make it all the sweeter! All the best , Peppy
That's debunked about Blackie lawless lol. Get your facts straight Blackie was born 1956 or 1957 Ace was born 1951. So when Ace was 16 Blackie was 10 lmao.
I loved aces style, and Tommy Lee, influence me, to become a drummer. & Paul Stanley did the same thing, for me learning how to sing. I played in my local band which I formed called black diamond. After the kiss song. We had a lot of fun, & girls
Interesting about Ace Frehley is that he didn't have much of a formal training in guitar like he didn't really know how to read chords, scales, notes, etc. most of his early years are pretty much him doing what sounded right for him. Dude is pure personal craft. He doesn't follow any scales most were made his own pattern which is pretty cool! Love Ace and Kiss!
Ace had talent but lacked work ethic .I remember post Kiss he tried promoting some garage club bands that were still around in 80s Bronx / Westchester area and was a horrible mentor would always be late or not show up to the studio i knew one band in particular that was so upset with Ace .
Great suggestion! I have covered some stuff about his album due out in February 2024 in the news shorts, but I definitely will look into a follow up. Thanks!
Ace can STILL write AND tour, AND sing. More than I can say for the tribute band. Saw him 10/29/23 he was great. Played it all, no shortcuts. Saw him after the show, totally sober, drinking Perrier. 72 and still rockin!!! 🤘😜
Santa brought me Kiss Alive 2 when I was a kid. I listened to it over and over on my parents record player with those huge headphones and I was truly transported there. " We gonna turn the microphone over to Ace Frehley! SHOCK ME!!!" Yea he was my favorite.
Ace had a great style. I don't care about the "best guitarist". Particularly because the fastest rock guitarists still basically play simple, power chord riffs - they just don't have as much soul as Ace's playing. The "best" would actually be like Joe Pass, Pat Martino or George Benson: maybe Andreas Segovia, Bottom line, Ace is my favorite!
I admit a bias, as I am of New York & Pennsylvania German ancestry, like Ace, and play guitar, and even used to get mistaken for being Asian like Ace. So I am cosmically bound to the man! Just kidding about the cosmic bonding, but I am sentimental about Ace
So a few corrections, you mentioned Psycho circus came out after the tour but it sounds like 2001 is when u said it was recorded and it was in fact recorded and released in 1998 also Peter didnt sing on into the void its the only song he played drums on on the whole album and the only song With all four, but Ace sang it
Happened to see ACE & Frehley's Comet in '87 open for Iron Maiden's Seventh Son of A Seventh Son in Tarrant County Convention Center in Ft. Worth,Tx. I can't remember the title of his second effort, but he was clean & sober and real good.
How much better wouldnt it be if he didnt ruin his Kiss career with alcohol? ...Or his new career after he left the group, he would have had a great run of his own
Ace is definetly my idol in the guitar world......he's the first guitarist tfor the band kiss, and had soo much skill later his career took on a solo band frehley comet....... he was not the richest or brightest kid growing but that's not what this is about at all its his legacy his skill his tone his skill his space Persona he carries to this day his outcast style from the original kiss line up........just like most guitarist really slim long hair curious kid that rock the world and nation period
You forgot the fact that ace, just started playing while the previously guitaristcwaz still playing whe he just jumped in and started playing loudly! What a Ace! Lol
You didn't research this very well. The Reunion tour did not go from 1996-2001. It was 96-97, and the Farewell tour went from 2000-2001. In between those tours was the Psycho Circus tour of 1998. Also, Peter Criss did not sing lead vocals on "Into the Void." Ace sang it, and Criss played drums.
