Ace Frehley’s 10 Greatest Musical Moments: With Kiss and Solo

The music community is grieving the passing of Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and co-founder of Kiss, who passed away on Thursday from injuries related to a fall. From the age of 13, when he received his first electric guitar, Frehley was a deeply devoted musician, a commitment he maintained right up to his last show a little more than a month ago. Though the band's iconic theatrical image—complete with dramatic makeup, elaborate costumes, and fiery spectacles—often took center stage, his foundational role as a guitarist was undeniable.

Influenced by rock legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Led Zeppelin, Frehley developed a unique and fiery guitar style. He joined the newly assembled Kiss in late 1972 while still in his early twenties. His explosive solos and magnetic stage presence quickly helped establish him as a globally recognized rock guitarist. His time with the band spanned two key periods: the initial run from the group's formation until 1982, and a reunion phase from 1996 to 2002, after which he dedicated himself entirely to his solo career.

Frehley's musical legacy is cemented on a number of classic Kiss records. The band's self-titled 1974 debut included "Cold Gin," a song he wrote that became a concert favorite. Ironically, its lyrics glorifying the chilled beverage hinted at his later, well-documented struggles with alcohol addiction. Another track from that album, "Black Diamond," begins with a gentle acoustic intro before launching into one of his trademark fiery solos. This solo originally mimicked the sound of a slowing tape recorder, an effect the band replaced in live performances with actual pyrotechnics.

On the seminal 1975 live album "Alive!," the rendition of "100,000 Years" showcases a rare swing feel, driven by drummer Peter Criss's syncopated rhythm, over which Frehley lays down a howling yet rhythmically tight guitar solo. The 1976 studio effort "Destroyer" features "Love 'Em and Leave 'Em," a Gene Simmons-penned track that was elevated by Frehley's more experimental, improvisational lead work, complete with a stuttering flourish inspired by guitarist Mick Ronson. He made his vocal debut on 1977's "Shock Me," where a thunderous, phase-shifted guitar solo perfectly complemented the song's pop-metal intensity.

In an unprecedented music industry maneuver, all four Kiss members released individual solo albums on the very same day in September 1978. Frehley's self-titled record was almost universally praised as the strongest of the quartet, with many critics and fans deeming it superior to the band's own recent studio work. His glam-rock cover of "New York Groove," a song originally written by Russ Ballard, became a major hit. The track was produced by the legendary Eddie Kramer—an audio engineer renowned for his work on classic albums by Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin—and it perfectly encapsulated Frehley's cool confidence with its T. Rex-inspired guitar tone and his characteristically laid-back vocal style.

Following his departure from Kiss, Frehley formed his own group, Frehley's Comet. Their 1987 track "Rock Soldiers," co-written with Chip Taylor, serves as a sobering autobiographical tale of his 1983 arrest for DUI and reckless driving after a high-speed police chase. The song's potent anti-substance abuse message is amplified by a massive guitar section featuring 20 players recruited from a seminar at the Musicians Institute in Queens, New York. When the original Kiss lineup reunited for 1998's "Psycho Circus," it was Frehley's sole songwriting contribution, "Into the Void," that injected the album with energy, thanks to its heavy, driving chords and his most self-assured vocal performance since "New York Groove."

Frehley's later solo output continued to explore new creative territory. His 2009 album "Anomaly" featured the driving instrumental "Fractured Quantum," an atypical entry in his catalog that builds from a quiet, ambient opening into a complex tapestry of interwoven melodies and advanced guitar techniques. For his final studio album of original material, 2018's "Spaceman," he fully embraced his cosmic "Space Ace" persona with the track "Mission to Mars." The song is a ferociously pulsating rock anthem, layered with menacing fuzz-toned guitars and crowned by one of his signature virtuosic solos—a powerful final artistic statement from a genuine rock and roll icon.