Ace Frehley - Vintage Photos Slideshow

Frehley spent the early 1970s in a series of local bands. In late 1972, his best friend, Bob McAdams, spotted an advertisement for a lead guitarist in the Village Voice and showed the ad to Frehley. Both McAdams and Frehley went to 10 East 23rd Street above the Live Bait Bar. Frehley auditioned for the trio of Paul Stanley (rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (bass guitar) and Peter Criss (drums). Frehley (who showed up wearing one red sneaker and one orange sneaker) was less than impressive visually, but the band liked what they heard from his playing. About three weeks after Frehley auditioned, the new group named him their lead guitarist. By January 1973, Wicked Lester decided on a new name - Kiss. Frehley designed the band's unique, double-lightning-bolt logo. The band quickly decided to paint their faces for live performances, and Frehley decided to start painting silver stars on his eyes. When the group eventually decided to adopt stage personas to go with their makeup designs, Frehley became "The Spaceman."


The SpacemanWhile Kiss spent their early days rehearsing and playing in empty clubs, Frehley took a job as a part-time cab driver to pay his bills. In September 1973, Kiss began to receive a salary from new manager Bill Aucoin that paid each member $75 a week. This enabled Frehley to quit his job.

Kiss released their debut album, Kiss, in February 1974 Frehley's sole songwriting contribution was "Cold Gin". Due to Frehley's lack of confidence in his own singing voice, however, the vocals were performed by Simmons. Frehley wrote or co-wrote several of the band's songs over the next few years but didn't record his vocals on a song until "Shock Me" (inspired by his near-electrocution during a concert in Lakeland, Florida), which appeared on 1977's Love Gun.

As lead guitarist, Frehley was known for his frenetic, atmospheric playing, becoming one of the most popular guitarists in the 70s and spawning a generation of new players. Indeed, Frehley stated in the book Kiss: Behind the Mask that many guitarists have told him his playing on 1975's hit Alive! prompted them to pick up the instrument. Frehley is well recognized for using Gibson Les Paul guitars, including his trademarked model conversion Cara Guitars which filled the stage full of smoke during his live guitar solo.

According to Gene Simmons in Kiss Behind the Mask, Frehley was drunk most of the time on tour, except for on stage.

Along with the three other Kiss members, Frehley released an eponymous solo album in 1978. His was the best-selling of the four, and the album's lone single (the Russ Ballard written "New York Groove"), originally recorded by Hello reached the Top 20 in the United States.

Frehley's songwriting presence within the group increased in 1979, contributing two songs for 1979's Dynasty and three for 1980s Unmasked. While this was not the best time for Kiss on a commercial level in the United States, they were only just beginning to take off in other countries (mostly in Australia where Dynasty and Unmasked are their highest selling albums). But even as his songwriting role within Kiss was increasing, Frehley found himself increasingly at odds with the musical direction of the band. After Peter Criss left Kiss in 1980, Frehley was often outvoted 2-1 in band decisions, as replacement drummer Eric Carr was not a partner in Kiss and had no vote. Frehley's participation in the recording of 1981's Music from "The Elder" was far more limited than with previous albums. This was, in large part, due to his unhappiness with the band's decision to create a concept album rather than a straightforward rock album, and also, by Frehley's own admission, his "not relating all that well" to producer Bob Ezrin who cut many of Frehley's solos from the recorded tracks.

Exacerbating the situation was Frehley's escalating erratic behavior and substance abuse. In April 1982, Frehley was involved in a serious automobile accident (drummer Anton Fig was the driver). In May, he led police on a 90-mph car chase on the Bronx River Parkway. This incident led to a $600 fine and a six-month suspension of his driver's license. Although Frehley appeared on the covers for 1982's greatest hits album Killers and studio album Creatures of the Night, he had no involvement with Killers, and minimal (no musical) input on Creatures of the Night. Frehley's last appearances with the band were the video for "I Love it Loud," a series of European promotional appearances in November 1982 and a band interview with MTV in early 1983 promoting their world tour.

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[jimmydcap]

Ace has come such a long way, from being a drunk and a druggy. God bless you Ace! Tommy can't hold a candle to you !

[Kissalized08]

EEEEEP :D sexy overload

[6Spit6Fire6]

@Ninasladybugs Me too and defintly were not the only ones i hope that kiss cruise will end up like the titanic...

[6Spit6Fire6]

Awesome...Curly!

[jaytube2112]

AAAAAACK

[FreightlinerTrukinCl]

did you ever notice that Paul and gene cant go anywhere without each other and they're the only ones that get interviewed

[Ninasladybugs]

tommy could never replace ace!

he stole the make-up and outfits!

his guitar playing isnt good at all! (tommy's guitar playing)

[Ninasladybugs]

I HATE THE TWO NEW GUYS IN KISS!

[Ninasladybugs]

me and my sister think ace is so hot!

[Ninasladybugs]

We like ace frehley he is hot when he was a teen boy and 20s

[DavidfromBA]

@KISSTributeOfficial Personally I have nothing against those guys either, but I don't see any justification for them wearing the same makeup as Peter Criss and Ace Frehley.

[XxXLindseywayXxX]

ace was hot <3