Greg Prato for Songfacts spoke with guitarist Ace Frehley about his top guitar solos in KISS and explains what drew him to some of the songs he covered on his Origins Vol. 2 album.
Good Times Bad Times by Led Zeppelin:
That was the first Led Zeppelin song I ever heard on record because it was the first song on Led Zeppelin I. I was lucky enough to see Led Zeppelin’s first New York appearance at the Filmore East when I was a teenager – they were opening for Iron Butterfly. They just blew me away. I knew from the minute I saw them that they were going to be huge. And of course, we all know the history behind Led Zeppelin.
Jumpin’ Jack Flash by The Rolling Stones:
I’ve done several covers of Rolling Stones songs over the years. I probably could have sang it, but I wanted to get a different twist on that song, so I called up Lita Ford, who is a good friend of mine. She sang Wild Thing on Origins Vol. 1. She came over for the weekend, and I coached her on that vocal. I got a really good vocal performance out of her. I was just thrilled with the end result.
I’m Down by The Beatles:
That was a song I always loved by the Beatles because it was not really that indicative of a Beatles song. Most of the Beatles songs had three-part harmony and were well put together and well-written, but I’m Down was more of just a kick-ass rock n’ roll number more in the vein of Chuck Berry.
I gravitated towards that song. I didn’t realize it was written in 1965… it’s a long time ago. But I got John 5 to play the guitar solo on the opening and he did a wonderful job.
Manic Depression by the Jimi Hendrix Experience:
I’ve been friends with Bruce Kulick for years. We did the Kiss Kruise several years ago together – his band was on the cruise with my band and several other bands. When Bruce found out I was doing Origins Vol. 2, he expressed interest in performing on it. We’re both Hendrix fans. He picked Manic Depression and we tracked it, we sent it to him, and he did a great guitar solo on it. Then we “riffed out” towards the end of the song, during the fade. I was really happy with what he did.
She by KISS:
My live band had been performing She before the pandemic hit. My record company called and said, “We need a KISS bonus track,” so that was the first song that came to mind. The guys in my band all sing lead, so I let them sing lead on that song live. It gave me a chance to showcase my touring band on this record. I was really happy about that – they did a great job.
Songfacts: Which are your top five guitar solos in KISS?
Ace Frehley: The solo in Deuce, Shock Me, Strange Ways. I like the solo I did in God Of Thunder – it was just a different type of solo. Gene used to call it “dinosaur bends” when I would bend the strings really heavy – the low string. And maybe the solo in the live version of Rock And Roll All Nite – it’s just a nice, Chuck Berry kind of solo. Reminiscent of older rock n’ roll songs.
Read more at Songfacts.
Ace Frehley’s Origins Vol. 2 will be released tomorrow (September 18th) . Pre-orders are available at acefrehleyorigins.com. Origins Vol. 2 is the followup to 2016’s Origins Vol. 1, which hit #23 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and was his second highest-charting solo album and his 4th Top 40 album.
27 Responses
don’t forget “love ’em and leave ’em”…greatest guitar solo from the greatest kiss song..ever!
Elliot, I thought that was “Charisma?” 😉
doug r., thanks for not missing a thing. let’s call it a tie… “number juan and juan a”
Croucier should feel so honored, his name is even mentioned on non Ratt stories,
That’s how I am, Elliot, I Don’t Juanna Miss A Thing…
doug, that’s a good juan!
dana, that would be a regular “non juan huanor”.
LOL!!!
Probably more than anyone else, Ace has a knack for creating solos that are songs within songs. So to pick his “best solos” is a tricky proposition. Just off the top of my head, two overlooked solos that are brilliant – “Hard Times” and “Save Your Love.”
Yep, I would agree with those 2 as well.
100,000 Years
Good choice… I also like Got to Choose…he sounds like BB King on that solo…
I didn’t have to think too much on this list..Ace sounds like a big band horn player…he’s actually underrated
Save Your Love
King of the Nighttime World
Calling Dr. Love
Rocket Ride
Shock Me
and an honorable mention goes to Got Love For Sale…which has this really jazzy turnaround lick…
Off topic here ~ earlier driving back from Walmart, Channel surfing on the radio I came across a surprising really cool and really good new song by Dirty Honey. Usually I don’t really listen to new bands/songs, but this song – “Rolling 7s” caught my ear, and now I’ve already listened to it 3 times since I’ve been home! They sound like a mix of Zeppelin, Aerosmith, AC/DC, and GN’R, musically, vocally, Plant and Rose. “Rolling 7s” really is a good song, (some might have to give it a minute) with a great guitar solo. Alot of young energy from this band, if you haven’t yet, you should check em out.
Doug,
Dirty Honey has been featured in the news section quite a few times, as Eddie is fan. See links below from most recent story to oldest:
DIRTY HONEY AND HARLEY DAVIDSON TEAM UP FOR LIVESTREAM
DIRTY HONEY UNLEASHES A RAUCOUS AMAZON ORIGINAL COVER OF AEROSMITH’S “LAST CHILD” AVAILABLE TO STREAM ONLY ON AMAZON MUSIC
DIRTY HONEY ANNOUNCES THE “ROLLING 7S” 2020 U.S. TOUR DATES
DIRTY HONEY ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO FOR “ROLLING 7S,” ADDITIONAL TOUR DATES ADDED TO ROSTER
DIRTY HONEY BECOMES 2019’S FIRST NEW BAND TO CRACK ROCK RADIO’S TOP TEN, BAND ADDS NEW DATES TO ITS SUMMER NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
Wow, where have I been? I had no idea that “Rolling 7s” actually came out a year ago! I guess this is what I get for bypassing the new bands! I guess I should start paying more attention and give some of these new bands a chance. Thank you, Dana, for re-posting these links, I usually don’t like covers/remakes, but I LOVE Dirty Honey’s version of “Last Child!”
I think we need to dispel the notion that because Ace doesn’t rate as a “great” guitarist because he doesn’t play busy solos like Steve Vai or Yngwie Malmsteen. Ace is one of the greatest guitar players EVER because his solos are recognizable and they resonate. Even something as brief as his intro to Eddie Money’s cover “I Wanna Go Back” is a testament to how original his sound (more knowledgeable music people say ‘tone’) and mental approach to playing is. I could listen to a whole album of instrumental playing of Ace if he would would ever do that. As much as I appreciate Tommy Thayer for keeping KISS together, he will never be Ace. “Fire and Water” – need I say more?