He took on the part of the “Spaceman” or “Space Ace”, and played together with the group from its beginning in 1973 until his departure in 1982. His second tenure with Kiss continued until 2002, when he left in the final outcome of what was purported to be the group’s Farewell Tour. His latest record “Anomaly”, premiered on September 15, 2009. “Guitar World” magazine rated him 14th Best Metal Guitarist Ever.
Frehley spent the early 1970s in some local groups including one called Molimo who recorded half an album for RCA Records in 1971. In late 1972, his buddy, Chris Cassone, seen an advertisement for a lead guitarist in the Village Voice and revealed the advertising to Frehley. Frehley went to 10 East 23rd Street above the Live Bait Bar. Around three weeks after, the group named Frehley as their lead guitarist. By January 1973, Wicked Lester determined on a fresh name — Kiss. Frehley designed the group’s double-lightning bolt symbol. The group immediately chose to paint their faces for live performances, and Frehley decided to begin painting silver stars on his eyes. When the group finally chose to embrace a stage character to go with their make-up layouts. Frehley became “Space Ace”. After the stage character would be known as “The Spaceman.”
DeWitt Clinton High School, Theodore Roosevelt High School, Grace Lutheran School, I Was Made For Lovin' You, New York Groove, Rock and Roll All Nite, Portland, OR, United States, Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monterrey, NL, Mexico
Nationality
United States of America
Children
Monique Frehley
Parents
Carl Daniel Frehley, Esther Anna Hecht, I Was Made For Lovin' You, New York Groove, Rock and Roll All Nite, Portland, OR, United States, Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monterrey, NL, Mexico
Siblings
Charles Frehley
Nicknames
Paul Daniel Frehley , Frehley, Ace
Awards
People's Choice Awards for Favorite New Song (1977), Metal Edge Readers' Choice Awards for Bend of the Year, Best Concert Tour and Performance (1996), Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences ("The Recording Academy") Heroes Award, 2006)
Music Groups
Kiss, Frehley's Comet
Movies
“Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park” (1978), “Kiss: The Second Coming Documentary” (1998), “KISS Loves You” (2004), “Detroit Rock City” (1999), “Remedy” (2005)
TV Shows
Academy of Music (New York, 1973), Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (1974), ABC's Dick Clark's in Concert (1974), American Idol (2009), The Hottest Show on Earth Tour (2010), "Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2012)
Star Sign
Taurus
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Trademark
1
Known for his Spaceman makeup
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Gibson Les Paul
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Quote
1
I knew I was destined to do a solo album, but when I did that first album in 1978, I had no idea it was going to be that well received.
2
That's not my idea of what KISS is. Maybe that's his idea. You know, they say things like that just to cover their asses, so that they can carry on and still say it's KISS. That's all that is: smoke. [when asked if he agrees with Paul Stanley about the idea of KISS continuing without any of the original members].
3
I eat, sleep, and drink my character. It is my fantasy to go to another planet. By the time I'm 40, interplanetary travel will be common. Nobody will want to talk to me at that age, anyway.
4
I remember taking the cassette and smashing it against a wall" - to Guitar World magazine in 1993, describing his negative response to the 1981 KISS album, "Music From the Elder.
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Fact
1
Even though he went by the nickname Ace to distinguish himself from Paul Stanley,Frehley is the only original KISS member to perform under his legal birth name.The other three either shortened their legal names or changed their names entirely.
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KISS was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
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Said in a 2008 interview that he is now clean and sober and has finally learned, that he is actually a better musician when not drunk and on drugs and that he regrets not learning this sooner.
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Early on when learning to play guitar, he experimented with guitars that had whammy bars. Eventually, he discarded them when he found that whammy bars weren't his style.
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Was opposed to recording KISS' sixteenth album, "Music From The Elder". However, he was out-voted two to one by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, and, subsequently, was obligated to participate. Also, insisted to have the 24-track tapes mailed to his home to cut his parts. Finally, his solos were cut out of the final recordings, and did not participate completely on their seventeenth album, "Creatures of the Night", and replaced by Vincent Cusano (Vinnie Vincent).
His face is on the cover of the KISS album, "creatures of the night", even though Vinnie Vincent played all the songs on the album. KISS begged Ace to put his face on the cover because he wasn't officially gone and they weren't sure about Vinnie being a permanent replacement.
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Has an IQ of 164.
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Previous bands: Molimo, the Muff Drivers and Frehley's Comet.
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According to Gene Simmons' autobiography, "Kiss and Make-Up", the lightning bolt guitar strap that's used by so many in the music design is actually Frehley's design. He is considered to be a very gifted graphic designer.
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Older sister's name is Nancy.
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Is a self-taught guitarist, started playing at age 13.
When Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley heard Ace's audition for KISS and decided to make him the lead guitarist, they asked him what his name was. When he said his name was Paul Frehley, they told him that the band couldn't have two Paul's. Frehley then told them to call him "Ace Frehley". The nickname "Ace" comes from his school days, when he displayed an uncanny ability to get his friends dates.
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Lead guitarist for KISS 1973-1983 and 1995-2002. Is divorced from wife Jeanette.
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Is the youngest of 3 children. Has a brother, Charles, and a sister,
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Father Karl was an electrical engineer, mother Esther a homemaker.
$35 million
