Ace Frehley Interview with Matt Lauer

The former KISS guitarist speaks with TODAY's Matt Lauer about his new memoir, "No Regrets," in which he recalls the height of the band's drug and sex-infused rise to fame.

[@stotten70]

Wow........pretty classy interview from Ace. Very honest, but also quick to point out his own faults. He will forever be THE ONLY TRUE SPACEMAN OF KISS!!!!!!!!!!

[@maureen121969]

Agreed!!!! Ace and Peter are the only spaceman and cat to me!! Love Ace!! My favorite.

[@marcribaudo1965]

Ace was and always will be my favorite member of KISS. The man isn't phoney like Gene. Funny how I could always smell the rat in the band even when I was 10yrs old. God bless you Ace.

[@swissmiss9120]

ACE is so sweet, humble and honest about it all. The book is fabulous ! Enjoyed every line of it. He went very easy on his colleagues unlike those other guys in their books... He pushed the band to real rock'n'roll standards ! Best guitar player ever !!! 💥💗🎸

[@whataboutrob442]

He pushed the band? What are you smoking. Gene and Paul are Kiss. He couldn't even push himself to show up for lead sessions so they had to find other players.

[@KingdomComeClark]

I cannot help but love this guy!

[@johnnyrotten5507]

it's a cliche, but he really is an Ace guy.

[@avargaszzy]

I just love ace's laugh and sense of humor 😂😊🤣💙

[@rainyday4970]

Ace was always my favorite; I adored him from the start; I was a big science fiction nerd, and I loved to watch and hear him play guitar. I found them all fun to watch, and I had about the first five albums they put out. It hurt my feelings when Peter left, and then when Ace left, I just considered Kiss over. Didn't listen to them after that. I read Ace's book. So glad to hear him speaking clean and sober. And he looks good!

[@tommyt1971]

I read all four bios the guys did and Ace's was definitely the best and most intriguing.

[@Johnnyhumbkr]

The book was awesome, and he actually wrote it himself!

[@MarvelDcImage]

Ace is pure Rock & Roll

[@whitewitchoz]

Ace was not just the lead guitarest of Kiss.He came up with the famous logo,emerged as the most popular member when his solo album out sold the rest of the band's...Ace lived the rock star life style..and acted like one most everytime he was on camera...Who wants their rock stars to be clean and sober anyway? You can relate to your favorite musicians better if they party too.

[@lancetop]

A KISS fan here since 1976, and I can remember clearly when the four solo albums were released. Ace's album took off like a rocket, quite literally. Within 6 months the other three solo albums were in bargain bins. And as you said, he's the one that created the world famous KISS logo. He also created his own, and Paul Stanley's makeup. In the 70s when me and my friends went to see KISS live, it was all about seeing the ACE MAN! When Ace left, I left too.

[@rainyday4970]

I totally agree. Same here.

[@whataboutrob442]

​@@lancetopYou are incorrect. All the solo albums were cutouts by 1980. Aces album sold the same ammount by the time things were tallied.

[@moxxichannel5950]

I like this guy. What an honest, awesome dude. Just watched the Kiss Tom Synder interview and Ace was absolutely hilarious.

[@utubecenseorstruth]

I read it. Its a great book. Honestly I realize ace made some mistakes, but the reality is that ace playing made the band and I am glad he is sober.

[@ElZappata]

KISS has not been the same since Sammy Hagar left...

[@67marlins]

?

[@kissarmyquickpicks]

The "source of the tension" was the fact that Gene felt Ace was a flake, and after reading Ace's book you get a clearer picture of what Gene is talking about. Ace was about the music when the band started but once the money rolled in and the cocaine became a dominant force in Ace's life, it was a breakdown for the band internally. I think Paul and Gene deserve a medal for all they put up with from Ace, he's lucky they didn't kick him out sooner.

[@Chicken_Wing91]

They never kicked him out he quit.. it was peter they kicked out

[@MrKickAssAngel]

Many guitar players listen to Ace "Dimebag Darryl" (God rest his soul) is one of them. Ace simply put is a guitar legend with a Jimmy Page type of style who I think might just be the greatest of all time.

[@lancetop]

IMO, Ace is certainly not the best guitarist out there, but when it comes to his showmanship and rawness, he's hard to beat. He's totally my favorite guitarist of all time, and I'm 60.

[@RastaSaiyaman]

What George Harrison did in the sixties Ace Frehley did in the seventies: Inspire kids to pick up a guitar and rock out. The difference was that George Harrison was your average Joe, so people who were inspired by him went "Hey that guy looks like I do, that could be ME on stage and why shouldn't it be ME on stage?" With Ace it was like Superman on stage playing guitar and people went "Yeah, I read those comics! And if he can be on stage and be Superman, I can be Superman too!"

[@Colstonewall]

If there was ever a 'character', its Frehley.

[@AudiophileTubes]

Ace Frehley is a rock LEGEND! He probably influenced more teens to pick up a guitar and play than Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, and Alex Lifeson combined (love those players too)!

[@KnightOwl2006]

Ace is simply a really cool, decent guy.

[@jimmydcap]

I got to see ACE play in a little place called the Junkyard in Nashua NH a couple of months ago.. HE KICKED ASS!!!!!

[@Another70sBand]

GREAT stuff! ACE is the best! Ace is the truth!

[@Yapostadodat]

Love when he gives a shout out to his old cabbie buddies in Queens on his solo album.

[@demonikmusic]

Ace's laugh is the best

[@garyconner6151]

Ace is still a guitar monster.and metal god🎸🎼

[@NinerNyles]

Ace you rock! Good for you for getting sober.

[@clintbronson5]

Ace rules! Always my fav.member and thanks GCCMelbourne for sharing this. Sad that the TODAY show is playing ROCK N ROLL ALL NIGHT and SHOUT IT OUT LOUD. I'd play RIP IT OUT or SHOCK ME

[@Sean-me4fv]

KISS is only worth watching live when at least three of the original members are in the group. I can deal with one member being out of the group, but not two.

[@tommyt1971]

I actually like how Matt pushes Ace on his relationship with Gene but Ace is perfectly willing to talk about it too.

[@HiOctane62]

I read the book and loved it.

[@timjames72]

ACE = LEGEND

[@jamesjun6393]

Love and respect to Ace...from Seoul.

[@clintbronson5]

Love ya Ace!!! My pers.fav member and his guitar playing on 100,000 yrs is GOD LIKE....Always and Forever Stanley,Simmons,Frehley,Criss & Carr...KISSS

[@DoublePlow]

thanks for this upload. It was great!

[@StarletAndTheHoods]

yea, some of them Harrison leads were so amazingly talented, in a classical style... top notch guitarist, although very different than Frehley's hard rock style, yea, Frehley's leads are so powerful, especially on Alive, thats the album that let the world know Ace is one of the greatest rock guitarists ever !!!

[@MrGSniping123]

love Ace ,,guitar God is correct ,,if he had played it down he woulda been ctitisized if he plays along hes critisized ,,he cant win in some peoples eyes,,, i jusy really like the guy ,,nice nice man ,,very friendly cool and talented ,,oh and honest too ,,way to go ace ,,love from UK x

[@GetStuffed04]

Good to hear that Gene and Ace are friends today. They're both my idols, and I'll love 'em both forever!

[@ozzyayres1]

i was watching Ace on some old tv show from the 80,s which focused on rock music and Ace was sat next to Joey Ramone it was strange how quiet Joey was on that show but Ace would not take no crap for example some critic no one had heard of was talking about how he knew so much about the music buisness and Ace stood up and kept asking him who the heal are you? ive never heard of you LOL

[@MotownGuitarJoe]

The COOLEST dude in the band. I would have said"the coolest cat in the band", but clearly that was Peter.

[@impetiousdoom]

Without ACE there is no K I ⚡️⚡️

[@albertfincher9353]

ACE IS THE MAN

[@1881fighter]

Ace is the fucking man my fav member of kiss and all ways will be

[@WolfHeavyMetal]

Matt would have been smarter if he had held up a copy of Ace's book: "NO REGRETS" at the end of this segment.

[@smackythefrog23]

others can argue til death, but ace was the only musician aside from paul in KISS.

[@HeadBanger368]

Someone who agrees!

[@bartonpercival3216]

Yup, saw them on their Love Gun Tour in 1977 with Cheap Trick as the opening act. KISS was tight and awesome back then, but you could see and hear, Ace had all the licks!!!!!

[@kjmg65]

I'm not cool enough to talk to someone that wears sun glasses indoors

[@JoseSanchez-wo9wi]

I agree man - that wearing shades while indoors thing I never understood. It comes across as hipper than thou bullshit. EYE CONTACT when you speak to someone.

[@curtisclark13]

Seems like such a nice guy.

[@SerlingPictures]

I met him at Spooky Empires this year and was VERY let down. He hid in a tent so NO ONE could see him and the charged $30 dollars to have something signed. $60 dollars if it were a big item. So, if you can figure out the equation, just to SEE HIM you had to pay $30 dollars.

[@MrLive2win]

Of all the guys in the band this is the guy I would want to hang out with and have a beer, and another and another and.........

[@NightWarriorAlive]

Did you catch Ace using the line Gene Simmons always uses at 0:50, "Everyday above ground, is a good day"?

[@MichaelHansenFUN]

WHAT do they only show Kathie Lee reruns =her part of the show only???

[@riffmagos]

I very much agree. Well said.

[@debroy3262]

Ace❤

[@jennybh08]

ACE FREHLEY IS ROCK N ROLL!!!!!

[@ace633045]

ACE PUT YOUR MUSIC FIRST PISS UP DRINK LATER ,LOVE ANOMINLY, DO ANOTHER CD, YOU ROCK LOVE YOUR MUSIC

[@mikewilliams9975]

Ace, I don't know if you did all the things that Gene and Paul have said, at least you admit that you did make mistakes. I have always felt that Gene and Paul are commercial and they admit ti. Gene proves it. But more power to ya Gene, love ya man. Leaving the band was one thing for you and Peter, and totally understandable, but replacing your carachter in the band was suicide for the band...atleast me and my gang felt so. Anyway...thanks for "I was made for lovin you" best memories. Hope you are well and all the rest of the band. Oh and thanks for introducing me to satan...LOL NOT God Bless

[@djperryangelozzi8742]

well said

[@chriscrawford7518]

Hey, Matt, how about coming clean with the Ann Curry issue?

[@MichaelHansenFUN]

i have something different TODAY show with Kathy Lee Gifford or is that a different show. i need to go back and look...

[@kalebaldwin5398]

He knows it.

[@nirvanafan91ify]

I can't see how Gene would take offence to this, he probably didn't even read his book.

[@TheEMD710]

Only thing wrong with his interview.......... Matt.

[@CSXer]

Wonder what's gonna happen and who will show up for the rock and roll hall of fame inductions. They have all said a bunch of crap about each other recently.

[@jimmystinky7775]

Correction, it is GENE talking SHIT along with Paul so, go do your research!

[@southern428]

great guy.

[@nissansentraglx]

ace and peter both got into the drugs big time after the success of Aliver! they had the $ to. gene and paul were very anti drug. by 1978, the alcohol and drugs began to take their toll, on peter and soon on ace.

[@robertparousjr6486]

Seems like a cool bro

[@farerse]

LAuer always sits with his legs like that

[@generyan4043]

This is 2021, Ace Frehley has turned 70 and Matt Lauer has been fired for years.

[@johnnyc9000]

Yeah Ace did the same thing at the Rock and Shock convention in Worcester, MA last year. But other than him hiding behind a curtain at the show, I thought he was a nice guy.

[@rg2027x]

of course the first thing news robot talks about is "DRUGS"...

[@seventiesization]

If anyone was there back in the 70's, you can see that Ace was clearly the talent of the group. Ace reminds me of all the North Eastern men I grew up with. Gene needs to recognize Ace for the artist he is and stop acting like an ass. He needs to surround himself with people who care about him enough. That statement alone tells that Gene is an ass and could care less about someone who helped make KISS famous and iconic.

[@RRW276]

Gotta say it... thought it was Mickey Rourke!

[@mathewmarcus9861]

he’s real old and he’s only 5 years sober??? shit

[@keithsexton1263]

Funny how he has more hair now than he did back then

[@haydenmalesky2518]

Who, Ace? It’s called a wig. He’s pretty open about it.

[@JeffGR4]

@4:39 Yeah, Ace. And now the culture is saturated with disco and even worse --- hip-hop.

[@PK-gi2qh]

There's only 1 real spACE ace!

[@fordaesploder1728]

They should have called the book " No Regerts "

[@klistarf]

Good interview! From BOTH sides! Nice to see Ace is sober and still 'above ground'! Also nice to see he re-aquainted with Gene. Gene ain't a bad guy, he is just a businessman. Why does that make him a twat? Is rock 'n' roll not a business? C'mon!! Ace (and Peter) just enjoyed the party side of it all more than Gene & Paul. No big deal. That's also a nice statement that Gene made there toward Ace. Ace rules! Gene rules! Kiss rules! Simple as that... \m/ (:o)

[@johnnynbk]

Ace is basically a talented nice guy, who had his problems.gene and paul are more mercenary.

[@Roggiedodgie]

Matt keep with the company line...don't mention benghazi

[@davehoganmusic]

All the questions are negative.

[@bassmanjoe8]

Unfortunately, Ace was one of the under-rated guitar players when he was with KISS. I wish him the best in his recovery and sobriety. One day at a time.

[@tacramerutube]

my next grandson is about to be named Frehley. I told my son in law make sure Ace is worth it because he will try and live up to his namesake. We'll see.

[@slickdrift1975]

Guitar god yeah right , Randy Rhoads is a guitar god . Ace freely u r not any type of god .

[@nightshade7206]

maybe if he was hydrated his wrist would not have cramped up....wah wah

[@MatthewBaumgarten]

Seems like all the rock stars are wearing cheap sunglasses these days when doing interviews, Ace, Gene, Axl Rose, Slash, even Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top!

[@mrbakerskatz]

Gheesh...............................,I feel like I just listened to Obamas State of the union message. Everything is just peachy Pay no attention to the mad man behind the curtain .

[@JENDALL714]

What is with Gene and Ace and the Sunglasses all the time?

[@flybynight14]

big kiss when you and peter in the band not abig fan with this wanna be's..you all need to get back a make badddd asss albums..

[@stratakis2405]

0:37 thank me later

[@ludwigvanzappa9548]

Most overated band ever !

[@roquefortfiles]

Ace Frehley? More like Eat Freely.

[@roquefortfiles]

Mario garcia Would you like to try that again in English?

[@TheReverend74]

Can't spell your own language as the most of you

[@roquefortfiles]

Mario garcia As I said. Once again. In English

[@roquefortfiles]

Mario garcia Nice hair cut. Did you lose a bet?

[@eyeh8u1]

Damn! Ace needs to lay off the cheeseburgers and join a gym.

[@mrski749]

The Least Talented Famous Guitar player ever in Rock n Roll he really hit the lotto hooking up with Gene and Paul