FAMOUS Band MOCKED Guitarist For PUTTING Out a SOLO Record…TILL He OUTSOLD 'em! | Professor of Rock

[@ProfessorofRock]

Poll: What is your pick for the GREATEST LIVE Album of all time?

[@Rogerdeal-yp4qw]

Frampton Comes Alive

[@Code.Name.V]

Queen - Live At Wembley '86 U2- Under A Blood Red Sky

[@catherine6653]

Talking Heads, Stop Making Sense

[@SPak-rt2gb]

Strangers In The Night - UFO

[@Whisper_292]

Frampton Comes Alive

[@ellap4235]

My mother used to joke that she "Loved me sooo much, that she took me to see KISS not once (1979), but twice (1983)". She called the concerts an assault to the ears because they were so loud. A few years ago they were in concert where I live and I asked her if she wanted to go and of course she did. We had so much fun!

[@traviesoarcefan3063]

Mother of the Year!!! 😅

[@vaporman442]

I sometimes wonder how many mothers take their kids to KISS concerts just so the kids can see their dad spit blood? 😉

[@benamisai-kham5892]

I miss going to kiss concerts with my parents! That was my entire childhood, concerts. Nothing will beat the memory of everyone at the Pittsburgh show in '04 booing Aerosmith off stage cheering for a kiss encore 😂

[@Whisper_292]

I was always embarrassed that my mom insisted on going to concerts with me, but I'm learning it was more common than I thought.

[@craigday7705]

That is awesome

[@nickster5286]

"A good song is a good song. Regardless if it's Classical, Country, or Rock." Damn straight Ace!

[@RichoRosai]

But not disco apparently.

[@jamesg1974a]

Well then he said except disco. 😂😂

[@hud1231]

@@jamesg1974a it's still a good song. one of their best

[@michaelrochester48]

I met Ace Frehley a couple years ago with Chiller comic con. He was kind of on the grumpy side when he was signing, but he lit up when he saw my phone and saw it had ABBA on it. He goes “I love ABBA!” Isn’t it cool that you get to learn something about a performer and he lights up over somebody that you could never of guessed you would’ve been a fan of

[@chrisbenson6683]

Two kinds of people: those who like Abba, and liars 😄

[@erictrenbeath9680]

Lemmy loves Abba too!

[@theshield2207]

Hes been known to be pretty grumpy nowadays and i bet its mostly because hes under contract to keep doing music😹

[@melvynobrien6193]

I used to play with Adam Mitchell, who wrote a bunch of KISS songs with Frehley. Never liked them, though.

[@ramencurry6672]

Most old celebrities are on the grumpy side. It’s usually the jazz musicians, classical musicians or opera singers who are in better moods if they are recognized since their work is not mainstream and the irony is that they are typically more musically talented than rock stars

[@toddscheler7194]

Ace is right in that "a good song is a good song", no matter the genre.

[@dougklapper9028]

Unless, of course, it has a disco vibe to it 😂

[@edgarbower8089]

⁠haha, Ace really contradicted himself in the same interview!

[@ka-pop2243]

Maybe one key to Ace's success is that he doesn't take himself too seriously. By his own admission he's not a great singer. But's managed to latch onto some good songs and just seems to have fun. I think that shows through to his fans.

[@imweakfordeaky]

I saw Ace on his first Frehley’s Comet tour (July 11, 1987) at Bogart’s in Cincinnati, with White Lion opening. My friend Gloria and I were given backstage passes by (I guess) his Tour Manager while we stood in line at the bar to get drinks. When we went backstage after the show, we waited back while all the really pushy autographs seekers did their thing… Once the room cleared of those types, we who remained took some time to actually *talk* to the guys. I went up to Ace, shook his hand and introduced myself as he sat obviously tired on the edge of a table - He asked me if I’d like a beer, and I said Sure ! He reached down into the red Coleman cooler at his feet, with “Ace’s Beer” written on it in black Sharpie - and gave me a bottle of his stash of St. Pauli Girl… the only time I ever drank the brand. We proceeded to chit-chat for about 10 minutes (with occasional interruptions by bandmates/roadies) as my friend stood flirting with the guys who were talking to her. Ace was completely cool and mannerly to me, and I really enjoyed meeting him. It was just 2 days after my birthday, so I have a great memory to enjoy ! Thanks again for the beer and conversation, Ace !! 🍻

[@animeanakin2304]

Bogart's is such a great venue. I started going in the 90s but Ace and White Lion sounds like a great time! Cincinnati has so many great music venues.

[@kevindeaton8105]

I was there also...this is awesome

[@gordonsmith8112]

Saw the same bur in NYC

[@rediron44]

Bogarts is legendary. Awesome place. Been there several times including Ace.

[@laddpalmore7522]

Godamn who the fuck remembers what 2 days after there birthday was 30 years ago. And who gives a fuck

[@OneOfUsHere]

My friend Andy formed a band called 'Aces High.' Not only did they exclusively play his songs, each member was made up as Ace from 4 different eras. They looked and sounded perfect. Another friend was a personal friend of Ace's and managed to give him a copy of their project. I don't know what happened or if Ace actually listened to it but it was brilliant. I was also fortunate to see Kiss with my friend twice in Detroit and once in NYC on New Years Eve. I also went backstage and meet Ace and Gene. Another good friend was Ace's guitar tech for many years. I took my 5 year old niece who loved my Kiss dolls to see them. It was her first concert and it was spectacular. She started playing guitar in later years but only for her own pleasure.She graduated college a couple of years ago but the memory of that night is still burning strong. Thank you for this video.

[@fiftyfeistyandfabulous7402]

I’ve been a Kiss fan since 1975 when I was six years old-my aunt took me to a record store and told me that I could pick out any record I wanted. I remember vividly walking up and down the isles and all of a sudden I saw four guys with make up wearing suits on an album cover. It was the Dressed to Kill album. I picked it up and told my aunt that I wanted that one… I played it over and over. My mother never forgave her. Lol!

[@dionst.michael1482]

Aunts are the best! Mine got me into the Rolling Stones! She taught me how to appreciate them for the icons they ultimately came to be for the huge impact on music they are responsible for.

[@LarrySmithart]

I stopped being a Kiss fan a long time ago,but then selling out by having others wear ace n peters makeup pissed me off

[@christopherXscum]

Yea, me too but I was 7. Of course my step father was such a prick he made life miserable by breaking my love gun and Kiss Alive II albums cause I was in trouble at school.

[@TommyGun1979]

Your aunt was the coolest aunt ever!!!

[@ninarines588]

I saw KISS in 78, and I loved it!!! My room was wallpapered in KISS POSTERS, solo posters on my ceiling, and bubble gum KISS cards were my border. I loved them all. Now that I'm 57, I still listen to them. My brother's friend left his KISS alive for me to listen to, and the rest is KISSTORY. LOL❤ The first concert I went to. It was amazing.

[@iverstim]

Great memories. I was 5 years old when I joined the Kiss Army and received my full color 8x10 prints. I remember checking our mailbox everyday for weeks until they finally arrived. I still have them. Timeless.

[@CUtigerz97]

I remember those cards. I lost mine somewhere in time.. moved so many times. My 17yo's 1st concert was KISS. He's a big fan. Loves the tune , God of Thunder! Still have the KISS Alive album somewhere. I'll pass it along in the will! Haha

[@Octavian7771]

I also saw KISS in August '78. They played three shows at the Los Angeles Inglewood Forum. I saw the first and third with opening act Cheap Trick. During the third show, at the point where Gene did his flame spitting act, he lit his hair on fire. They quickly put it out and continued on with the show.

[@markg3380]

Thanks for sharing that memory. I was similarly obsessed with KISS, mainly in elementary school. We used to put on KISS concerts for our parents and grandma by dressing up as the band and lip-synching to a side of Alive or Alive II. We really got into it - even creating a KISS sign with cardboard and aluminum foil, wrapped in Christmas lights, and having my little sister in charge of plugging it in and out to make it blink. Crazy times. My cousin and I were 11 years old and somehow talked our parents into dropping us off at McNichols Arena for our first concert as well - the 1979 Dynasty Tour. I don't think parents would do that these days. It was incredible. 20 years later, I went to a reunion show based on the Dynasty Tour stage - the show was surreal. I didn't see the last farewell tour, but I did see them again in my 40s and had a blast treating my wife to her only KISS experience. Good memories and times.

[@crackawood]

You're my brother's age. I was 5 years younger so I was only 5 when he was in the middle of the Kiss craze. I remember my mom said I could buy an 8-track tape while we were shopping and I saw Dressed To Kill and Destroyer. I got Destroyer because they looked way cooler and of course my brother already had that album so he nearly crippled me

[@KindaTwisted329]

It’s awesome to have Ace still putting out killer music all these years later! I love what Ive heard off the new album, I can’t wait to listen to my copy. While I love NY Groove, I think Rip It Out is the real rocker on the original solo album. When I put that album on, that song always gets the windows shaking in my house.

[@urockitony2]

I agree completely. Rip It Out is great, and sets the tone for the entire record.

[@spiralflash6169]

I always watch old KISS videos to see ACE, and I get SO annoyed when he’s playing a face-melting solo, and the camera is on Gene or Paul!! Sure he’s slowed down a little, but none of the others of his generation are consistently putting out new original music! Kudos on getting an interview with the Spaceman himself!!! I love this LEGEND! ❤🎸⚡️👍😎

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for watching!

[@marklane61]

Paul Rodgers recently put out a new album

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

The Spaceman is just so cool.

[@TheOnlyHollywood1]

Judas Priest just put out a new record, and it's one of their best albums

[@chucknien74]

Of course, many of his generation is putting out quality music. But his output put up against any and all of the members through the years is just plain better, in every way. Ace has always been my dude in KISS and his solo efforts are superior to anything the rest have offered. Just an FYI I like alot of the 80s Kiss but without Ace it isn't the real soul of kiss music and hasn't been since he was replaced. Just my opinion, of course. Like every Kiss fan we all have our opinions, lol.

[@reeb9016]

Ace is such a character. When he sings, you'd think it was someone else. Usually, people's voices go up, but his gains bass.

[@MrRumorg]

No one tells a Rock’n’Roll story like the Professor of Rock! Thank you!!!

[@edpaparo9916]

My aunt Rose, who is 10 years older than me and lived next door, was a huge KISS fan in her teenage years. When she babysat me when I was 5 or 6yrs old I would be terrified to go into her room by myself because of the KISS posters until she explained it all to me. Thanks for bringing back the 45 year old memories... definitely going to have her watch this video!

[@jimmycroce9902]

HA! I have the same memory with my older brothers room. Then I later went on to become a bigger KISS fan than him. We went to the final Detroit show together, It was great :)

[@thomashalterman5231]

Teenager, old car, excellent stereo, all windows down, pull up to a stoplight, cassette in correct spot, crank volume during car crash at the end of Detroit Rock City and watch everyone's heads swivel around, looking for a wreck. Pure teenage entertainment, all thanks to KISS!

[@darkstar92772]

When I was 16 blasting Kiss, the 70 year old in the car next to me would look at me with disdain. If I do this today, the 70 yr old man in the car next to me throws the devil horns and shouts "KISS ARMY!!!!" What a difference 35 years makes eh?

[@ACEDIAMOND666]

Fucking gold!🤣🍻

[@BLACK-AUTUMN-MAGICK]

I guess you have to find SOME way of enjoying shit music!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@seasonalalrg]

I like to imagine the band sitting together as they play the solo records. Paul and Gene sitting smugly as Ace’s album is about to start…. Then “Rip it Out” blasts through the speakers.

[@ErnestPeacher]

Amen!

[@onlyfromadistance7326]

Ace Frehley is the reason I started playing guitar! \m/>.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Awesome! Hope you enjoyed it!

[@MyName-pl7zn]

My favorite Ace quote was "If I realized my guitar work would have become iconic I would have practiced more" love the guy!!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

How long have you been playing?

[@TheSteveBoyd]

Ace is CRUSHING IT these days! I always get annoyed when Adam says the phrase "the rock era" in the past tense. I think Ace has been the spark that is mostly responsible for the resurgence of real rock in 2024, and I couldn't be happier! THANK YOU ACE! To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of rock are greatly exaggerated! Or as the mighty Ozzy Osbourne instructed us 44 years ago (oddly enough, in a song that's riff was kinda lifted from Ace's "Fractured Mirror"), "you can't kill rock n roll, it's here to stay!"🤘🤘⚡⚡🎸🎸

[@johnglielmi6428]

Their first three albums were so underrated! The live album wouldn't even have been so popular without the tracks from those albums.

[@darlawrence9295]

IMO, the first 3 albums sucked, the songs didn't but the recordings did. Those albums didn't capture the KISS sound like the Live versions did.

[@benamisai-kham5892]

​​@@darlawrence9295you could almost say the same thing about cheap trick before budokon

[@ssgoifvet]

Their first 3 are the best... Hotter Than Hell is my favorite kiss album

[@johnglielmi6428]

@@darlawrence9295 I was not talking about the poor production quality of the recordings. I was talking about the songs themselves. All great songs on underrated albums. We Kiss fans are fans because of those first three albums, and the rest only came in after the live album was released. I'm sure you know what I meant.

[@markallen2984]

“The Originals” had great songs but mediocre performances and bad recording/ production

[@jmilne5751]

Ace said it right when Paul would NEVER admit to Ace suggesting to change his makeup from a circle to the now iconic Starchild Persona....

[@TobyCatVA]

Ace's "New York Groove" is the best of the solo album tracks.

[@BillGraper]

That's the only solo song I know from him. I'm going to check out the album after this video.

[@ProfessorofRock]

AMEN!

[@grintharke]

Rip It Out was always my favorite, but I loved the entire album. I was biased though, Ace was always my favorite KISS member.

[@arthurhall8238]

Not even close...as usual for Ace, it's a cover!

[@ssgoifvet]

Rip it out

[@Christodoulos-J]

Interesting factoid: Back In The New York Groove was written by Russ Ballard, who also wrote God Gave Rock And Roll To You, which KISS covered.

[@alexnejako777]

Ace's is the best of the 4 solo albums. i remember seeing these on the shelves in 79

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for watching.

[@AugustusLarch]

I was five. I clearly remember at the Ben Franklin store all the LP stacks lined up next to each other.

[@TheJohnnyCotts]

The general consensus on the solo albums tends to be: Paul's sounded the most like a Kiss record. Ace's was surprisingly good. Peter's ... not so much, mainly because Peter's tastes weren't hard rock and some fans couldn't handle it. Gene's lacked direction, as he was focused more on WHO he had playing with him than on the songs themselves.

[@tambor76]

@@TheJohnnyCotts - the general consensus is that Ace's is the best.

[@HoratioFitzbastard]

I own Ace's and Peter's albums on vinyl and they both make regular appearances on the turntable.

[@cyberherbalist]

Cool interview! Guitar World magazine ranked Ace Frehley as the 14th Greatest Metal Guitarist of All Time. I was never a Kiss fan, but I recognize their greatness as artists. I even like some of their songs.

[@BaddogSports]

Nice! Saturday morning coffee and a Professor Rock video. Life is good! When, I was young (pre teen years) I didn’t like Kiss much at all, but as I got older really began to appreciate how great these guys are. For all their kick ass rock songs, I think the ballad “Forever” might be my favorite Kiss track of all time. Keep up the great work, brother

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for watching.

[@HoosierGarage]

"Are you a spaceman?" "No, Im a plumber!"

[@jonathanjohnson8656]

" I got a pipe that needs some work " lol. Tom probably didn't make that mistake again lol.

[@davesux]

"I'm the trout player "

[@marksoquet8626]

Best interview

[@Kissfan96dr]

Space bear

[@trinaq]

I love this new series, and getting to hear the stories of the songs from Ace directly.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for watching Trina!

[@dannylopez9129]

I think Ace forgot how good he sung on TROUBLE WALKIN...But It's good to see Ace still Rock'n. 🤘🏿🙏❤️👍

[@chrisoakley5830]

Hey Professor, thanks so much for doing this, KISS is my favorite band of all time. There's so much I could say about them, like you said 5 decades is too much to put into one comment. I love the interview with Ace, he was and will always be my favorite KISS member. I got his new album last week and it's surprisingly very good, I was skeptical about it, but it's a fun listen, with some really good rock songs, not as good as the 78 album , but I do think it's his best since his 1989 Trouble Walking record, which I really like a lot. You've given KISS the respect that they are due on your channel, where many others have not, thank you for that.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Chris!

[@chrislestermusic]

I was a huge KISS fan and loved them all the way to the solos albums and then moved on a bit but would come back here and there in the 80s and 90s. Ace’s solo album was awesome and blew the other member’s out of the water. Fast forward to now and I got to play bass on Ace’s new album “10,000 Volts”. Surreal is an understatement. Great video as always and I love the channel!

[@calebdaggett3700]

Remember when the kids listening to KISS were criticized and said to be followers of “Knights in Satan’s Service”?. My uncle used to have to hide his KISS records from my grandmother and play them at night when she was asleep 😂.

[@telecommunicationkev]

Yesss!! Mom took my records because Jim Bakker the evangelist, said that !!! So I kidnapped her Norman Rockwell statue, and we traded for release of the hostages!!! No one was hurt!!!

[@RonaldWilliams-lp3bg]

Man I can relate to that so much same here I had to sneak My kiss albums and hide them from my mother because if she would have found those they would have been gone and the same thing when I started buying iron maiden album she would get rid of those also wow yeah I remember those days quite well lol

[@bartbluemusic]

You wanted the best, you got the best! KISS!!!! - One of my favorite bands EVER. So glad to see some love go their way today. Really enjoyed this interview. I only got to see them once, but it was with all their original members, so pretty happy about that. Rock and Roll All Nite! :) They told us that God Gave Rock and Roll To You, but it was really Kiss - LOL

[@simonscott1121]

Ace's solo album was pretty much the only one of the 4 that was an actual KISS album. Couple of tracks on Paul's album were pretty close, but Ace captured KISS better than the others.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks!

[@arthurhall8238]

umm...you have to be kidding. Paul's was by far the best!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Definitely. I agree.

[@jcsolomon6470]

Especially Live!My Feet will Never Be Cold,and Not So Tired!When I See Ace Play!The Amps So Loud,that you can Hear that Guitar pick,on that pick up!Literally,picking away!What a Show!

[@toddmercure9745]

First band I ever saw in concert, Love Gun 1977. Halloween for about 4 years was me as Paul Stanley. Great band. Lotsa love to Ace!

[@ripperace]

Finally! The Prof gets to interview Space Ace! KISS is still in my rotation of my music library. Maybe because they’re my favorite band along with the Stones, so I guess there’s bias there. I sat front row at a show a few years ago where it was he and Alice Cooper. Fantastic time, and he still brought it. His solos and the band were one of the reasons why I picked up a guitar. Thank you for this Prof!

[@larrybarnes1892]

Great to see Ace getting the recognition he deserves! Love all of his stuff! Thanks for sharing your story with him!

[@BACzero]

Hey, Professor! Been watching your videos for a few years now, but I've been a KISS fanatic since around 1978 (when I was in 4th grade). I still remember the first time I heard their music. Man, I was hooked from the start. I've been playing guitar for over 35 years, and Ace was absolutely my number-one influence. It's really pretty tough to cover such a long career in one short video, but I thought you did a great job! Would've loved to have heard more coverage of his '78 solo album (Rip It Out, Ozone, Speedin' Back to My Baby, Snow Blind), so many great songs on that album, but I get that it wouldn't have fit the spirit of the "5-song" format. Super kudos for actually getting Ace personally involved in this one. Absolutely fantastic episode!

[@ericwilliams1031]

I love that you got to talk to Ace. You never know what he's gonna say, but it's always entertaining. That '79 Tom Snyder interview is iconic. You should do a segment on that. My first thing I ever heard from KISS was "Detroit Rock City" back in '77 and I was mesmerized. Your evolution is pretty spot on other than I would add maybe "Deuce" or "Strutter" as a sixth song at the beginning.

[@lizhorvet1543]

Ace is always a trip and a joy to listen to. Funny, intelligent and he just seems like a truly nice person. One of the best guitarists ever! Thanks for doing this interview!

[@philipqvist7322]

His solo album was easily the best of the 4 released in the late 70s. New York Groove, written by Russ Ballard, is a great song

[@ProfessorofRock]

Agreed!

[@mariek6993]

not "easily" but ace got lucky that his cover tune was the most successful of the four solo albums. kiss went on to have good success without ace. ace had very little success as a solo artist. i never heard any of his stuff on the radio.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I love New York Groove.

[@residentpotato6023]

Yeah because we all know only the best songs get played on the radio🙄

[@ScottMasson]

“Lick It Up” is such a funny song. I remember when it came out. I was like 6 or 7 years old, and I thought it was silly even then…..and I didn’t even really grasp what it was truly about yet. I just knew it was funny because I used to laugh whenever my cousin would play it in the car. 😆 I still think it’s funny, and I love kiss.

[@everythingismid]

What a fantastic surprise! I've never heard him speak before - that accent is crazy unexpected! Thanks for this one. Nicely done! Your channel is, as always, an inspiration! 😎

[@jimmynotch]

It's the same accent as my Aunt Shirley after that 5th cocktail.

[@gyslainbeauchamp9241]

Ace is the reason i pick the guitar,even today,listen to his 78 album,no fillers,only pure energy💯💥, good job professor

[@khanysafan1705]

I first met Kiss in a roundabout way. It was 1974 and one day I found an 8-track tape at my house of some band (don’t remember who it was now), and I went to play it. Except, it wasn’t the band on the label. Someone had taped some other band over it. And this band was great! But, I didn’t know who it was. I played it around for people and no one knew who it was. One day my older brother (in his twenties and not living at home) heard me playing it, and said, “I’ve been looking for that!” And he took it from me. I said, “Wait, wait, who is it?” He said, “Kiss”. It was their debut album. I was 17. And, just to add, by that Halloween, Kiss was so well known that we were all painting our faces like them.

[@rachelmartin8130]

I have a somewhat similar story. I went to a concert to see Aerosmith, not knowing or caring who else was playing. The lineup was saliva , KISS and Aerosmith. From the very first moment KISS came out they rocked my world! By the end of their set I was a die-hard fan! P.S. I love Aerosmith, but by comparison to KISS they seems weak and had no effing energy. I was like I love this song and then looking at my watch saying is it time to go yet I'm exhausted. KISS had drained every ounce of energy out of me!

[@jazzandbluesculturalherita2547]

AND WHY, EXACTLY was the KISS 8-track cartridge label covered over with a label of another, different band? You left that part out!

[@IronSikh44]

I was born in the early 70’s and my first intro to Kiss was getting the Paul Stanley solo record on my 5th birthday. I have been a fan ever since. Kiss have been in the background of every stage in my life. They still are. I can’t imagine a world without them. Yes some of the music is not complicated. But it’s just pure fun! Nothing wrong with that. Life is bleak enough. Great interview with the Ace! My personal favourite album is Animalize! Great sounding record.

[@Mildred-nu7fh]

Ace's new album ' 10,000 Volts' is excellent!

[@arthurhall8238]

it's absolutely awful!

[@Pjrock2112]

Better than today's garbage.

[@Pjrock2112]

Damn straight Mildred! 🏒

[@robluiten445]

That may be so, but Ace hardly plays on it!

[@DougGoodwin]

I think 10,000 Volts is awesome, and the 1M+ views on KZbin seem to show others do, too.

[@itsrob2321]

We played I Was Made For Loving You in our band in high school. I wasn’t that thrilled about it, but everyone loved it. Fun times, if people like it, that’s what it’s all about.

[@mdduckman]

Fantastic video, as always. You are on your way to a million subscribers (should have happened a LONG time ago!). Your content is impeccable, informative and most important of all, supremely entertaining! I'm not a huge Kiss fan (like some of their songs) but it doesn't matter - even if the subject is an artist I'm not super into, I still am glued to the videos! That is your brilliance, in my opinion. Keep it up!!

[@DanieVargas]

I’m a silent member of the Kiss Nation and I LOVED Ace’s solo album from the 70s. New York Groove is a phenomenally written song!! Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are so full of themselves (especially Simmons, but that’s an Israeli trait which never left his psyche)Frayley was an AMAZING musician!! Didn’t know he’d released a new solo album!! Gonna take a listen in my Spotify!! Thanks Adam!! OMG! The new album starts with a BANG!! I’m gonna really like this album!

[@rabby-u]

I jumped fast onto the Kiss bandwagon when they released Alive. I was 15 or so, just getting my driver's license and cruisin' the strip and living it up. Thought i was pretty cool in my pizza delivery car, which had a great sound system and smoking dope all night. Kiss became my go to and i bought all past albums . Beth comes out and the next gen wave comes in, and thud. My heart was shocked. "I Was Made For Loving You" finished me off and it was on to surfin' the next passion. But it was sure fun when it happened! Good lesson Professor! Rock on! ❤🤘😛

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks.

[@markcatanzaro9699]

The use of "Back In The NY Groove" in the TV show "The Blacklist" was absolutely PERFECT for both Ace and Raymond Reddington! ❤

[@matthewward5813]

"The one thing I hated about the song was I used to have to go ticka dicka ticka dicka through the song sometimes my wrist would tighten up." You gotta love Ace's humor as well as his honesty. He is a one of a kind indeed.

[@thinman8621]

Here we are listening to the bands of our youth . . . nearly a half century later. Rock on!

[@historianKelly]

My parents grew up in the 1950s, I grew up in the 1970s. We had a local radio station that played '50s music on the weekends, so I grew up listening to '50s music as oldies rock 'n roll. When I started listening to bands like KISS and AC/DC (and had already decided I was going to study History in college), I thought to myself, "it's going to be so cool someday that the bands I listen to now will be the new 'oldies'!" Now here I am, pushing 60, still listening to the music I grew up with like my parents did, and I still think this music is cool, but I'm sure it's "oldies" to younger generations!

[@thinman8621]

@@historianKelly I'm right there with you. 😊

[@lawrencefine5020]

1975 was a magic year for me. Alive! came out and my musical life was changed forever. My bedroom walls were covered with Kiss posters and my JCPenny POS stereo was blasting Alive! over and over and they opened up my ears to louder, faster and heavier music which Kiss was solely responsible for. Rock and Roll Over is my favorite Kiss album followed by Hotter than Hell which I still listened to till this day. Kiss have put out stinker albums, but those 70's albums are classics which lead me to Black Sabbath, which lead me to Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Motorhead, Carcass, Obituary, Deicide, Napalm Death etc etc etc. It was Kiss that started it all and I am eternally thankful to this band for giving me the music I will love to my dying day. Especially to Ace Frehley, my favorite all time guitarist. Thanks for the Kiss episode. I needed this.

[@radsk8rbigollies594]

Ace is the reason why so many people picked up the guitar!! Also, Ace's cover of NY Groove is the greatest track on that solo album.

[@ProfessorofRock]

For sure!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I agree!

[@blackbirdpie217]

I wasn't ever a Kiss fan but your videos are so interesting and well covered I learn so much. I watched the whole video. Well done.

[@mzxc]

Hahaha 3:19 is actually Tommy Thayer and his old Kiss coverband Cold Gin. Please leave it like this and I'll get my popcorn.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Yeah, I apologize about that. With daily content and strict deadlines sometimes mistakes happen. I didn't have a chance to watch the final version before it got released. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@57clc]

@@ProfessorofRockNot a problem, Professor you absolutely ROCK! Thank you for this one. 🎉

[@steelandtreeE407]

Thought that picture looked familiar.......

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Okay, I have to say I was dying laughing. I looked closely, and that did not look like KISS at all.

[@abstractheory1]

Thayer’s square jawline always gives him away. No chance for mistakin him for Ace.

[@GrantWitham]

Music makes my world go round; thanks for helping Adam! While in high school, (1974-75), I met the band as a one-night roadie in Halifax, Nova Scotia - good fun!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Awesome!

[@GregHallArt]

'Cold Gin' was written by Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley, and is one of their better songs. My first time hearing KISS was when I found the 'Hotter than Hell' album, in a bush, outside an apartment building when I was 10 or so, it had no cover just the disc. I had to hide it from my parents because they didn't approve of that stuff. Beth was brought by Peter Criss from his previous band Chelsea and the songs title was 'Beck'. I brought KISS' 'Creatures of The Night' tape, with my favorite song of the time 'War Machine', with me when I was with the 22nd MAU in Beirut 1983-84. In high school my favorite song was Ace's 'New York Groove' a Hello cover, and I still listen to it today. I got paid $20 to draw the band when I was in high school, it was a lot of money for me back then. Ace's new stuff is pretty good.

[@robertneblett4477]

I loved Ace’s solo album. Back in the New York Groove and Snow Blind still have heavy rotation in my Apple Music library.

[@DC8091]

Prof its AWESOME so ya got Ace! He seems like a down to earth badass in every interview, (even the infamous “drunk” TV one🤘), this had to be a trip to do! The orig. KISS lineup ruled!! Hopefully Peter’s up next!! Great job as always! (i turned down going to see KISS this year, someone at the bar was shocked & why, I said “because Ace & Peter aren’t there”)

[@ProfessorofRock]

THanks!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Peter would be a great one to interview!

[@masonl.8859]

I met Tommy Thayer around 2005 in Cannon Beach OR. I didn’t know who he was but he looked familiar. I asked him if he was in the surf scene and he said he was into music! Never mentioned that he was a member of Kiss. Very chill and friendly guy.

[@johndef5075]

Ace's solo on Strange Ways will melt your face 🎸 😜

[@matjj676]

I remember hearing "Into the Night" for the first time on a Miami Vice episode as a kid in the 80s. Loved it ever since... That solo!

[@thomaskelley1718]

Everyone loves Ace, he is such a straight shooter.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

His name says it all.

[@Marine_Ret]

My first concert was seeing Kiss in Philly when I was 15 (1976), the show was amazing. Saw them again in 2019 on their final tour…did it really take them 5 years to complete their last final tour?

[@glengamble526]

8:05 fun fact: back then, labels purposely put songs that they thought had no chance of ever being a single onto the B sides of singles. And this was the case here with Beth. The reason was that Neil Bogart, president of Casablanca HATED the song. He was in the middle of a divorce from his then wife Beth and thought the band was making fun of him by writing the song. And Casablanca, Bob Ezrin and the band were convinced that DETROIT ROCK CITY was going to be the song that finally broke KISS at radio. In actual fact, it never really caught fire. But it was actually a radio DJ that flipped the single and started playing the B side Beth-which spread soon like wild fire. And then Casablanca rereleased the single, with Beth as the A side.

[@jimmyburns4681]

The only thing you did wrong on this video is that it was not long enough. I wanted more!! Great episode Adam

[@ProfessorofRock]

Awesome!

[@Cat_Rescuer]

I was in 5th grade, and a friend brought her KISS Alive II album to school. Blown away!! Good on you Ace, best solo album EVER!! My mom & I saw him in concert like 30+ years ago. I remember that Ace couldn't pronounce the name of the town we were in 🤭 but the concert was awesome! 🤘🤘😘

[@mikenixon2401]

Good profile on KISS and Ace Frehley. I saw an interview with Gene Simmons and was very impressed with his intelligence as a businessman. People tend to forget that successful performers understand the corporate side of their music and performance.

[@ProfessorofRock]

That's right! Good observation. What's your favorite Kiss track?

[@CasualSpud]

great marketer.. shit musician.

[@mikenixon2401]

@@ProfessorofRock that's a tough one to answer. I tend to think I like this about this and that on the other one. There's one I'm trying to think of the title. I remember when I heard it I liked it but was surprised it was KISS. I'll have to get back to you on that. My old broken brain does not want to retrieve a title.

[@ratatatuff]

Gene Simmons is a moron.

[@historianKelly]

Remember also, Gene was a school teacher. He's just smart, period.

[@jodidavis6595]

I only knew the songs by Kiss that the radio stations would play. By the way Ace Sounds and looks it shows what alcohol and hard times can do to you over 50 yrs of rockin and rollin. You sure get great interviews and you’re one heck of an interviewer 🇺🇸👍🏼

[@thumperrabbit6570]

Ace was always my guy. As a Sixth grader I perfected his signature and signed all of my homework/school papers with his signature .

[@robertnormand2254]

That's hilarious I did the same thing in high school when I'd get a bad report card or a warning slip...the principal would drag me in the office and ask who's signature that was ...I'd say ...oh that's my real Dad...he didn't think that was funny...detention and a phone call to my mother(who laughed at the absurdity of it all)😂

[@beatleguise130]

Hard to just pick 5 Tracks from the bands career as you did but I can give you the 5 albums most important to me… “Dressed To Kill”, the Album that started it all for me “KISS Alive”, Took my ears and imagination to a whole new place “KISS Alive 2”, Kissmania was just at its full peak at this time “Lick It Up”, the rebranding and 2nd life of the band bringing back reinterest “The Solo Albums”… Yes Ace’s was the best and looking back I can see what each was goin for and appreciate them all, just wish Peter s had a lil more something… Thank u

[@SamanthaCox-ow3dp]

The songs on their first three albums just sound better live. My favorite album of theirs is Destroyer. That album still rocks. My first concert was in June of 79, their Dynasty tour, I was 9 years old, I still vividly remember that night.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Agreed!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Destroyer is an iconic classic!

[@rogercrites8945]

Thanks for covering KISS. It's great to FINALLY hear music industry people like yourself acknowledge them.

[@areneesouder]

Just because it's easy to dance to, doesn't technically make it a disco song. I was a "disco queen", but also a serious "rocker", so I'm very sensitive to the spectrum of music. I know because it was the disco era, it was easy to tag the song that way, but the song still seriously Rocks! If we can Rock and Dance to our delight, that's nothing but a plus, or loads of plusses. 😊💃😎💜

[@nickfuller20]

I bet Dana Carvey could do a super funny impersonation of Ace Frehley. Good thing Ace had the Trixter guitarist write him a good album this year, That Trixter guitar guy blew my mind on their first Trixter album, major talent he had!!

[@AudiophileTubes]

'Dynasty' was a GREAT album! Unique, and Ace did vocals on 2 cool song of his! The Dynasty Tour was AMAZING! Saw it at Madison Square Garden, and had a great time with friends!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Awesome!

[@dgarve]

Agree--"Sure Know Something", "Magic Touch" and "X-Ray Eyes" are underrated KISS tunes.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

When?

[@dw7704]

The first two songs mentioned were live staples,opening with Detroit Rock City and ending with R&R All Night in the encore. And their “final” concerts ( so far…) did that. So fitting that both get mentioned

[@upinflames_01]

Great episode Adam! Ace, the new album is killer! 🤟😎🎸

[@JRRTOKIN420]

Thanks for this episode, Adam. Loved it like it was a lover. K, well..maybe not that deep 😉 The Spaceman is my favorite Kiss member. As a kid I was so fascinated and intrigued with Ace. Much like a youthful Brit to Ziggy Stardust. A friend introduced me to the splendor of Kiss. LOVE their first 3. Cheers Kiss fans! Awk!!

[@mrjmorovis]

My younger brother has Asperer's. When I brought Kiss Alive home they captured his imagination that last to this day. Kiss is always on his playlists like they were when playlists were mixtapes. Te one thing that would be wonderful if he cold meet at least one. Yes, her prefers the original lineup.

[@shiroibasketshoes]

Best wishes to you and your brother. I think you meant Aspergers.

[@toddscheler7194]

You might enjoy the book 'Look Me In The Eye' by John Elder Robison. He helped Ace develop his guitar visual effects and Ace nicknamed him 'Ampie'. He (Robison) learned well into adulthood that he was living with Asperger's.

[@stuarthynes6136]

Great days with live double albums... from Kiss to R.E.O. Speedwagon...Shock Me and Gary's guitar solo were great performances. Beth and Journeys Faithfully had the same life on the road theme. In Oz John Farnhams Burn for you had the same sentiment.

[@historianKelly]

Of all the interviews I've seen you do, this is the only one I'm absolutely jealous of. As a sports historian, I've interviewed pro athletes, members of sports Halls of Fame, sports reporters who covered Jackie Robinson's first game as a Dodger, I've spoken at conferences with Jackie's widow Rachel, contributed to journals, books, and TV specials, and I've had friends who play pro sports. But I was also a preteen KISS fanatic, and Ace Frehley is still my most favorite member of KISS, the band I listened to turned up to 11 as a child of the '70s. I even dressed up as Ace for Halloween one year when I was still in grade school! If you had asked me, in 1978, who did I want to meet more, KISS or the Pittsburgh Pirates, I think I'd have fainted at the thought of choosing. I was obsessed with both. To this day I *still* listen to Ace's solo album - you can go into my Pandora playlists right now, and Fractured Mirror begins one playlist, and ends another. Sometimes when artists give abstract names to their instrumental songs, I don't get it, but in this song, I can hear the sound of the midday sun traversing over the shards of a broken mirror, as it approaches the location of the mirror, hits in intensity in different places at different times, then moves past. It's a masterpiece of instrumental guitar rock. I believe that Mr. Frehley does not get enough credit for his brilliance as an artist because KISS was labeled a "glam band," because they wore the makeup and had the costumes, etc. But that band was for real.

[@muleblues71]

I got to pick out a record when I was 7, this was in '79. Ace frehley solo album was my choice. Still listen to it.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Awesome!

[@garypiccalo240]

Good choice on the 'Honorable mention'... It's pretty much the Only Kiss song I've done in pretty much every band I've ever performed with. ...love the show, keep it up. Great stuff

[@hinjurock70]

Ace always sounds perma-drunk 😎

[@mneugent7658]

My top 5: Detroit Rock City, Strutter, Black Diamond, Hard Luck Woman, Deuce. And sooo many more. Shout It Out Loud, Rock And Roll All Nite, Love Gun (Ace's guitar!), Calling Dr. Love.... their music is so underrated.

[@DonaldMerrit]

Bravo Ace! Stanley and Simmons can flip off.

[@arthurhall8238]

yes, Ace is great...LOL....guess you haven't heard him play live lately.

[@Spiritsebastian]

Kiss would not be kiss without Ace, Gene and Paul have always been jealous of his music genius. I will always love kiss !

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for watching.

[@Doclovesmusic1]

AND Peter

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Definitely!

[@atrain670]

This was fantastic! But I would’ve put “Shock Me” in my 5 songs, as the Love Gun album is still my favorite KISS album to this day! I had my KISS metal lunchbox back in kindergarten , 1975, and I still love the band now, at age 53! 😅

[@williamsanders2439]

Did see KISS when they co-headlined with Aerosmith (Joe Perry even jammed with them, in platform boots)...still have that concert T!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Awesome! What year?

[@williamsanders2439]

@ProfessorofRock Aerosmith were promoting Honking on Bobo, so I think it was 2004 or thereabouts. It was in the Ford Center then(Paycom Center now).

[@chrisoakley5830]

I saw that tour in Greensboro, NC. It was great, both bands put on a heckuva show.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Where?

[@williamsanders2439]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Oklahoma City

[@stevewilley1367]

Ace is my favorite. I own a music venue in Florida. Last night I played, "New york Groove", between sets. Love that song!!

[@BubbaZen10]

"If you got a good song you got a good song." True words man

[@tenpercentfordabigguy8550]

as a huge fan of Kiss in the 70s and 80s my friends and I rarely discussed any of the band members outside of Ace.He was and still is the coolest. Rock on legend

[@shiroibasketshoes]

Hey Professor, you keep trying to portray disco as an enemy after all these decades, declaring it’s rock versus disco. Even though you once said something like “I’ve got nothing against disco. I love disco. I love rock more.” A lot of Kiss fans (like me) and other rock fans liked disco, too. The two genres can coexist and even intersected occasionally. Aren’t you aware two Kiss alumni did disco? I don’t mean disco rock like “I Was Made For Lovin’ You,” I mean the totally disco stuff. You can see Vinnie Vincent in Dan Hartman’s hit “Instant Replay” video (a period of his career you left out of your feature on him) and Eric Carr was drummer for the disco group Lightning in 1979. I love both those albums, too. I’ve never heard a disco song bash rock. Some have praised it. Congratulations on the Ace interview and have a nice weekend.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I enjoy the rock vs disco battle. I like disco. I love rock.

[@stephenhanft1226]

@@ProfessorofRock Shirobasketshoes is right. Too many times, in your videos, you have portrayed disco in a negative light and as an enemy. I could give so many examples of you putting down disco, I don't think it's a coincidence that you named "Disco Duck" as the worst #1 song of all-time. Also, you did a Top Ten Countdown from a week in February of 1979. It was dominated by classic disco songs. You then recalculated the charts based on streams. As you compiled the results, a rock song was the new #1. It was a much lesser-known Queen song that beat out all of those classic disco songs. That wasn't a coincidence, either. You just had to show, that in the end, rock beats disco. I think you do it because you want to pander to the anti-disco, "disco sucks" people in the comments section.More viewers and subscribers? I think that is a shame. I'm a fan of both rock and disco. The 2 genres should've coexisted peacefully without waging any kind of a battle. I will always be bitter in regards to how the disco era ended and why. The cruel disco backlash was the worst thing I ever witnessed in music. Sadly, you still feed into this battle with some of your interviews and video content. It alienates disco fans of this channel.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I certainly don't want to alienate anyone. I don't take it all that seriously. I like both. I"m not pandering... Just having some fun@@stephenhanft1226

[@guntherdawg]

Teh “Disco War” scenes froms Todd Phillips’ Starsky and Hutch (2004) is stills meh favorites moments in alls of disco, although is can sees hows dancefloor warring coulds adds to teh conflicts withs rocks. This beagles thinks thats if rocks feels threatened by disco is teh signs supposedly manly mans bigs rock stars and their fans may has insecuritys.

[@zeus014]

I think Ace's best work was also his most under-rated: his 1989 release with Frehley's Comet titled Trouble Walking. Stand-outs were Hide Your Heart (which trumped in both sound and musicianship Kiss's version of that same track) and Ace's cover of the late-1970s Yes hit Do Ya.

[@johnalbasini6790]

Wasn’t Do Ya by ELO?

[@zeus014]

@@johnalbasini6790 Indeed it was! I always get those two bands mixed up for some reason.

[@sarahkeller-vp6hq]

OMG! How drunk was Ace? He had it all: getting lost in sentences, slurring words, a complete lack of filter . . . he even had those hiccup-burp things drunks get. No wonder he's a fun interview. He's a one man party!

[@chrisbenson6683]

Yep... As long as he holds up his end of the convo, it's all good

[@thefinisher2010]

And you know for sure he's pissed, ??? Supply your facts, were you pouring his drinks ? not just from your perspective, your just a profiler, you assume everything but know zip

[@seansweeney3365]

@@thefinisher2010it’s unfortunate, my wife and I just saw him last fall and the alcohol has taken its toll. Whether he’s sober now or not his playing is not nearly at the level it used to be and his performance was very amateur level. His backing band does all the work. He was my guitar hero when I was a kid learning everything he played. We witnessed first hand that he really isn’t on the level to tour with KISS, no matter how much we love seeing him.

[@thefinisher2010]

@@seansweeney3365I agree with you on the drugs and alcohol taking its toll, but to start your 1st comment wilt how drunk was Ace, is not a great way, Ace has continued to say that hes been off the grog x amount of yrs and you know what with all the cameras around these days someone's gotta to taken a pic of him hitting the bottle, I for one have not seen a pic

[@sarahkeller-vp6hq]

@@thefinisher2010 You might notice I asked a question, then did supply facts. He was slurring, he was getting lost in sentences . . . maybe the answer to, "How drunk was he?" is not at all. Not sure why this upset you so much.