Ace Frehley Biography

Frehley joined Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss in January 1973 as lead guitarist for Wicked Lester. Soon after joining the band, they changed their name to KISS. Frehley is credited with creating the KISS logo, featuring the lightning-bolt style "S". When KISS made the decision to permanently feature full face makeup as part of their persona, Frehley adopted the character of "Space Ace". KISS released their self-titled debut in February of 1974.

Frehley's signature concert gimmick typically came at the end of his main guitar solo, when he activated a hidden smoke bomb in his guitar that gave the guitar the appearance of being on fire while he played.

Frehley, along with the three other KISS members, released a solo album in 1978. Frehley's was the most commercially successful of the four, reaching #26 on the album charts and spawning a #13 hit with "New York Groove". Also, "Flaming Youth", co-written by Frehley, was a Top 100 hit for KISS in 1976.
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Frehley left KISS in 1982, unhappy with their recent forays into disco (Dynasty), pop (Unmasked) and prog-rock (Music From "The Elder"). He returned to the music scene in the mid-1980s with a new band, Frehley's Comet. The band achieved moderate critical and commercial success.

Frehley returned to KISS in 1996 for several reunion tours. He participated in the "Farewell Tour" in 2000 and then left the band again, replaced by Tommy Thayer.

In 2005 Frehley made his acting debut (unless you count his brief role as a security guard in an episode of Millennium (TV series) and role in the made for TV movie Kiss meets the Phantom of the park) in the independent crime drama Remedy. He is reportedly working on his first solo album since 1989, but no release is scheduled.

ACE FREHLEY PICTURES

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ACE FREHLEY BIOGRAPHY