KISS of the Week: Ace Frehley (1978)

Last week, Ace Frehley passed away at the age of 74. It sucks that stuff like that just pops up on your phone like it's no big deal. I saw the NYT push notification, more than likely sandwiched between their notifications about Gaza updates and banana bread recipes. Phones are weird. They can just ruin your day like that. I had to go into press night of Fremont Ave. like I hadn't just learned that Space Ace died.

Now, I won't pretend that I've been a lifelong appreciator of Ace, or KISS at large. I fell down the rabbit hole after watching the KISStory documentary and obsessing over how silly all of it was. These grown men were taking this goofy, fun-loving game of dress-up so seriously in a way I couldn't help but admire. Well, I guess I mean Paul and Gene, not Ace. He didn't take it seriously. That's why they kicked him out twice.

But I've been bewitched by KISS since, diving into the records and reading the memoirs and driving Taylor crazy with the YouTube videos. I wouldn't say I enjoy it ironically, because that would be both untrue and shitty, but I like it in the same way I like WWE - I like reading and learning about it more than I actually like it. None of the other music I listen to sounds like KISS. I just blogged about an Old Crow Medicine Show concert a few weeks ago! Most KISS fans don't even like most of the KISS music! I wouldn't say I'm a member of the KISS Army, more like I tried signing up at the recruitment office but I had a pre-existing heart condition that kept me out.

Though Gene and Paul have carried the torch all these years (which is why when I commissioned dobbible to make these fantastic doodles for the site, I only sent her those two as reference), Ace was definitely the coolest. He liked to say that he was the most successful solo artist of the original four, but that's because he put out a few records while Paul only ever tried his Soul Station crap. Rock bands are funny that way. See what I mean!

He could freaking play. I wish I had taken the opportunity to see him a few months ago just to say I did. Now I can't. That sucks. Say what you will about Trump's Kennedy Center (and I have plenty to say), but I was going to watch the Honors just for the KISS stuff, including a possible reunion. I won't even have that. The fans won't have it. And Ace won't have it. Now, all I can do is present his self-titled solo album from '78 (when they all put out solo records on the same day) as the Album of the Week. Rest in peace, Ace.