Ace Frehley

Paul Daniel Frehley was born and raised in The Bronx, New York City, the youngest of three children of Esther Anna (Hecht) (1920–2006) and Carl Daniel Frehley (1903–2000).

His father, from Pennsylvania, was the son of Dutch immigrants, and his mother is originally from North Carolina and has a German descent.

He has a sister, Nancy, and a brother, Charles, a classical guitarist.

Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley (born April 27, 1951) is an American musician who was the original lead guitarist, occasional lead vocalist and founding member of the rock band Kiss.

The Frehleys were a musical family, and when Frehley received an electric guitar as a Christmas present in 1964, he immersed himself in learning the instrument.

"I never went to music school; I never took a guitar lesson, but everybody in my family plays an instrument. My mother and father both played piano, his father was the church organist, and my brother and sister both played piano and acoustic guitar."

Frehley was always surrounded by music, and started playing guitar at age 13.

He lists Jimi Hendrix, Albert Lee, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, and the Who as his main influences.

Growing up on the corner of Marion Avenue and 201st Street, off Bedford Park Boulevard (also known as 200th Street) and Webster Avenue in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx, Frehley graduated from Grace Lutheran School at age 13.

Two of the high schools he attended were DeWitt Clinton High School on Mosholu Parkway and Theodore Roosevelt High School on Fordham Road.

He got the nickname "Ace" in high school from friends who said he was "a real ace" for his ability to get dates.

Also in his high school years, a guidance counselor encouraged him to get into graphic arts.

He later credited guitar playing for "saving his life" as a member of Kiss.

Frehley's earliest bands included The Outrage, The Four Roses, King Kong, Honey, and The Magic People.

When Frehley's later band, Cathedral, began getting paying gigs, he dropped out of high school.

At the insistence of his family and girlfriend, Frehley eventually returned and earned a diploma.

After graduation, Frehley held a string of short-term jobs, including mail carrier, furniture deliverer, messenger, taxi driver and liquor store delivery person.

Frehley spent the early 1970s in a series of local bands including one called Molimo who recorded half an album for RCA Records in 1971.

In late 1972, his friend, Chris Cassone, spotted an advertisement for a lead guitarist in The Village Voice and showed the ad to Frehley.

He invented the persona of The Spaceman (a.k.a. Space Ace) and played with the group from its inception in 1973 until his departure in 1982.

After leaving Kiss, Frehley formed his own band named Frehley's Comet and released two albums with the group.

By January 1973 the band came up with the name Kiss.

Frehley designed the band's double-lightning-bolt logo, which was polished up by Stanley.

The band quickly decided to paint their faces for live performances and Frehley decided to start painting silver stars on his eyes.

When the group eventually decided to adopt stage personas to match their makeup and costumes, Frehley became Space Ace.

Later his stage persona was also known as The Spaceman.

Frehley stated that this persona was inspired by his interest in science fiction and space travel.

While Kiss spent their early days rehearsing and playing in empty clubs, Frehley worked as a part-time cab driver to pay bills.

In September 1973, Kiss members began to receive a $50 a week salary from new manager Bill Aucoin, and Frehley quit his cabbie job.

He subsequently embarked on a solo career, which was put on hold when he rejoined Kiss in 1996 for a highly successful reunion tour.

Frehley's second tenure with Kiss lasted until 2002, when he left at the conclusion of what was originally purported to be the band's farewell tour.

His most recent solo album, 10,000 Volts, was released on February 23, 2024.

Frehley went to 10 East 23rd Street above the Live Bait Bar and auditioned for Paul Stanley (rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (bass guitar), and Peter Criss (drums).

Frehley showed up wearing one red and one orange sneaker and was less than impressive visually, but the band liked what they heard from his playing.

About three weeks later the band named Frehley as their lead guitarist.

Guitar World magazine ranked him as the 14th Greatest Metal Guitarist of All Time.

Outside Kiss, Frehley achieved further commercial success and popularity, with his debut solo album achieving platinum status.

His first album with his Frehley's Comet band was also a big success.

Frehley is noted for his aggressive, atmospheric and melodic guitar playing and is also known for the use of many "special effects" guitars, including a Gibson Les Paul guitar that emits smoke from the neck humbucker pickup and produces spinning pyrotechnics and a custom Les Paul that emits light based on song tempo.

Frehley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of Kiss.