I don’t really know if it’s possible today a guitar hero that had no former music classes. I doubt that because Metal playing is getting more and more sophisticated, so it requires much more music theory. But Ace “The Spaceman” Frehley belongs to another era. An era when heart was more important than musical theory. I’m not saying studying music is bad. Not really. But heart and passion are also great. Let’s hear the man’s got to say:
“I never took a guitar lesson, and just about every day, somebody comes up to me and says, ‘If it wasn’t for you, I never would have picked up a guitar.”
“I feel guilty because I never took a guitar lesson. I go, ‘You’re idolizing an idiot.’ [Laughs] I don’t even know what I’m playing half the time. I can’t verbalize it – it just comes out of the speakers.”
“My favorite KISS song is “Deuce” [from the band’s 1974 self-titled debut album]. Not only is it a great, ass-kicking song – it was the first [KISS] song that I heard.
“When I auditioned for KISS, Paul and Gene played “Deuce” for me and they said, ‘It’s in the key of A. Plug in and play a solo.’ That’s how I got the gig, so “Deuce” has a special place in my heart.
“I love playing it live, and I enjoyed playing it when I was in KISS. It’s a real kick-ass song, so that’s probably my favorite KISS song.”
Hear “Deuce” here:
