MR

I think Ace Frehley is one of the most underrated guitarist in rock & roll because some misguided critics can't get past the makeup & the pyrotechnics while the music itself gets lost in the shuffle for some ludicrious reason being a member of the legendary rock band Kiss despite the fact that Space Ace is a great rock guitarist in his own right even though he's not technically great like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page & Eddie Van Halen you can't dismiss his virtuosity.

No, I don't think he is underrated at all. Quite often I think he is overrated. I say that as a KISS fan, but truth is truth.

melodic_metal_fl wrote:No, I don't think he is underrated at all. Quite often I think he is overrated. I say that as a KISS fan, but truth is truth.

I'm with you Melodic.

I agree Sarge and melodic...as a Kiss fan who loves Ace...He has some solos that I love and he was an inspiration for many kids to learn to play the guitar, but it wasn't because of his playing greatness but rather the charisma of Kiss in the 70's and the character Ace got to be on stage...he's a good player and I think overall he gets worthy praise...Shock Me solo made a guitar mags Top 50 Solos of All Time (it was #50)

I think at different times in his career Ace was both over-rated and under-rated. But I don't care. He has done more for the guitar and guitar playing than most guys have. Ace was the reason I picked up the guitar in the first place and it was because of his sound, feel, and style. Not because of his chops. And definitely not because of the make up. Sloppy? Yeah well so is Jimmy Page but no one ever points that out.

I happen to think Jimmy Page is one of the most over-rated guitar players.

melodic_metal_fl wrote:I happen to think Jimmy Page is one of the most over-rated guitar players.

I couldn't agree more. Same goes for Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton as far as I'm concerned.

Concerning Ace, all these years I thought he had played on the KISS albums but in truth some songs he didn't. For me, that just diminishes his reputation.

No doubt he's a good guitarist, underrated, No.

Mr.Rock wrote:Concerning Ace, all these years I thought he had played on the KISS albums but in truth some songs he didn't. For me, that just diminishes his reputation.

No doubt he's a good guitarist, underrated, No.

The songs he didn't play on aren't exactly KISS classics. Sweet Pain, Larger Than Life, All American Man (probably the best of the few). All the great rockers have Ace. Gene didn't play bass on many songs, does that diminish Gene's rep?

Gaffguitars wrote:The songs he didn't play on aren't exactly KISS classics. Sweet Pain, Larger Than Life, All American Man (probably the best of the few). All the great rockers have Ace. Gene didn't play bass on many songs, does that diminish Gene's rep?

Yep, Gene is guilty also. It just pisses me off when you find out a band you have followed and bought albums over the years reveal/let slip that they didn't play on the bloody thing. You are correct in saying the songs are not exactly classics, (Will we find out if there are anymore songs band members didn't play on?).
You must be able to understand if fans, like myself, get irate over such issues. And yes I do think it diminishes Genes' reputation(as a musician anyway), it diminishes the bands also.
After saying that, I will buy their next release, even if its with Thayer or Ace

Gene didn't play bass on many songs, does that diminish Gene's rep?

What reputation? As money hungry, in it for the almighty dollar? Surely you don't mean his rep. as a bass player.

KISS was the right combination of guys that made some good music, but none of them, in the original line-up, can ever be considered underrated as musicians. They wrote good songs together and were a terrific live act, which is what is important, anyway.

Way underrated! He's the best guitarist ever.

I personally think that Bruce Kulick could play circles around Ace, and you never hear about him.

Ace is the Ace and definitely a badass guitarist.

Ace, in his prime, was the best guitarist for KISS. Vinnie, Mark, Bruce and now Tommy have chops and tricks that Ace never had. But none of those guys have his sound and feel. At the end of the day it's sound and feel. Everything else is academic. The question isn't whether Ace is under-rated or over-rated. The question should be does he have anything left in the tank? Or has he used it all up. I hope he does because he is just too cool when he's good.

Ace, in his prime, was the best guitarist for KISS. Vinnie, Mark, Bruce and now Tommy have chops and tricks that Ace never had. But none of those guys have his sound and feel. At the end of the day it's sound and feel. Everything else is academic. The question isn't whether Ace is under-rated or over-rated. The question should be does he have anything left in the tank? Or has he used it all up. I hope he does because he is just too cool when he's good.

Ace is a perfect example of wasted potential. He WAS a great guitar player back in the mid to late 70's. If you watch any of the old boots from Cobo 76 or Houston 77, he could bring it. IMO he was as strong as Paige, Clapton, or any of the others. In 1979 he was peaking in Kiss. He had arguably the best of the 4 solo records and was coming in to his own as a songwriter/performer. Gene may have gotten all the press and 16 magazine fold-outs, but Ace was the favorite of many aspiring musicians. Check any of the great young guitar players of today and they will say that Ace was a major influence on motivating them to play.
He is a victim of the rock-n-roll lifestyle. He is pickled now and was a mess for much of the farewell tour. I love Ace, but watching him slur vocals and wobble around the stage just sucks, heart breaking actually. His guitar solo's on the farewell tour were an absolute joke. His playing had deteriorated to the point that he relied on the bombs and sparks to keep people from getting a slice of pizza or taking a wizz during his solo. His solo was a huge part of the show when he was "ON".

I guess to answer the original question....No he is not underrated. Kiss is not taken seriously by many people. Unfortunately Ace gets pigeon holed into being more about the ACT than displaying true talent. For those of us who KNOW what good guitar playing is, we respect Ace for his classic solos and place in music history. Who didnt wanna be the Spaceman back in the day? I did.

Ace is a perfect example of wasted potential.

I was thinking the same thing. He's a unique talent that has his own style, but he never developed it. The drugs and drink really hurt him. On the last reunion tour with Ace, he was really sloppy.

On the other hand, he was a big reason why KISS was great in the early days.

Space Ace is one of the greatest rock guitarist of all time even though he's highly underrated because he's a member of Kiss but his classic riffs define Kiss just as much as Paul's distinctive vocals even though he's not technically great like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page & Eddie Van Halen

I don't think he's exactly over rated as a technical player but i think he does'nt get enough credit for his tone/stlye of playing. I've not heard anyone whos sound resembles frehleys!!!

cutter wrote:I don't think he's exactly over rated as a technical player but i think he does'nt get enough credit for his tone/stlye of playing. I've not heard anyone whos sound resembles frehleys!!!

EXACTLY!!

Ace just rocks. Vinnie, Mark, Bruce and Tommy are supposedly much better guitar players. The difference is Gene and Paul don't need Aerosmith to sell out Madison Square Garden when Ace is in the band.

Hi forum, this is AJ FedZ from the band Snakeryder! Being a big KISS fan, I'd like to give my thoughts on the topic! Ace Frehley is a LEGEND and not because of his Guitar fret work! When I was a kid, I viewed KISS as super heroes who play loud Rock & Roll! Think about, they were up there with SUPERMAN, BATMAN, SPIDERMAN! That is what made them so special to many! THEY WERE LAGER THAN LIFE!

ACE is pretty much an average guitarist! No more, No less! Their are guy's in the 80's who took guitar playing to amazing levels! What it boils down to is, do you like what Ace did on records! The answer is YES! Ace was a creative guitarist with a blues edge! His guitar solos were memorable, hummable and made a statement giving him his signature sound!

What is a Great guitarist? One who plays fast as lighting with sweeping arpeggios clean and accurate as a razor?

For my money, simple in most cases is quite often better!

Ace Frehley was the first guitarist who was a major influence in my early years as a guitarist.
If anyone would like to check out my band, here is a link to our site! Check out the mp3 Got No Time For Romance! You just might hear ACE on lead Guitar! LOL

melodic_metal_fl wrote:I happen to think Jimmy Page is one of the most over-rated guitar players.

Well he's no Ace Frehley... Jimmy Page is a GREAT guitar player!!!! What exactly makes him overrated?

JourneyJoe wrote:

melodic_metal_fl wrote:I happen to think Jimmy Page is one of the most over-rated guitar players.

Well he's no Ace Frehley... Jimmy Page is a GREAT guitar player!!!! What exactly makes him overrated?

That, IMO, he is an average guitar player, at best. Again, that is my opinion and I am aware that it is not shared by others.

Had I answered this post a couple of months ago, I would have said "no"

But having seen Tommy play with Kiss twice now, I have a new found respect for Ace.

Tommy is a great guitarist, but he just doesn't pull off Ace's bits for mine.

Lacking feeling?
Ace's style?

I don't know exactly what it is, but he always seems to be slightly out of time to me.
And he plucks the strings rather than caressing them.

Does that make sense?

oh well :lol

lot of good points raised here... to me the most special thing about ace was that he made guitar playing look and sound exciting regardless of any technical inadequaacies some people may think he had and that whole package was an inspiration ...

melodic_metal_fl wrote:No, I don't think he is underrated at all. Quite often I think he is overrated. I say that as a KISS fan, but truth is truth.

I don't know what world you're living in since Ace is a great rock guitarist in his own right who should get more recognition by critics who pay way too much attention to the makeup of Kiss & he's highly underrated.

I think that Ace Frehley is a good guitarist but he was at his best when he started in Kiss.

Later on he got older, naturally, and his fingers got slower. Nowadays, I think, he is the best he can be.

Why is Jimmy Page even in this thread? he's not in Kiss man. Ace and Jimmy were both good at their time, but in comparison to todays guitarist, with the arsenol of new techniques avaliable, they just don't stand a chance. But that does not mean they are overrated or lacking the talents that made them as famous and memborable as they are 30 years later.