8 best Kiss songs featuring Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley, the original guitarist for Kiss, passed away on October 16th at age 74. Fans and fellow musicians remember him as the embodiment of everything Kiss stood for: incredibly energetic music, over-the-top showmanship, and classic rock ‘n’ roll.

Ace Frehley became famous as the “Spaceman” during his time with Kiss, known for his silver star makeup, dramatic capes, and guitars that featured cool effects like smoke and lights. His unique guitar playing and memorable riffs influenced countless musicians and secured his place as a legend in rock and metal.

Ace Frehley didn’t just create Kiss’s iconic lightning bolt logo – he also wrote or co-wrote many of their most popular songs. To celebrate his legacy as one of rock’s all-time great guitarists, here’s a look at the best Kiss tracks featuring ‘Space Ace’.

Best Ace Frehley Kiss songs

“Shock Me” – Love Gun (1977)

Ace Frehley of Kiss got the idea for one of the band’s most famous songs after a frightening experience at a concert. In 1976, while performing in Florida, he touched a metal railing that wasn’t safely grounded and received an electric shock. The show was briefly paused, but Kiss was able to finish the performance.

Frehley was stunned when he temporarily lost feeling in his hand during a concert. Inspired by the experience, he quickly wrote the song “Shock Me” and shared it with the band. The song features one of his most celebrated guitar solos and was also the first time Frehley sang lead vocals on a Kiss track – something he’d previously been reluctant to do.

“Parasite” – Hotter Than Hell (1974)

With its instantly recognizable, driving opening riff, “Parasite” has been praised by critics as a remarkably well-done example of early punk rock. It’s one of three songs Ace Frehley contributed to Kiss’s second album, *Hotter Than Hell* (along with “Strange Ways” and “Comin’ Home”), and many fans consider it to be among Kiss’s strongest tracks, thanks to its raw and gritty sound.

Originally, Ace Frehley was considered as the lead singer for this song. Even though that didn’t happen, his talent still shines through in its powerful sound and energetic guitar work.

“Rocket Ride” – Alive II (1978)

Released as a preview of Kiss’s second live album, *Alive II*, “Rocket Ride” is a fun, upbeat song that makes you want to move. Despite its energetic sound, it still perfectly captures the glamorous, classic rock feel of the 1970s.

After performing “Shock Me,” this song is the second instance of Ace Frehley taking lead vocals. “Rocket Ride” evokes Frehley’s iconic and somewhat mysterious stage presence, along with the suggestive themes often found in Kiss’s music. It embodies the powerful, hard-rock spirit that Frehley became known for.

“Cold Gin” – Kiss (1974)

Man, when I first heard “Cold Gin” off Kiss’s first album, it was clear they were destined for huge things. That opening riff just *grooves*, and the whole song just screams rockstar life – you know, confidence, a little bit of wildness, and yeah, definitely a lot of alcohol! It felt like they were born to be stars.

“Cold Gin” is one of Kiss’s most famous songs and became a regular part of both their concerts and Ace Frehley’s solo performances. Frehley wrote the music and lyrics, but didn’t sing it himself because he lacked confidence in his singing voice at the time.

So, Gene Simmons ended up singing lead on “Cold Gin,” even though he’s known for never drinking alcohol. Over time, during live performances, Ace Frehley frequently took over vocals for certain parts of the song and often played a guitar solo during it as well.

“Rock Bottom” – Dressed To Kill (1975)

Kiss’s albums *Kiss*, *Hotter Than Hell*, and *Dressed to Kill* are considered their most essential works, perfectly capturing the band’s energetic, loud, and unapologetic rock sound. Their song “Rock Bottom” showcases this talent and powerful energy exceptionally well.

The song begins with a quiet, melancholic acoustic guitar piece, which quickly transitions into a driving, energetic rhythm. This contrast between the gentle beginning, composed by Paul Stanley and Frehley, and the powerful rest of the song is what makes it a particularly memorable Kiss track.

“Hard Times” – Dynasty (1979)

The album *Dynasty* showed Kiss experimenting with a more pop and disco sound, which many longtime fans didn’t appreciate. Although most of the songs, including the popular track “I Was Made For Lovin’ You,” leaned heavily into disco, guitarist Ace Frehley wrote three songs that helped maintain some of the band’s classic rock edge.

The album features songs like “Save Your Love,” a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “2000 Man,” and “Hard Times.” Frehley’s distinctive, raw vocals really shine on “Hard Times,” and the song showcases his newfound confidence as a singer. It’s a classic track about the challenges of city life, and it’s clear Frehley has moved past his earlier hesitation about singing.

“Two Sides Of The Coin” – Unmasked (1980)

Like their album *Dynasty*, Kiss continued to explore a more pop-focused sound with *Unmasked*. Just as with *Dynasty*, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons aimed to broaden their fanbase with pop influences, while Ace Frehley preferred to maintain the band’s harder rock style.

Compared to albums like *Hotter Than Hell*, this one leans more towards pop. However, Ace Frehley’s songs – “Talk To Me,” “Torpedo Girl,” and “Two Sides Of The Coin” – kept it grounded in rock ‘n’ roll.

With “Two Sides Of The Coin,” Ace Frehley continues to showcase his strong vocals and reaffirms his dedication to genuine hard rock, regardless of the situation.

“New York Groove” – Ace Frehley (1978)

If you had to choose one song to represent Space Ace’s music, it would almost certainly be their famous version of “New York Groove.” In 1978, each of the four members of Kiss released a solo album – all self-written and released through the band’s own label.

Ace Frehley’s self-titled solo album featured his take on the song “New York Groove,” first released in 1975 by the glam rock band Hello. Frehley’s version, which was more energetic and flamboyant than the original, became a hit, peaking at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. This made it the most successful single to come from any of the four individual albums released by the members of Kiss.

Unlike his bandmates, Ace Frehley stuck to his signature hard rock style on his solo album, rather than trying out new sounds. This album proved to be the most successful of the four solo projects and remains a standout, highly regarded piece of work in Frehley’s career.

2025-10-20 21:01