Ace Frehley , former guitarist and founding member of KISS , died last Thursday, October 16, at the age of 74. The exact cause of death was not revealed, but a statement on the musician's social media , posted this Friday, the 17th, informs that Ace died after a fall in his home studio.
At the time, the 65-year-old Spaceman was touring with Origins, Vol. 1 , an album of re-recordings of rock classics, such as Cream, Thin Lizzy, Free , and others, including three tracks from the group that made him famous. His appearances in Brazil gained special significance, being his first and only solo visit to the country, in May 2017, with a single performance in São Paulo, at Tom Brasil, in the southern part of the city.
Ace assured fans that his visit to Brazil would be memorable. “I feel like this is the first time. This will be a different show from the ones I've been doing in the United States. It will have a different setlist and several surprises. I'll bring my guitars full of effects” [via Rolling Stone ]. His debut marked a unique moment for KISS fans, who were able to enjoy hits from the band as well as classics from his solo career.
Present at the show, writer Roberto Capisano Filho commented in a review for Combate Rock : “The eternal Spaceman delivered his message with talent and lived up to the reverence the public has for him. Ace is the musician that fans most regret leaving Kiss; being able to see him live is one of those things that, as they say, is priceless.”
“Ace put his fingerprint on Kiss’s songs in such a way that they will always sound more real when performed by his hands. Besides “Parasite,” “Love Gun,” “Shock Me,” “Cold Gin,” “Strange Ways,” “Detroit Rock City,” and “Deuce”—all in the show’s repertoire—prove this. What matters is that for approximately an hour and 40 minutes, the audience vibrated with every strum of the idol. Ace showed he was in good shape, delivered a show where he was honest with himself, with his history, with rock and roll, and honored the fans’ veneration,” he concluded.
However, the visit was also marked by negative comments, as Marcelo Vieira in a review for Rock Brigade Magazine : “The problem is that Ace was never all that great. Not even when KISS held the title of the biggest band in the world. He was always shy on stage, always missed notes during solos, always stayed in the shadow of his bosses. […] Ace Frehley has a special place in our hearts, and what better way to demonstrate that than by making him feel at home, despite his indifference towards his hosts? Obviously, there was no shortage of “olê olê olê, eicê eicê”, conclusive proof that the best thing about Brazil is the Brazilian people. High goals, low expectations. Thank you, Ace, for the best bad show of my life.”
Check out the setlist, according to Setlist.fm:
01. Rip It Out
02. Toys
03. Parasite (Kiss)
04. Snowblind
05. Love Gun (Kiss)
06. Rocket Ride
07. Rock Soldiers
08. Strange Ways (Kiss)
09. New York Groove
10. 2 Young 2 Die
11. Shock Me (Kiss)
12. Cold Gin (Kiss)
13. Detroit Rock City (Kiss)
14. Deuce (Kiss)
The only KISS concert in Brazil.
The most emblematic moment was his only appearance with KISS in Brazil, in 1999, on the Psycho Circus , which marked the return of the classic lineup with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons , Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss . Together, they played on April 5th in Porto Alegre, at the Hipódromo do Cristal, and on April 17th in São Paulo, at the Autódromo de Interlagos – the latter show drew approximately 45,000 people.
Featuring dazzling lights and visual effects, with 3D glasses distributed to the audience, the performance undoubtedly left a lasting impression on every rock fan who was present.
At the time, the newspaper Redação do Grande ABC stated that Ace Frehley has "a very limited voice and little vocabulary to act as a frontman," and that "on Saturday night, there were problems with the amplification of Frehley's voice, but he really has little to show, just like Gene Simmons, who is more of a logo than a musician."
"Whether out of populism or genuine recognition (since São Paulo has a respectable legion of Kiss fans), Paul Stanley paid special homage to the city. 'We were in Porto Alegre, but tonight you are number 1,' he yelled. 'You are the best, you will have the best,'" the newspaper concluded.
Check out the setlist, according to Setlist.fm:
01. Psycho Circus
02. Shout It Out Loud
03. Deuce
04. Do You Love Me?
05. Firehouse
06. Shock Me
07. Let Me Go Rock 'N' Roll
08. Calling Dr. Love
09. Into The Void
10. Ace Frehley Solo
11. King Of The Night Time World
12. Gene Simmons Solo
13. God Of Thunder
14. Within
15. Peter Criss Solo
16. I Was Made For Loving You
17. Love Gun
18. 100,000 Years
19. Rock and Roll All Nite
20. Beth
21. Detroit Rock City
22. Paul Stanley Solo
23. Black Diamond
READ ALSO: Gene Simmons opens doors for Ace Frehley and Peter Criss to participate in KISS event.