In a recent episode of the Shout It Out Loudcast, Ace Frehley discussed his guitar-playing style, grouping himself with notable guitarists like Jimmy Page and Keith Richards in terms of not being technically perfect.
The musician openly acknowledged his and other iconic guitarists’ lack of technical precision, stating:
“I am a sloppy guitar player. So is [Led Zeppelin’s] Jimmy Page. So is [The Rolling Stones’] Keith Richards. Jimmy Page is a sloppy guitar player. So am I. Keith Richards is sloppy. Sometimes, they’ll have an off night, and Keith is off in the ozone. I wasn’t always on, but most of the time, when I played with KISS, I was on. I’d save the partying for after the show.”
Reflections On Guitar Skills
In a separate recent interview with Jeremy White, Frehley reflected on the financial losses he faced after Tommy Thayer took over his role in KISS. During this conversation, he reiterated his view on the ‘sloppy’ nature of his guitar playing, indirectly complimenting Thayer’s technical abilities over his own, saying:
“I was talking to an interviewer the other day, he’s going, ‘I listened to ‘Sonic Boom,’ I mean ‘Monster.’ He goes, it’s Tommy Thayer trying to sound like me, which is kind of ridiculous because, actually, Tommy’s not a bad guitar player. Technically he may even be a better guitar player than me. See, I’m sloppy. I’ll be the first one to admit it, and people have said it in comments. I’m sloppy, but I have a way about the way I play. I mean, Jimmy Page is sloppy.”
Speaking with Total Guitar in January 2024, the guitarist talked about his musical journey and his approach to playing the guitar. Despite influencing many with his laid-back style, he expressed a wish to have practiced more, highlighting a self-awareness of his imperfections. Frehley’s acceptance of being labeled as ‘sloppy’ shows his comfort with his celebrated yet imperfect playing style, emphasizing authenticity over technical flawlessness.
You can listen to the full episode below.
