Bruce Kulick recently reflected on Ace Frehley’s irreplaceable legacy in KISS, sharing insights into what made the iconic guitarist unique in an interview with Guitar World.
Kulick served as KISS’s lead guitarist during the 1980s. He discussed the distinctive qualities that defined Frehley’s playing style and the challenge of following in his footsteps.
“Ace based his playing on blues and pentatonic riffs with some twists and turns, of course. I admired his vocabulary of riffs. It blended with Kiss songs. Every solo became a song within the song. I always strive for that approach too,” Kulick said. “He loved Hendrix and Page. But his tone, his pick technique, and choice of notes were uniquely Ace. For me, he was not easy to emulate.”
Kulick highlighted the technical complexity of Frehley’s work, particularly on the classic track “100,000 Years.” This song showcased the guitarist’s innovative approach to composition and execution.
“His solos and playing on 100,000 Years were difficult. It has wildly syncopated riffs with interval jumps that were so special – truly in my mind it defined Ace’s approach. In my Kiss era I wanted to perform it. I kept shaking my head in awe as I recreated the riffs!” he explained.
Kulick added, “The responsibility of being the lead guitarist in Kiss was enormous. My era of the band firmly had one foot in the past but one in the future. That meant I was to be competitive with the new styles of guitar playing of the ‘80s. There was freedom for me to be ‘me,’ and come up with flashy but memorable solos. The tools of playing also changed from the iconic ‘70s. I had a Floyd Rose tremolo and more gain and distortion, for example.”
Frehley’s approach to guitar playing extended far beyond conventional techniques. The Daily Campus reported that Frehley combined KISS’s hard rock sound with elements of blues, drawing significant influence from Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. His self-taught style included unorthodox habits such as using his thumb on the fretboard. He pioneered innovative techniques like toggling the guitar switch for staccato effects or shaking the instrument to create a waving sound—methods that became signature elements of his playing.
Frehley’s groundbreaking work extended well beyond his era with KISS. MusicRadar noted that he inspired a generation of rock stars including Pantera’s Dimebag Darrell, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, and Tool’s Adam Jones. His raw, spontaneous approach to soloing influenced some of rock music’s most respected guitarists across multiple decades and genres.
Frehley remained humble about his contributions to rock music. Guitar Player captured his reflection: “It does make me proud and very happy though that I influenced a lot of great guitar players.” This modest acknowledgment underscores the profound yet understated nature of his legacy in rock guitar history.
Kulick also addressed the broader responsibility of being KISS’s lead guitarist. He noted how the role evolved during his tenure in the band.
“The responsibility of being the lead guitarist in Kiss was enormous. My era of the band firmly had one foot in the past but one in the future. That meant I was to be competitive with the new styles of guitar playing of the ’80s. There was freedom for me to be ‘me,’ and come up with flashy but memorable solos. The tools of playing also changed from the iconic ’70s. I had a Floyd Rose tremolo and more gain and distortion, for example,” Kulick concluded.
