Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett recently shared his ranking of the classic KISS solo records, offering his perspective on the iconic 1978 releases in an interview with Premier Guitar.
The discussion centered around the quality and impact of each band member’s solo effort. Shiflett provided a clear hierarchy of his preferences.
When asked about Ace Frehley’s solo record being the obvious standout, Shiflett confirmed the widespread opinion among fans and musicians.
“No question. To me, the solo records go Ace, Paul, Gene, Peter in terms of, you know, good to bad,” Shiflett said.
The conversation then shifted to Frehley’s most memorable guitar work. Shiflett identified his top three riffs from the Space Ace.
“Top three Ace riffs. Oh, when you think of the top three Ace riffs, I mean, you got to throw ‘Shock Me’ in there. That was kind of his signature, his first signature song,” he explained. “I mean, you could go ‘New York Groove,’ but it’s a cover. So, does, you know, and also ‘2000 Man’s a cover, so like you couldn’t really throw that. I would say cover songs you have to exclude.”
Shiflett continued his analysis by highlighting original compositions that showcase Frehley’s songwriting abilities.
“He didn’t sing it in KISS, but ‘Cold Gin,’ I believe, he wrote, right? That’s, you know, that’s solid. And you know what? I go rocket ride. I go ‘Rocket Ride,'” he concluded.
Shiflett’s assessment aligns with the commercial and critical reception of these albums when they were released nearly five decades ago.
The four solo albums by Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss were released simultaneously on September 18, 1978. This marked an unprecedented move in rock history. Norseland Rock reported that Casablanca Records shipped five million copies total, guaranteeing platinum status for each album before they even hit the shelves.
Frehley’s album proved to be the most successful of the four releases. This validated Shiflett’s ranking decades later. Wikipedia noted that the Space Ace’s solo effort reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum after shipping over one million copies. The album was largely boosted by the hit single “New York Groove” which climbed to No. 13 on the Hot 100.
The ambitious marketing campaign behind the simultaneous release was unprecedented for its time. Pencil Storm documented that Casablanca Records spent $2.5 million on promotion and guaranteed instant platinum status by shipping five million total copies across all four albums.
While the albums performed well commercially, the strategy of releasing four solo albums simultaneously created an interesting dynamic among fans and critics. The move allowed each KISS member to showcase their individual musical personalities outside the constraints of the band’s signature sound. Frehley’s blues-rock approach ultimately resonated most strongly with audiences and fellow musicians like Shiflett.
