John 5 recently reflected on his relationship with legendary guitarist Ace Frehley. He addressed a question about their final collaboration plans in an interview shared on Guitar World.
When asked whether Ace had invited him to participate in the upcoming Origins Vol. 3 project, John 5 confirmed that he had received the offer. He was prepared to contribute to the record.
“Yes, he did. He kills me, man. I was gonna do it with him. I don’t know what song I was gonna do, but he wanted me to play on the record because I did on his others,” John 5 said. “I’m so sad; I cherish those times.”
The collaboration would have continued a musical partnership between the two guitarists that had already produced memorable work together. Ultimate Classic Rock reports that Ace Frehley first met John 5 when Kiss were rehearsing for their 1996 reunion tour. This marked the beginning of a friendship that would span over two decades.
Their professional collaboration began in earnest when Frehley invited John 5 to contribute to his Origins series. CV Independent noted that the two guitar virtuosos collaborated on Ace Frehley’s 2016 release, Origins Vol. 1. John 5 soloed through a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Spanish Castle Magic” on the album. This track showcased their shared reverence for classic rock influences and established the template for their future collaborations.
Building on that success, John 5 returned for Origins Vol. 2 in 2020. Consequence documented that Ace Frehley and John 5 teamed up for a cover of The Beatles’ “I’m Down” for the album. Their ability to reinterpret rock classics with technical precision and emotional depth was further demonstrated through this collaboration.
The final offer to participate in Origins Vol. 3 represents one of Ace’s last professional endeavors before his passing. It highlights the enduring creative bond between the two musicians. This unrealized collaboration stands as a poignant reminder of the mutual inspiration and friendship that defined their relationship across nearly three decades.
