I grew up on this. This is a loss I really felt.
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Was surprised to hear of his passing. Ace didn't seem quite of this planet (I'm sure if he was a kid now he would he diagnosed with something), but he seemed a gentler soul than Paul or Gene.
I can't say that KISS made a lasting impression on me musically, but on a sad day that Tom Snyder interview from the late 70's can still cheer me up :)
Ace inspired me to get up on stage. I thought he was coolness personified when I was 12. Sad to see him go. :-\
Yeah I gotta agree this hits hard Ken. I love early KISS, I bought the first record when it came out and everything up to Destroyer. I was lucky to see them at thier zenith in 1975, what a show it's still burned into my brain. Ace's playing always stood out to me, it was instantly identifiable, he had great tone and didn't waste a note, his solos were so very well constructed and fit the songs perfectly. I miss those days watching KISS on late night TV, going up to the House of Guitars to get the new KISS release, watching the mail for my KISS ARMY packet, they really made you feel a part of everything.
I was a shy akward teenager and KISS gave me the confidence to get up on stage and make it my home, for that alone I am forever grateful. RIP Ace and thanks for everything 🚀
Rest in Space, Ace. Definitely one of a kind.
Quote from: uwe on October 30, 2025, 01:46:14 PMRest in Space, Ace. Definitely one of a kind.
Was starting to think you'd kicked the bucket and all, mein Führer!
(https://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-the-report-of-my-death-was-an-exaggeration-mark-twain-56-91-88.jpg)
All threads lead to Deep Purple:
Ace was my first "favorite" guitarist. Other guys came along whose chops were objectively "better," but not many of them could write a solo as easily recognized and hummed as Ace did on every KISS album he contributed to (as well as most of his later solo work), especially when he was invested in the project. And that Tom Snyder interview is STILL the best interview that band ever did, both for Ace's drunken mayhem and Gene's utter bewilderment in not being able to run the show like he usually did.
I lost more of what was left of my childhood than I would have expected when Ace left this plane. And I'm realizing that I will miss him as much as any friend I ever had in "real life."
Quote from: OldManC on December 24, 2025, 12:10:22 AMAce was my first "favorite" guitarist. Other guys came along whose chops were objectively "better," but not many of them could write a solo as easily recognized and hummed as Ace did on every KISS album he contributed to (as well as most of his later solo work), especially when he was invested in the project. And that Tom Snyder interview is STILL the best interview that band ever did, both for Ace's drunken mayhem and Gene's utter bewilderment in not being able to run the show like he usually did.
I lost more of what was left of my childhood than I would have expected when Ace left this plane. And I'm realizing that I will miss him as much as any friend I ever had in "real life."
All of this! ^^^
To this day I fail to rhythmically comprehend what he played here:
It sounds weirdly out of time, like his pick is chipped and gets caught in the strings every time. :mrgreen:
But no one could play that riff like him.
I'd been listening to the live version for a while before I heard the studio version where it's much more noticeable. It was kind of a WTF moment for me. :o