<![CDATA[ Latest from Guitar World in Kiss ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/tag/kiss Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:57:13 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “One of the most historically significant guitars in rock and roll”: Ace Frehley’s iconic 1975 Gibson Les Paul expected to sell for more than half a million dollars at auction ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/juliens-auctions-music-icons-may-2026 XJEHtuhNgDrr6FEdknTSd3 Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:57:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ “One of the greatest rock albums of all time”: Former Kiss guitarist Vinnie Vincent is charging $2 million for his new album ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/music-releases/vinnie-vincent-guitarmageddon-two-million-dollars ycxnM9thzePExY8XkWqjhE Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:29:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “When I heard Train Kept a Rollin' I said, ‘Man, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford have gotten really good!’ After Steven left, Jack Douglas said, ‘Don’t say anything, but that’s not Brad and Joe’”: Angel’s Punky Meadows on why he didn’t join Kiss or Aerosmith ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/punky-meadows-angel-once-upon-a-time aoiLHESbnwyt2R4fCiCUSL Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:11:23 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Gene and Paul came back to the studio with their jaws on the floor. Gene said, ‘No-one has ever turned down Kiss’“: The glam-rock guitarist who accidentally turned down Kiss ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/the-glam-rock-guitarist-who-accidentally-turned-down-kiss df4JHv3GrsjbV86fJwpvon Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:26:21 +0000 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:21:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Doors are immediately opened for us, but once you’re in the room they don’t necessarily give you the benefit of the doubt”: Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons on the realities of making it in the music industry as the sons of two Kiss legends ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/stanley-simmons-on-following-in-their-fathers-footsteps UBeXTsJ6TqxWZKuySbbTsG Fri, 30 Jan 2026 22:18:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The guitar wasn't always user-friendly, and the old-school lights often became red hot, leading to burns”: The Smoker, the Rocket-Shooting Les Paul… The one with, like, a million lights – here are Ace Frehley’s 5 most iconic Kiss guitars ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/ace-frehley-top-5-kiss-guitars ySEuWZFJjzEbNZj5YHxY8d Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:10:04 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It’s one of the greatest rock albums of all time. If the support is not there, it will not be released”: Vinnie Vincent says his new record rivals Zeppelin, Hendrix and the Beatles – but he won’t release it if people don’t buy the single for $300 apiece ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/vinnie-vincent-threatens-to-shelve-new-album jvxwUxWyTwbmoowBNLnVVN Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:16:39 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I didn’t really think about it. I did my best guitar work there without thinking. I just emptied my head!” How Frehley’s Comet sent Ace Frehley’s post-Kiss career into orbit ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/ace-frehley-the-lost-interview-frehleys-comet uwJY2CLXhRCtWpsuZ59Vp Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:47:50 +0000 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:48:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It’s heavy, cutting, psychedelic and very offthe cuff. It’s got the vibe of a madman”: Ace Frehley’s 6 greatest Kiss guitar moments ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/ace-frehley-greatest-kiss-guitar-moments 5eJuSZvLMMnX6mm5QygG5n Fri, 02 Jan 2026 12:20:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The fact that I played rhythm guitar on Cold Gin on stage alongside Ace will always seem surreal”: My time with the Spaceman – why Ace Frehley was one hero you had to meet ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/why-ace-frehley-was-one-hero-you-had-to-meet HboJeQSJ53rgPZnwoiLXfm Sat, 27 Dec 2025 07:22:24 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I heard someone playing deep, fiery guitar in the room next door. I thought, ‘Boy, I wish that guy was in the band!’ I looked over the balcony… It was Ace”: The otherworldly life and times of Kiss guitar icon Ace Frehley ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/the-life-and-times-of-kiss-guitar-icon-ace-frehley z3jX4nxFor8LZEnW53q8t7 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:12:41 +0000 <![CDATA[ “There’s still a ton happening behind the scenes”: Tommy Thayer says there is still more in store for Kiss ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/tommy-thayer-on-the-future-of-kiss 5AubHK8SknwCBqrFSipAqn Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:31:53 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I remember thinking, ‘This is like Eddie Van Halen’s death.’ He influenced so many, and he was one of a kind. His legacy is monumental”: Bruce Kulick remembers Ace Frehley, and the Frehley-era Kiss song that caused him the most trouble ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/bruce-kulick-on-ace-frehley XwWfgB6mYtQ4oLyBxKPoEL Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:04:17 +0000 <![CDATA[ “My hand to God, I didn’t intend to hurt Ace or his legacy”: Gene Simmons apologizes for previous comments saying Ace Frehley dying due to a series of “bad decisions” ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/gene-simmons-apologizes-for-comments-made-following-ace-frehley-death shiifjKeN2KZjbjoqEgnvL Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:26:04 +0000 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:27:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Ace was the reason... His image made me go, ‘This is what I want to do with the rest of my life’”: John 5 on his final conversations with Ace Frehley, working on Peter Criss’ new record, and the signature guitar so good he’s written a song about it ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/john-5-ace-frehley-peter-criss 5wyygSMojZUUwqS3kbuVMb Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:51:45 +0000 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:51:50 +0000 <![CDATA[ “You want to get through the tour for selfish reasons. In the meantime, your brother is ruining their life”: Gene Simmons on how he wished he’d handled his relationship with Ace Frehley differently ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/gene-simmons-tough-love-ace-frehley-regret UP3hCGotE7LT3xFCrzUfSM Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:24:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “An engineer made a fake pickup, and we used asbestos so the heat of the bomb wouldn’t harm the wood”: The daredevil ‘Smoker’ Les Paul that Ace Frehley used on his final Kiss tour is heading to auction ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/ace-frehleys-smoke-bomb-les-paul-to-be-sold-at-auction 3cYteCXmK4Pcb7sW53oBFR Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:34:54 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I am brutally honest, even at the risk of losing my gig. Ace loved it because he was surrounded by people who’d say he could do no wrong. I never did that”: Anthony Esposito’s unique career alongside the Spaceman, George Lynch and Jake E. Lee ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/anthony-esposito-george-lynch-ace-frehley-jake-e-lee XTLzaDWe48XYwQxGbgLLgX Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:18:42 +0000 Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:37:01 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We certainly had differences, but that’s what family is about”: Kiss honor Ace Frehley with candlelit tribute at their first show in nearly 2 years ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/kiss-pay-tribute-to-ace-frehley-at-kiss-kruise pu6WjFEQQHvintUYfksYFQ Mon, 17 Nov 2025 17:34:19 +0000 Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:13:16 +0000 <![CDATA[ Ace Frehley’s cause of death confirmed by autopsy report ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/ace-frehleys-cause-of-death-confirmed-by-autopsy-report BrzfFBUSV5RGSfgn4spDR4 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:59:01 +0000 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:17:23 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I had a really bad detox. I fell down a flight of stairs. I screwed up my shoulder and neck and couldn’t play guitar for a while. I thought God had taken it all away”: How Ace Frehley came back from the brink with his first solo album in 20 years ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/ace-frehley-anomaly SgZ3RTonKDLTwSQTB8BCud Sun, 02 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:41:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A couple of Ace’s people were furious. I got cornered by a couple who were asking if I had a problem”: Justin Hawkins on his run-in with Ace Frehley – who saw the funny side to their ‘spat’ ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/justin-hawkins-on-his-spat-with-ace-frehley redPVgPwbXHASckTndvqnG Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:35:25 +0000 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:31:28 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Without him, I don’t know whether I would’ve ever wanted to play guitar”: Tom Morello on why Ace Frehley is his ultimate guitar hero – and why he owes him a “life debt” ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/tom-morello-on-why-he-wouldnt-have-been-a-guitarist-if-it-werent-for-ace-frehley H77rMjQLQMTy8iW8sNQkTV Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:28:31 +0000 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:20:42 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Everybody thinks playing technical and fast is harder. It takes a lot more courage to tone it down and play what’s right for the song”: Nuno Bettencourt on what Ace Frehley taught him about guitar playing ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/nuno-bettencourt-on-what-ace-frehley-taught-him-about-guitar-playing HFjwTQaJimMbUC8hi9o7iJ Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:23:15 +0000 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:44:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The last thing he told me during that last interview was, ‘I’m probably gonna go until the wheels come off!’” I spoke to Ace Frehley a dozen times in the last two years of his life – oft-misunderstood, he was the true embodiment of rock ’n’ roll spirit ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/gw-correspondent-on-his-time-with-ace-frehley Vn2ftJLv4zJsxqBFT4S6Ym Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:13:54 +0000 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:12:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Ace reminded us all that rock should never apologize for being fun and that a little chaos can sound downright heavenly”: The guitar world pays tribute to the late Ace Frehley – the Spaceman who took Kiss into orbit ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/guitar-world-pays-tribute-to-ace-frehley j5X7KWjo2XVRS3JNU8BXJD Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:09:06 +0000 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:13:38 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I had a slight fender bender. It happens. Especially to those of us who are horrible drivers”: Gene Simmons rushed to hospital after reportedly losing consciousness and crashing his SUV into a parked vehicle ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/gene-simmons-kiss-car-crash-malibu VkHAheqf77wzinM2yiwRSW Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:03:11 +0000 Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:31:05 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Against his wishes, his doctor insists that he refrain from travel at this time”: Ace Frehley cancels show after fall in home studio ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/ace-frehley-cancels-show-after-fall-in-home-studio NMrGpQTa8AJXpSvtRqrK3h Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:53:01 +0000 Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:43:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I did the least amount of overdubs on Alive! – I’ll let the fans decide why that is…” Ace Frehley looks beyond his next Origins album to his travel guitar, more touring and even reconciling with Kiss ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/ace-frehley-origins-vol-3 hTADCtex2idTvtreiNPnyh Fri, 05 Sep 2025 13:21:15 +0000 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:17:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ “They just kept on coming in and borrowing my equipment”: Kiss’ controversial live album, Alive!, didn’t just borrow its title from Peter Frampton – it also features some of his gear ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/kiss-borrowed-peter-framptons-gear-for-alive 9dhqh9y645dErZrTQPFgNW Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:54:09 +0000 Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:51:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I’m the kind of guy that never says never. I don’t hate Paul or Gene. We’re rock and roll brothers”: Ace Frehley sets the record straight on where things stand with Kiss ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/ace-frehley-sets-the-record-straight-on-where-things-stand-with-kiss 5nNsjE5bfoAjsMdeuUpPuH Sun, 17 Aug 2025 14:31:00 +0000 Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:19:06 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We never claimed to be virtuosos, we were virtu-no-sos! Call them overdubs or call them replacing things that weren’t up to snuff. I make no apologies”: Paul Stanley on the success (and controversies) of Kiss' Alive! and the band's upcoming unmasked gig ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/paul-stanley-kiss-alive-50th-anniversary qoPKTmJKqzAjtsbHgzTAnP Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:12:29 +0000 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 08:49:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ “At that point, they were making better Les Pauls than Gibson was”: Kiss' Paul Stanley broke new ground by trading his Gibsons for Ibanez guitars – and by teaming up with the iconic Japanese brand for an early signature model ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/paul-stanley-on-trading-his-gibsons-for-ibanez-guitars eKZGjawerk3Vd3Au6HSP2n Mon, 23 Jun 2025 17:20:40 +0000 Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:53:50 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It was about being a competitive guitarist in the '80s. That was a completely different playing style than Ace was known for”: In 1985, Kiss needed the best and got the best – his name was Bruce Kulick ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/bruce-kulick-kiss-asylum 6bcfkisKUtFz7j3wfy9RcV Thu, 29 May 2025 16:47:30 +0000 Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:32:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I’m not going to die with a lot of money. I’m going to die happy”: This Kiss superfan just paid $12k to be Gene Simmons’ roadie for a day ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/gene-simmons-roadie-for-a-day-package-reviewed-by-a-fan 8ujjL73ketTpsECTXDz9iF Wed, 14 May 2025 16:50:38 +0000 Wed, 21 May 2025 10:13:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ "They said, 'We don't have a direction yet, but you got the gig!' I said, 'Well, let me think about it'": Yngwie Malmsteen on why he turned down UFO ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/yngwie-malmsteen-of-choosing-alcatrazz-over-ufo oc6otEpBHQi4Zd6YjDU7D7 Sat, 26 Apr 2025 02:29:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I said, ‘Mike, I don’t know how to tell you this, but that’s a note-for-note guitar solo from...” Mike McCready stole his Alive solo from Kiss – but Ace Frehley had already stolen it from another legendary classic rock band ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/mike-mccready-alive-solo-stolen-rom-kiss-stolen-from-the-doors vvq7wBQdmNVqjLuxFVj5HU Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:45:38 +0000 Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:26:52 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I had to use the same microphone that Gene Simmons used with all the blood coming out of his mouth. Can you imagine that!” Mick Rogers recalls Kiss supporting Manfred Mann's Earth Band in their early days ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/mick-rogers-recalls-kiss-supporting-manfred-manns-earth-band-in-their-early-days PpXEiF79Zj3PwvEaPGojYC Sat, 29 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:32:12 +0000 <![CDATA[ “No-one does it better than him. That’s what inspired me to do what I’m doing today”: John 5 likes to push his playing to the limit – but says Ace Frehley does one thing better than any shredder on the planet ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/john-5-what-ace-frehley-does-better-than-anyone oEMhmZBhM9wxKjB8Eqm9qg Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:29:42 +0000 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:19:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ “You can set up amplifiers and drums to your heart’s content”: Gene Simmons defends paid roadie scheme ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/gene-simmons-defends-paid-roadie-scheme EURASW4Qd8gSdocBd7baGY Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:44:59 +0000 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:09:05 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I’ve always missed being in Kiss”: Kiss announce unmasked Vegas show with former guitarist Bruce Kulick, as Gene Simmons postpones 17 solo dates ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/kiss-announce-special-one-off-show-with-bruce-kulick HxynAg2m6rFHBDZBVkZWuC Mon, 24 Mar 2025 16:43:38 +0000 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 14:52:27 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I’m about 85 or 90 percent there. But it’s that 10 percent that sets me off. I can’t knock out those old solos as smooth as I used to”: Ace Frehley is practicing more than ever as he keeps his demons behind him and returns to arenas ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/ace-frehley-arena-return FbBpovBK3XGZjgb4sWxv69 Sat, 22 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:08:54 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A lot of the misconceptions were created by Paul and Gene. They still say in interviews that they fired me, but I was never fired from Kiss”: Ace Frehley sets the record straight on his multiple departures from Kiss ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/ace-frehley-sets-the-record-straight-on-his-multiple-departures-from-kiss Ziw7baDqRdAWfDLcYaUiFj Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:41:20 +0000 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:10:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ “You can get up there and be a rockstar”: Gene Simmons is offering fans the chance to be his personal assistant and roadie for a day… for $12,495 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/be-gene-simmons-roadie-for-a-day B42zouSBDnsBSLAgXrkDRe Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:20:27 +0000 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 14:59:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I remember thinking, ‘I’ll show them – they don’t realize they made a mistake.’ It’s not just the wins, it’s the determination you build from the losses”: Tommy Thayer’s junior high disappointment fired him up for success with Kiss ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/tommy-thayer-kiss-career-and-gear f697GKZwKrYebyhi26cHN5 Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:20:17 +0000 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:16:29 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I remember sitting with Gene and him saying, ‘You need to start growing your hair again.’ That was the discussion!” The moment Tommy Thayer knew he would be officially joining Kiss ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/tommy-thayer-on-joining-kiss WLpcp5mmsShuPJbVxGH5Xi Fri, 07 Mar 2025 15:22:23 +0000 Tue, 11 Mar 2025 15:30:11 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I really don’t think that ’80s guitar style has stood the test of time very well”: Tommy Thayer emerged in a scene of shredders and guitar heroes – but the style they pioneered never appealed to him ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/why-tommy-thayer-was-never-interested-in-shredding zk7sBbRM5pw5tEUUhLoGZE Thu, 27 Feb 2025 13:38:25 +0000 Tue, 11 Mar 2025 15:30:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He brought technical skill mixed with soulful artistic delivery through his music”: Karl Cochran, longtime Kiss and Joe Lynn Turner collaborator, has died aged 61 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/karl-cochran-longtime-kiss-and-joe-lynn-turner-collaborator-dies kSss7kUVNDkKv9exURRka3 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:54:29 +0000 Wed, 05 Mar 2025 14:08:05 +0000 <![CDATA[ “This guy comes in, plugs in, and starts playing while we’re talking to another guy. I said, ‘Buddy, you better sit down before I knock you out’”: Ace Frehley interrupted the band when he auditioned for Kiss – and Gene Simmons was ready to throw fists ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/gene-simmons-on-ace-frehleys-kiss-audition 224PUoZCcyEhCaSGRhS25G Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:26:00 +0000 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:07:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We started doing that before there was a thing called ‘metal’ or the Seattle stuff, we just did it to save our voices. And then it became commonplace”: Gene Simmons says Kiss was one of the first bands to take down-tuning into the mainstream ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/gene-simmons-claims-kiss-was-one-of-the-bands-to-take-downtuning-into-the-mainstream vZfx3UCKmHokTRSNTLsGqj Tue, 17 Dec 2024 13:42:17 +0000 Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:54 +0000