Ace Frehley destroying the Star Spangled Banner

**Scream And Fly** · 08-01-2017, 05:00 PM

I have never been a fan of Kiss. Their music just never appealed much to me, and admittedly, I don't know much about the band's history. As a guitar player myself, I will naturally pay closer attention to their near-legendary former guitar player, Ace Frehley. Maybe I'm out of line for saying this, but I never thought Ace was an exceptional musician - both in his studio work and most especially his live performances.

Just this week I came across this video of Ace Frehley performing our national anthem. I know there have been many guitar players that followed in the steps of Hendrix with their own renditions of the Star Spangled Banner, and sometimes there's a fine line in the perceptions between musical creativity and terrible playing. I think Ace belongs to the 'terrible playing' category, especially here.

I think this performance is absolutely horrible. It was definitely not any form of artistic expression either - this is just awful. When watching this, I would cringe at times. It's just difficult to sit through.

**XstreamVking** · 08-01-2017, 05:08 PM

Kiss is, well just kiss. Never did anything for me either. Makeup and stuff never made any music better. I always put them in the same category as twisted sister. Crap music and hard to look at....

**delawarerick** · 08-01-2017, 05:38 PM

Trying to be the Jimi, Hendrix that is

**AZMIDLYF** · 08-01-2017, 05:50 PM

I will say this about KISS...saw them in '77 and the show absolutely blew us away. They took concerts to another level with the costumes, pyrotechnics, and insanity. The music was secondary actually Lol. For those who remember...it was in the Hollywood Sportatorium.

**outasite** · 08-01-2017, 06:28 PM

Smoke another one Ace!!!

**Mo River Rat** · 08-01-2017, 08:47 PM

Jimi would be shaking his head.

**AZMIDLYF** · 08-02-2017, 08:04 AM

Why Ace...Whyyyy...Lol

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**Scream And Fly** · 08-02-2017, 02:58 PM

There's little doubt to me that Ace is trying to do some of the Hendrix thing here, but Hendrix could apply his art on top of already great playing. I was never a Hendrix fan either, but he could play. I think all the years of drugs or whatever had taken their toll on Ace. That performance is just really difficult to watch.

**Frank Molé** · 08-02-2017, 03:11 PM

I lasted a MIN...hes SHOT.................

**1BadAction** · 08-02-2017, 04:37 PM

Epic live show, but at the end of the day they're a gimmick band with mediocre music.

**NICE PAIR** · 08-02-2017, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by Frank Molé

I lasted a MIN...hes SHOT.................

"You the man, Frank" I couldn't do it. :-(

**delawarerick** · 08-02-2017, 07:25 PM

Hendrix could play is an understatement even Clapton said when he heard him he was stunned alot of the 60's artist were wired.

**CDave** · 08-03-2017, 03:21 AM

I grew up/live in a small city and was a big Kiss fan when I was a teenager. Saw them when they came to town in 1979 or 1980, their small show, and loved it. I did enjoy their music. Then in 11th grade I meet a talented musician/classmate and we became friends. We were roommates after HS for awhile. He introduced me to different rock bands like The Dixie Dregs, UK, Adrien Belew, Frank Zappa, Genesis, the kind of music you rarely heard on the radio. Even got me listening to some talented Jazz musicians.

Once I learned about truly talented musicians I didn't enjoy Kiss anymore. But they did make some good "radio music" in their early days. Ace was never a great guitarist and his drinking problems didn't help his playing. I understand he's sober these days and I'm glad he is but for whatever reason his playing never progressed.

Popular bands and talented bands don't often go hand in hand.

**specboatops** · 08-03-2017, 03:59 AM

You want to see a kick ass live concert, just saw the Roger Waters Pink Floyd farewell tour, freaking amazing show, and the visual effects - awesome!

**CDave** · 08-03-2017, 04:48 AM

Originally Posted by specboatops

You want to see a kick ass live concert, just saw the Roger Waters Pink Floyd farewell tour, freaking amazing show, and the visual effects - awesome!

When was that tour?

Pink Floyd is the band I regret the most not seeing when they were all together. Love their music and David Gilmour is one of my favorite guitarist.