Peter Schink

Rest in peace, Ace Frehley. I was so lucky to get to know my hero during the time I was editing "Detroit Rock City". Like thousands of other people, I started playing guitar, inspired by Ace. Ace may not have been the most technical of the great guitar heroes but he played solos that you could hum, melodies that got trapped in your brain, and he had a certain tone that no one could match. His solo for “Let Me Go, Rock ‘n’ Roll” on the “Alive” album is the sound of a man putting every last ounce of his heart and energy into a song. Spending time with Ace, he was everything I'd ever heard: funny, spacey, kind, a handful, and uniquely Ace. He was the real rockstar in Kiss - the real deal - he lived that unpredictable life through its ups and downs. I think I'll go blast the 1978 solo album now. Thanks for the inspiration and the joy of your music, Ace. Bon voyage as you travel back to your home planet. Ack.