Ace Frehley recently took to Instagram to share a pivotal moment in his life—the ad posted by Paul Stanley seeking a lead guitarist.
“One call changed everything,” Frehley captioned the post. “That ad led to history. Take a chance this year—you never know what’s waiting on the other side.”
The ad, written by Stanley, read: “Lead guitarist wanted. With flash and ability. Album out shortly. No time wasters please.”
In the early 1970s, Frehley played in local bands, but his career trajectory shifted in late 1972 when his friend Chris Cassone spotted the ad and showed it to him. Frehley auditioned at 10 East 23rd Street, performing for Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. The band was impressed, and Frehley joined KISS in 1973.
Reflecting on his time with the band during an appearance on the Guitar Tales podcast, Frehley said, “We created something that will endure way after we’re all dead and buried. I try to let the negative stuff go and focus on the positive memories. We had a lot of fun. We were closely knit in the early days, holding weekly meetings to resolve any issues.”
However, Frehley acknowledged that fame brought challenges. “Once we became rich, we all became millionaires. Everyone started going their own way, with separate limos and bodyguards. Nothing lasts forever,” he remarked.
In another interview, Frehley reminisced about the band’s struggles before success. “Paul worked in a sandwich shop. I delivered liquor. I was a postman for six months. We all had side jobs before the big bucks came in,” he said.
He also recalled their modest beginnings compared to their later success: “In the early days, Gene and I used to share a room at a Holiday Inn. After Alive became a hit, we each had our own suites. That marked the start of everyone going in their own direction. It was the beginning of the end.”
Frehley reunited with KISS in 1996 for a reunion tour with the original lineup and contributed to the album Psycho Circus, including the song “Into The Void.” After the band’s Farewell Tour in 2001, Frehley left to focus on his solo career, continuing to build on the legacy that started with that one fateful ad.
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