Bruce Kulick has reflected on the lasting and irreplaceable legacy of Ace Frehley in KISS, offering thoughtful insight into what made the band’s original guitarist so distinctive. Speaking in a recent interview with Guitar World, Kulick shared why Frehley’s influence remains unmatched, even decades after his departure from the band.
As someone who stepped into an enormously demanding role, Bruce Kulick understands firsthand the challenge of following a guitarist who helped define the sound and identity of KISS. During the 1980s, Kulick served as the band’s lead guitarist, navigating a period when expectations were high and comparisons were unavoidable.
Rather than viewing Frehley as a benchmark to overcome, Kulick spoke with admiration, highlighting the unique qualities that made Frehley’s playing both influential and difficult to replicate.
A guitarist with a language of his own
According to Bruce Kulick, Ace Frehley was not just a technically skilled player. Instead, he was a guitarist with a deeply personal musical vocabulary—one that blended seamlessly with KISS songs and elevated them.
Kulick explained that Frehley’s style was rooted in blues and pentatonic scales. However, what truly set him apart was how he bent those familiar foundations into something unmistakably his own.
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“Ace based his playing on blues and pentatonic riffs with some twists and turns, of course. I admired his vocabulary of riffs. It blended with Kiss songs. Every solo became a song within the song. I always strive for that approach too,” Kulick said. “He loved Hendrix and Page. But his tone, his pick technique, and choice of notes were uniquely Ace. For me, he was not easy to emulate.”
Through this reflection, Kulick emphasized that Frehley’s influence extended beyond technique. His solos were melodic statements, carefully crafted to serve the song rather than dominate it. As a result, Frehley’s leads felt essential, not ornamental.
The difficulty of stepping into Ace Frehley’s role
When Bruce Kulick joined KISS, he inherited a legacy shaped by Frehley’s sound, image, and musical instincts. While Kulick brought his own style and technical strengths, the shadow of Frehley’s work was impossible to ignore.
Kulick acknowledged that emulating Frehley was never the goal. Instead, he focused on honoring the past while allowing space for personal expression. Still, certain songs highlighted just how demanding Frehley’s playing could be.
One track, in particular, stood out as a technical and musical challenge.
“100,000 Years” and Ace Frehley’s innovation
Kulick singled out the classic KISS song “100,000 Years” as a prime example of Ace Frehley’s complexity and creativity. While the song may sound raw and spontaneous, Kulick explained that its structure reveals a sophisticated approach to rhythm and phrasing.
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“His solos and playing on 100,000 Years were difficult. It has wildly syncopated riffs with interval jumps that were so special – truly in my mind it defined Ace’s approach. In my Kiss era I wanted to perform it. I kept shaking my head in awe as I recreated the riffs!” he explained.
This moment of reflection highlights how Frehley’s work often defied easy categorization. Though rooted in classic rock traditions, his riffs featured unexpected twists that challenged even seasoned guitarists.
For Kulick, recreating those parts was not just an exercise in accuracy. It was a lesson in understanding Frehley’s musical mindset.
Balancing legacy and evolution in KISS
Beyond individual songs, Bruce Kulick discussed the broader responsibility of being the lead guitarist in KISS during the 1980s. At that time, the band faced a unique challenge: honoring its past while adapting to a rapidly changing musical landscape.
According to Kulick, his era of KISS existed at a crossroads.
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“The responsibility of being the lead guitarist in Kiss was enormous. My era of the band firmly had one foot in the past but one in the future. That meant I was to be competitive with the new styles of guitar playing of the ‘80s. There was freedom for me to be ‘me,’ and come up with flashy but memorable solos. The tools of playing also changed from the iconic ‘70s. I had a Floyd Rose tremolo and more gain and distortion, for example.”
This explanation underscores how Kulick approached his role with respect and realism. While Frehley defined the band’s early sound, Kulick was tasked with keeping KISS relevant during a decade dominated by technical virtuosity and evolving production styles.
Different tools, same expectations
Kulick noted that advancements in guitar technology also influenced how he played. The increased use of gain, distortion, and hardware like the Floyd Rose tremolo allowed for new techniques that were not as common during Frehley’s era.
However, despite these changes, the expectations remained enormous. Fans wanted memorable solos, strong melodies, and a sense of identity—qualities that Ace Frehley had ingrained into the band’s DNA.
Kulick’s challenge, therefore, was not to replace Frehley, but to expand the band’s sound while maintaining its core spirit.
Recognizing an irreplaceable legacy
Throughout the interview, Bruce Kulick made one point abundantly clear: Ace Frehley’s legacy in KISS cannot be duplicated. His influence is not limited to technique or tone, but extends to songwriting, attitude, and musical intuition.
Frehley’s ability to create solos that felt like miniature songs remains a benchmark for guitarists worldwide. As Kulick explained, that approach continues to inspire his own playing to this day.
Rather than framing the discussion as a comparison, Kulick positioned it as a celebration of what made KISS special across different eras.
Why Ace Frehley’s impact still matters
Decades later, Frehley’s work continues to resonate with musicians and fans alike. His solos remain instantly recognizable, his phrasing unmistakable, and his influence undeniable.
Through Kulick’s reflections, it becomes clear that KISS succeeded not because of a single guitarist, but because each era brought something meaningful to the table. Still, Frehley’s role in shaping the band’s foundation remains singular.
As Kulick’s comments show, honoring that legacy does not diminish later contributions. Instead, it enriches the full story of KISS—a band defined by evolution, individuality, and enduring impact.
