On April 27, 1951, guitarist Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley was born in The Bronx, New York City. As a founding member of KISS, Frehley — known as "Space Ace" for his cosmic stage persona — became one of the most influential and iconic guitarists in hard rock and heavy metal history. His blues-inflected lead work and signature Les Paul tone on classics like "Cold Gin," "Shock Me," "Deuce," and his solo hit "New York Groove" defined the guitar sound of 1970s arena rock. Frehley's 1978 solo album outsold his KISS bandmates' simultaneous solo releases and showcased his songwriting prowess. His influence on hard rock and metal guitarists — from Dimebag Darrell to Kirk Hammett — is immeasurable. Despite battling substance abuse and departing KISS twice, Frehley remains one of rock's most beloved figures, his Space Ace character and smoking guitar a permanent part of metal's visual and musical heritage.
