Ace Frehley

One of the greatest guitar heroes of the 1970s, Ace Frehley was the original guitarist for the enormously popular glam-rock band KISS, and a major influence on a generation of metal and hard rock players who drew inspiration from his flashy, exuberant style. Decked out in his signature "Spaceman" makeup and sporting a guitar that caught fire and launched rockets on stage, Frehley was a core member of the band from its inception in 1973 through the heights of its fame in the late 1970s. Conflicts with singer Paul Stanley and bassist-mastermind Gene Simmons, as well assubstance abuse issues, led to his departure in 1981, and he maintained a solo career until reuniting with the band for a massively successful reunion tour in 1996. Frehley again struck out on his own in 2002, when he served as elder statesman and honored guest with such newer acts as Rob Zombie and Dave Grohl. Throughout the years, his contributions to the group's history and influence on dozens of performers made him one of rock's most beloved guitarists.