Ace Frehley—one of the most iconic rock guitarists of all time. His sound, his solos, and his signature style influenced generations of musicians. But what if one of his most famous solos wasn’t entirely his own?
During an interview on the Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan Podcast, Gene Simmons recently dropped a bombshell, exposing a shocking truth about Ace’s playing.
Many of the biggest names in rock today cite Ace as the reason they picked up a guitar in the first place. And among those names? Pearl Jam’s own Mike McCready. He’s been vocal about how much he looked up to Ace. In fact, one of his most famous solos—the one from Alive—was directly inspired by Frehley’s work. But here’s where things get interesting… because according to Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley didn’t come up with that solo either!
During a recent interview with Billy Corgan on The Magnificent Others Podcast, Gene Simmons dropped a revelation that left even hardcore KISS fans shocked. He uncovered a Frehley solo that Mike McCready borrowed part of for a Pearl Jam solo that Frehley supposedly knicked from the Doors’ Robby Krieger. Simmons was quick, though, to point out that borrowing bits from other artists is nothing new and that, in fact, some of the most legendary rockers are even guilty of pilfering a thing or two from others.
