Electric Encounters: Ace Frehley’s Near-Death Experience That Inspired a KISS Classic
In the world of rock music, inspiration can strike from the most unexpected events, from a casino fire to a spontaneous jam session. As gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd famously noted, “The more outrageous your experiences, the richer your songwriting becomes.” For Ace Frehley, the former guitarist of KISS, a life-threatening incident became the catalyst for one of his most iconic tracks.
Boots, Falls, and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Reflecting on his tumultuous days with KISS in a recent interview with MusicRadar, Frehley reminisced about the infamous platform boots that were a staple of his stage persona. These towering shoes often led to a series of unfortunate tumbles during performances.
“I had a knack for falling in those boots,” Frehley shared. “Paul would frequently enough come to my rescue, making it look like part of the act. He’d stroll over as if it was all choreographed.”
In a clever twist,the band decided to incorporate Frehley dropping to his knees for the solo in “Black Diamond,” a track from their self-titled debut album released in 1974. However, this move would lead to a string of injuries that plagued him throughout his career with KISS.
“That routine really took a toll on my knees,” he admitted. “The weight of my Les Paul was brutal.During the Reunion Tour, I even chipped a bone in my knee. The doctor warned me, ‘You need to stop or you’ll end up in a wheelchair.’”
Adapting to the Pain
True to the adage that the show must go on, the band found a workaround. “We ended up placing a pad under the carpet where I would fall,” Frehley explained. “I aimed for it, and if you watch old footage, you can see me going down one knee at a time.”
(Image credit: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)
Tho, the injuries he sustained from his guitar were far more severe. His instrument was notorious for producing smoke effects during performances, and at one point, it even featured a rocket launcher.
“I once suffered a serious burn on my leg back in the ‘70s,” Frehley recalled. “A smoke bomb went off too soon inside the guitar, melting the asbestos from our costumes onto my thigh.”
In another mishap, he accidentally fired a rocket at Gene Simmons, narrowly missing him. “It was a close call,” he chuckled.
A Shocking Experience
while those incidents were painful, one event stood out as perhaps fatal. During a concert in Lakeland, Florida, in 1976, Frehley was electrocuted due to a grounding issue that left a staircase rail electrified.
“I should have died that night,” he recounted. “The fact that I didn’t fall forward was a miracle. It felt like angels were pushing me back.”
“I was on top of four Marshall cabinets when I got shocked, with my heavy Les Paul around my neck. I should have fallen forward and broken my neck, but instead, I fell back, and the crew pulled me off the staircase.”
Nonetheless of whether it was luck or divine intervention,Frehley survived the ordeal and completed the show,despite losing feeling in his hands for several minutes. “By the end, I could barely feel half my fingers. It was insane, but I did get ‘Shock Me’ out of it,” he said, referencing the track from KISS’s 1977 album Love Gun. “So, I guess it wasn’t all in vain.”
This song marked a critically important milestone for the band, propelling them to their first top-five album on the Billboard 200 chart. Surviving an electric shock was a small price to pay for such success.
Moreover, “Shock Me” was the first KISS song to feature Frehley as the lead vocalist, marking a significant moment in his career.
The Magic of Spontaneity
“I hope fans understand that everything I’ve done is genuine,” Frehley expressed. “None of it was planned or rehearsed. It was always about spontaneity. That’s what makes it magical. You can repeat the same thing endlessly,but eventually,it becomes stale. When you create something truly special, that’s what resonates. My career is proof of that.”
When love Gun was released, KISS was at the pinnacle of American rock music. Just two years later, they participated in a legendary interview with Tom Snyder, which Frehley has recently discussed.
At 72, Frehley admits he wishes he had refined his guitar skills more throughout his career, yet he still feels the excitement of a young rock fan. Last year, he released his aptly named eighth solo album, 10,000 Volts, and fans can look forward to the upcoming third installment of his Origins series later this year.
