“It’s something younger players would do well to learn from”: John 5 on the one thing no one does better than Ace Frehley
What makes a guitar solo truly great? Is it sheer speed, jaw-dropping technicality or the kind of melody that lingers in your head long after the song is over? According to John 5, when it comes to crafting a solo you can sing along to, no one does it better than Ace Frehley.
In a new interview with Ultimate Guitar, the former Rob Zombie guitarist and current Mötley Crüe shredder explains why the original Kiss lead guitarist remains his favourite. For him, it all comes down to the power of early inspiration.
READ MORE: “I was never fired from Kiss. I hate when I hear that”: Ace Frehley sets the record straight on his Kiss departures
“It’s just when you’re little and you see something, it could be a sports figure, it could be a race car driver or a hockey player, baseball or basketball. But mine was Kiss, and that’s what inspired me to do what I’m doing today,” says John 5.
“And I’m glad because I think inspiration is one of the most important things in the world. Because it stays with you forever, and it can change your life forever, as well.”
He adds that Frehley’s melodic style – featuring those solos you could sing along to – is something younger guitar players would do well to learn from.
“I was inspired by… I always liked things ‘to the limit.’ To the pinnacle, to the absolute most,” says the guitarist. “Like, the fastest race car driver, the best this, the best that. And with guitar, I wanted to take it to the absolute top, top, top. And that’s why I like all the crazy shredding.”
“But I love Ace and I love all that stuff. You know, like, with the melodic solos. No one does it better than him. I’m just so happy I got to be inspired by all these great players.”
Appreciation for Frehley’s genius aside, John 5 has also shared his admiration of the great Randy Rhoads, and how he “reinvented the wheel” during his work with Ozzy Osbourne in particular.
Describing the late legend as “an anomaly” on WRIF’s Talkin’ Rock with Meltdown, John 5 said, “He just had this style that nobody really had before. And it was kind of like the invention of the microwave, and you’re, like, ‘Oh, wow. Look at this. This is so different.’”
“That’s how Randy was to millions of fans, me included,” he continued. “I just loved his style. It was very unique and he had classical, of course, in there. And you could tell he was just obsessed and so dedicated to the guitar. Not only such an incredible guitar player, but such an incredible songwriter too.”
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