The Oriental Theater is excited to announce that Ace Frehley, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and lead guitar player of KISS, will be performing Tuesday July 7th with MF Ruckus opening. Tickets are on sale now and are expected to sell out quickly! http://www.theorientaltheater.com/event/212350/ace-frehley

Ask a modern day rock guitarist who his influences were, and more often than not the name Ace Frehley is on the list.

Considered by those in the know to be the musical genius behind KISS, Ace “Space Ace” Frehley was an original member of the band when it formed in 1973, and was a mainstay of the group until his departure in 1982 to pursue a solo career.

Having written and recorded some of KISS’s most identifiable tunes such as Cold Gin, Shock Me, Parasite, Rocket Ride and New York Groove , Ace was more known for his blistering guitar licks, and his patented smoking guitar that added to the band’s over the top stage antics.

After leaving KISS, Ace formed the band Frehley’s Comet with Anton Fig, John Regan and Tod Howarth, and performed together beginning in 1986 and continuing through 1990. Ace remained popular with fans and critics alike, and continued to be respected in music’s inner circle as the musical force that drove the KISS machine. To this day, those in the music industry acknowledge that KISS was never the same after Ace moved on.

Ace reunited with the original members of KISS in 1996, and toured throughout the world until his departure in 2002. His last appearance with KISS was the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ace continues to make music, and is currently touring in support of his solo album Space Invader. Those who have heard the new album likened it to the early days of Ace’s career, with the notable difference being that Ace brings to the table a storied legacy of songwriting, musical maturity, and youthful exuberance that when combined, form a mixture that longtime fans are sure to embrace.

As I headed out to Comfort Dental Amphitheatre on Wednesday night, the only thing I kept thinking was “I am about to see KISS in concert for the first time in my life”. It was one of those moments where you become nervous and jittery, not good emotions for a person who is about to photograph one of the most iconic bands in the world. Until this day I always wanted to see Motley Crüe and KISS, but never got a chance. It turns out both are touring in what is simply dubbed The Tour; I mean, how basic can you get? Two of heavy metal's most recognized bands on the same stage on the same night.

Motley Crüe opened up with a slew of hits spanning the 30 years of existence of the band. Yes, we still have Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars and the ever so talented Tommy Lee. Aside from aging and gaining a few pounds, the boys haven’t lost a step. Taking us through “Shout at The Devil”, “Girls, Girls, Girls”, “and Home Sweet Home”, I found myself back in 1989 buying Theatre of Pain on cassette. A trip down memory lane was indeed conjured up amongst the catalog of hits they played. With a flare for the dramatic, Vince Neil and company brought out all the stops, with pyro, scantily clad women and Tommy Lee's rotation on a roller coaster platform drumming on stage, the Crüe still know how to win over a crowd.

KISS original member Paul Stanley (Photo credit Robert Castro)

The crowd sat patiently as a black cape with the iconic named band covered the stage. As the curtain dropped, the night’s festivities began; dropping down on a platform stage backed by a flowing rain of sparks the boys of KISS opened up with Detroit Rock City. The band has been together since 1973 and a revolving number of members have worn the traditional make-up but only Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley remain from the original group. Many of those in attendance mimicked the bands make-up, from young to old, age wasn't a thing. With their black and white make-up and custom outlandish outfits, the theatrics of a live KISS show is what makes the experience. From pyrotechnics to blood spitting, the band knows how to keep the audience entertained from beginning to end. Check out more photos from the show here.

Setlist:

Castro