IN CURRENT NEWS:
Ace Frehley, founding member and lead guitarist of the rock band KISS, passed away on Thursday, October 16th, just a few weeks after suffering a fall. He was 74 years old. Frehley wore the “Space Man” face make-up on stage. It is likely his death was caused by a brain bleed sustained in the fall, but more investigating is expected to follow.
KISS, probably best described as “theatrical rock,” soared to fame in the mid-‘70’s with rock classics like “Rock And Roll All Nite” (#12, 1975) “Christine Sixteen” (#20, 1977) and “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” (#5, 1979), as well as their unexpected ballad hit “Beth,” which became one of their highest charting singles when it reached #7 in 1976. Frehley also enjoyed a Top 20 solo hit with “New York Groove” (#13) in 1978. (In 1978, all four members of KISS released solo albums on the same day. Frehley’s scored the highest, thanks to the success of this single.)
KISS was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 after long sitting on our Deserving And Denied List. They placed EIGHT songs on our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME List with Beth (#534) and Rock And Roll All Nite (#582) scoring the highest.
KISS recently wrapped up their farewell tour and then announced that an avatar version of the band would continue to keep their music alive for many years to come. (kk)
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
10/17/65 – The Animals and Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs appear on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” (So does the always-out-of-place Pat Boone!)
