Lastly, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ace Frehley brought his space-age guitar wizardry to the stage with a mix of solo staples and timeless KISS classics.
Frehley opened with KISS’s 1977 “Shock Me” — on which he originally sang lead vocals — and 1974’s “Deuce.”
Technical difficulties marred his set, from what Frehley said were sound dropouts to equipment glitches.
“I got to hear the rest of the band. Don’t blow my f—ing ears out with guitar,” he said as fans erupted with laughter.
“This is what happens, you come here, everything’s supposed to be right, and it’s all f—ed up. We’ll do our best to entertain you guys.”
Indeed, the former KISS guitarist, who left the band for the second time in 2002, powered through his set with humor, grit and plenty of six-string fire (when he could hear himself).
Frehley dedicated 1987’s “Rock Soldiers,” a defiant anthem from his solo years, to veterans and military members in the crowd, and turned to his drummer, Scot Coogan, to lead on vocals for a raucous rendition of KISS’s 1997 single “Love Guns.”
Fans didn’t seem to mind the shift in vocals, seemingly feeling bad for Frehley, who held his own on guitar (the mic not so much).
Yes, despite the hurdles, Frehley’s guitar work remained undeniable, and he turned a night of frustration into perseverance, leaning on his catalog and band.
His solos cut through the noise, reminding fans why he and the other original members of KISS — Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss — will receive Kennedy Center Honors in December.
By the end of the night, the concert by the three groups was less about perfection and more about witnessing a rock survivor prove, once again, that spacemen never let up.
