Cold Gin (Featuring Mike McCready)

The song "Cold Gin (Featuring Mike McCready)" from Ace Frehley's album Origins Vol. 1 is a reimagined cover of the classic KISS track, originally written by Frehley in 1974. Frehley penned the song in a New York subway, crafting both lyrics and music in his head while jotting them down in a spiral notebook. He has shared in interviews, such as one with Songfacts, that he never took a guitar lesson, making it remarkable that this subway-born riff became a KISS classic. The Origins Vol. 1 version features Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, whose guitar work adds a fresh layer to the track. McCready, a lifelong KISS fan, expressed his excitement on X in 2016, noting how playing on "Cold Gin" with Frehley was a dream come true, given Frehley's influence on his own guitar style.

Another layer of trivia comes from a 2017 Seattle performance at the Neptune Theatre, where McCready joined Frehley onstage to play "Cold Gin" live, a moment captured in fan-filmed videos shared on sites like Loudwire. Frehley himself celebrated this collaboration on Facebook in 2019, highlighting how this version marked his first studio vocal for the song he originally wrote. The track, with its 122 BPM tempo and high-energy vibe in C♯/D♭ major, as noted on SongBPM, is a fan favorite, often extended live for Frehley's signature solos. Interestingly, Gene Simmons, who sang the original KISS version despite being a teetotaler, passed vocal duties to Frehley for this rendition, adding a personal touch to the cover.

Ace Frehley, born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in the Bronx, New York, began his musical journey after receiving an electric guitar for his 14th birthday in 1965. Inspired by bands like the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix, he started playing in local bands, adopting the nickname "Ace" during this time. His big break came in 1973 when he answered an ad for a theatrically inclined hard rock band, leading to his role as the lead guitarist for KISS. As the Spaceman, Frehley helped shape KISS's early sound with his raw, bluesy style and frenetic solos, contributing songs like "Cold Gin" and "Shock Me" to their catalog. His innovative use of special effects guitars, including smoke-emitting and light-up models, made him a standout figure, as detailed on his Wikipedia page.

After leaving KISS in 1982, Frehley formed Frehley's Comet, releasing a self-titled debut in 1987 that achieved commercial success. He rejoined KISS for a reunion tour from 1996 to 2002, before resuming his solo career with albums like Anomaly (2009), Space Invader (2014), and 10,000 Volts (2024). His autobiography, No Regrets, published in 2011, chronicles his struggles with addiction and his rise to fame, hitting #10 on The New York Times Best Seller list. Frehley's unorthodox, self-taught guitar style, often using his thumb on the fretboard, has inspired countless players, earning him the #14 spot on Guitar World's Greatest Metal Guitarists list.

Fans can connect with Ace Frehley through his official website, acefrehley.com, where tour dates and merchandise are available. His social media presence includes Facebook, Instagram, and X, where he shares updates and interacts with fans. Dedicated fan communities thrive on platforms like the Ace Frehley Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can join discussions about his music. Additionally, fan sites like KISSFAQ offer deep dives into Frehley's contributions to KISS and his solo work, keeping the Spaceman's legacy alive for new and longtime listeners.