Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, along with guitarists Pat Smear and Chris Shiflett, appeared in a recent interview with Premiere Guitar and discussed their musical inspirations. Grohl shared that his dream rock star and early influence was none other than former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley.
“I really liked Ace Frehley,” Grohl said in response to Shiflett’s question about his guitar influence. “I had a Beatles chord book and that’s where I was learning to play chords and stuff but I never saw footage of The Beatles playing when I was eight or nine or something like that.”
He continued, “But I had KISS posters and then I had seen KISS concert, stuff online. I just thought Ace was so f*cking cool-looking. I loved the way he stood and I loved his Les Paul. I thought he was kind of my first… If I could be a guitarist and look like him without all the f*cking heels and the makeups and sh*t, current day, which I think I do.”
Grohl, known for his energetic stage presence, credits not only Frehley but also the entire KISS band for shaping his performance style. He recalled the moment when he got his hands on KISS’ 1976 album ‘Destroyer.’
“With nuclear anticipation, I let the needle drop on that legendary intro to ‘Detroit Rock City,’ perhaps the greatest introduction to any rock ’n’ roll album ever recorded. It filled my speakers and my imagination. Thirty-four minutes and 27 seconds later, KISS had filled my soul. I was now a member of the infamous KISS army,” Grohl said while presenting the band with the ASCAP Founders Award in 2015.
“Before long, my room had become a fucking shrine. Posters of these four musical monsters lined my walls, action figures filled my shelves and KISS albums overtook my once AM-friendly record collection. I was converted,” the singer added.
The influence of Ace Frehley’s guitar style is clear in Foo Fighters songs like ‘The Pretender’ and ‘Monkey Wrench.’
