Kings of Thrash, the band featuring former Megadeth members David Ellefson and Jeff Young, paid tribute to the late KISS icon Ace Frehley with a live cover of the classic “Cold Gin” during their show in Flint, Michigan. Fan-filmed video has captured the performance, which took place on Friday, October 24, at The Machine Shop.
The performance saw the core Kings of Thrash lineup—Ellefson, Young, vocalist/guitarist Chaz Leon, and drummer Fred Aching—joined by guest vocalist Gabriel Connor of Red Devil Vortex to perform the Frehley-penned anthem.
The tribute was a personal one for Ellefson, who recently spoke in a separate interview about the monumental impact Frehley had on him as a young musician. He placed the KISS guitarist’s influence on par with that of Eddie Van Halen.
“Ace Frehley passing is on the level of Eddie Van Halen passing. He was that influential,” Ellefson told WRIF‘s Meltdown. “Ace and Eddie, they not only made us wanna become musicians, they made us wanna become rock stars. And I think that’s the difference. KISS made you wanna go to the next level… they created something that was just unreachable, and, to some degree, still is.”
Ace Frehley passed away on October 16 at the age of 74. His death followed complications from a brain bleed, which was reportedly caused by a fall at his home studio. The iconic “Spaceman” was laid to rest in his native Bronx, New York, on October 22, following a private memorial attended by family, close friends, and his three original KISS bandmates: Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss.
The official cause of death is pending the results of a toxicology screening.
Ace Frehley‘s legacy with KISS includes playing on legendary albums like Kiss (1974), Destroyer (1976), Love Gun (1977), and Dynasty (1979). He also wrote and performed classics such as “Shock Me,” “Rocket Ride,” and “Talk to Me.” Beyond the band, his 1978 self-titled solo album, which featured the hit single “New York Groove,” remains highly popular.
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