Ace.

Yeah, normally we talk about gear. And there will be hints of that here because we, nor he, could do what we/he do/did without the stuff.

But. Let’s talk Ace.

The Les Paul and Marshall pounding dynamo who has left for space. His home. Jendell in the Klaatu solar system.

He wasn’t the most technically brilliant, he wasn’t the cleanest and most articulate, he wasn’t the fastest. What he was, was a true musician who played perfectly for the songs he wrote and embellished. With confidence, bravado and style. With amazing rock and roll phrasing that was as memorable as the tunes he adorned.

He was the epitome of cool. He was a sultan of swagger.

And he arguably influenced more guitarists to sling a tennis racket and later an actual guitar around their neck than anyone before him. This writer is one of them. My first concert was the KISS Dynasty tour in St. Louis at The Checkerdome on October 2nd, 1979…

I saw the Marshall stacks – I saw the myriad of Les Pauls – most notably the sunburst Norlin era ones with 3 humbuckers that were his favorite weapons. I didn’t know ‘Gibson’, ‘Norlin’, ‘Marshall’ – I was 9. What I knew was that show changed the trajectory of my life. It would be 4 more years until I got a guitar and began my journey. But – I longed for one every single day. I became the best tennis racket player in the neighborhood. Imagining my guitar would billow smoke and soar to the top of an arena the way Ace’s did. Mind. Blowing.

No, he didn’t change the technical landscape like Eddie, he didn’t change the sonic landscape like Jimi. He simply played perfect riffs, melodies and solos for his backdrop and influenced a million kids to buy a guitar while he did it.

And yeah, here at MGR STL we got Lesters and Marshalls, often we have something with his namesake on it – but mostly – we got the ‘tude, the vibe, and appreciation for rock and roll and the toys we make it on, largely in part because of Ace.

Don’t rest easy Ace – say hello to EVH, Randy, Ozzy, Jimi, Leslie, Koss – and throngs of your heroes and contemporaries…

And continue to rock the hell out. Rest is not for Spacemen with R-n-R fever…