Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley recently shared a great Instagram tale about seeing Led Zeppelin’s debut New York gig at the Filmore East. He felt embarrassed for Iron Butterfly, the event’s headliner, yet the experience was amazing.
Frehley said, “I was at Led Zeppelin’s first New York appearance at Filmore East. They previewed Iron Butterfly. My age was 16 or 17. The Filmore East lost half its crowd after Led Zeppelin performed.
“People usually come to see the headliner, not the opening act, but I think there was a real buzz in New York City about this new band,” the young guitarist said. Communication was made.”
Frehley said the audience was “a lot of older, well-dressed people,” likely record executives and industry experts anxious to see Led Zeppelin’s emerging stars.
Some media portrayed KISS and Led Zeppelin as rivals in the 1970s. Frehley stated in a previous interview, “Zeppelin kicked our a**, hands down. We were more about playing large, but Zeppelin musically kicked our asses and everyone else’s back then.”
Yes, Led Zeppelin influenced Frehley and KISS. Frehley said Jimmy Page’s guitar playing on Led Zeppelin’s debut album inspired him in a 2023 Goldmine interview. He said Zeppelin influenced KISS songs like “Cold Gin” and “Black Diamond.”
Frehley’s account proves Led Zeppelin’s early music’s transforming impact, cementing their rock legend status.