Shock Me

"Shock Me"
Song by Kiss from the album Love Gun
Released	June 30, 1977
Recorded	May 1977
Genre	Hard rock
Length	3:47
Label	Casablanca Records
Writer	Ace Frehley
Producer	Eddie Kramer
Love Gun track listing
"Got Love for Sale" (3) "Shock Me" (4) "Tomorrow and Tonight" (5)

"Shock Me" is a song released by American hard rock band Kiss on their 1977 album Love Gun. It was written by lead guitarist Ace Frehley, who made his lead vocal debut on the track. The song was inspired by an event that took place during Kiss' Rock and Roll Over tour, when Frehley was nearly electrocuted. This song was ranked #50 in Guitar World's "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" ever.^{[citation needed]}After a few years of giving away his songs to the band's other vocalists, Ace Frehley made his long-awaited vocal debut in 1977 with "Shock Me." This sturdy rocker is built on double-entendre lyrics that compare a steamy romantic encounter to being electrocuted: "Don't cut the power on me/I'm feelin' low so get me high/Shock me, make me feel better." The music affects a relaxed mid-tempo style that pairs gently swinging verse melodies to a punchy chorus that delivers the choral hooks in a call-and-response style. Kiss' recording of "Shock Me" has an easygoing but powerful feel reminiscent of the Rolling Stones' 1970s-era rockers, building itself on a low-slung guitar riff and a steady groove from the rhythm section that is fuelled by some crisp drum fills from Peter Criss. Frehley contributes a typically fiery solo and a blissed-out vocal that fits the song's playful mood perfectly. Frehley was apparently very nervous while recording this vocal (he ended up singing it lying on his back in a darkened studio), but it was a solid effort that set the stage for future Frehley-vocalized Kiss faves like "Talk to Me" and his solo hit "New York Groove." "Shock Me" also became a beloved live guitar-solo set piece for Frehley that often climaxed with him detonating his smoking guitar (this act can be seen in all its pyrotechnic glory on the Kiss My Ass video).

Background

On December 12, 1976, Kiss performed a concert at the Lakeland Civic Center in Lakeland, Florida. During the opening number, Frehley touched a metal staircase railing, which was ungrounded. Frehley was knocked to the ground, and the concert was delayed for 30 minutes. The show was eventually completed, and Frehley claimed to have lost feeling in his hand for the remainder of the concert.

Frehley presented "Shock Me" to Kiss in its completed form. According to Gene Simmons, the rest of the band was not involved in the song's arrangement. Although Frehley had written a number of Kiss songs previously, this was his first time performing lead vocals. The song has since become Frehley's "theme song" for the band. Frehley, who was insecure about his singing, recorded his vocals while lying on the floor.

Live history

"Shock Me" was added to Kiss's setlist starting with the Love Gun tour. Frehley's guitar solo, previously performed during "She" and then "Cold Gin", was added to the song. The song was dropped from the setlist after the 1977–78 Alive II tour. Kiss did not perform the song again until Frehley returned to the group for their 1996–97 Alive/Worldwide Tour. It remained in the group's setlist during the Psycho Circus tour, although Frehley's guitar solo was moved to "Into the Void."

Appearances

Kiss

• Love Gun (1977)
• Alive II (1977)
• The Box Set (2001)
• Gold (2005)
• Ikons (2008)

Cover versions

• Red House Painters – Shock Me EP (1994); Retrospective (1999)

Personnel

• Ace Frehley – lead vocals and lead guitar
• Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar and backing vocals
• Gene Simmons – bass and backing vocals
• Peter Criss – drums

External links

• Lyrics at Rock Magic