Thirty years ago, were you to choose any junior-high KISS fan at random and tell him he would one day have the chance to see Ace Frehley perform as a solo artist -- sans makeup -- in a moderately sized venue for a moderately priced ticket, you would have no doubt encountered utter disbelief.

Then again, were you to choose any other member of KISS at the same time and tell him that "Space Ace" would even be alive in 30 years, the skepticism would have been just as strong. Yet, here we are nearly midway through 2008, and Frehley has survived it all -- alcoholism, sports car disasters and Dunkin' Donuts commercials. A rock soldier, indeed.

Ace Frehley plays The National on Friday. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $22.50 the day of the show.-- Ryan Muldoon