Ace Frehley, Legendary Lead Guitarist of KISS, Dies at 74
Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the iconic glam rock band KISS, passed away on Thursday at the age of 74, surrounded by his family in Morristown, New Jersey. According to his agent, Frehley’s death was a peaceful one, following a recent fall that had forced him to cancel a scheduled performance in late September.
Frehley’s family released a statement expressing their devastation and heartbreak, remembering his laughter and kindness. His former KISS bandmates, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, also paid tribute, describing Frehley as an “essential and irreplaceable rock soldier” who played a crucial role in the band’s formative years. They acknowledged that Frehley will always be a part of KISS’s legacy, and their thoughts are with his loved ones and fans worldwide.
Early Life and Career
Born in 1951 in the Bronx, Frehley grew up surrounded by music and received his first electric guitar as a Christmas present in 1964. Before joining KISS, he played in local bands around New York City and even worked as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix at the age of 18. Frehley co-founded KISS in 1973 alongside Stanley, Simmons, and Peter Criss, and went on to play on many of the band’s classic albums, including “Destroyer,” “Rock and Roll Over,” and “Love Gun.”
KISS was known for its intense stage shows, which featured fireworks, smoke, and eruptions of fake blood, as well as the band members’ iconic black-and-white painted faces, platform boots, and black wigs. Frehley, also known as “Space Ace” and the “Spaceman,” was particularly famous for his pyrotechnic guitar experiments, which made his guitars glow, emit smoke, and even shoot rockets from the headstock.
Legacy and Impact
Frehley’s influence on rock music extends far beyond his work with KISS. He and the band had a significant impact on the glam metal scene of the 1980s, inspiring bands like Mötley Crüe and Poison. Bret Michaels, the frontman of Poison, paid tribute to Frehley on Instagram, thanking him for his music, festival performances, and lead guitar work on “Nothing But A Good Time.”
Throughout his career, Frehley released several solo albums, including his 1978 debut “Ace Frehley,” which featured the hit song “New York Groove.” He also rejoined KISS for their 1996 reunion tour and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, along with the other original members of the band.
Later Years and Tributes
In recent years, KISS has continued to perform and release music, with Frehley’s replacement, Tommy Thayer, wearing the “Spaceman” makeup and costume. The band embarked on a farewell tour in 2023, and in 2024, they sold their catalog, brand name, and intellectual property to the Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment Group in a deal estimated to be worth over $300 million.
Ace Frehley’s passing marks the first death among the four founding members of KISS. His legacy will live on through his music, and he will be remembered as a true rock icon. For more information, visit Here
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