Ace Frehley, the lead guitarist and co-founder of the legendary rock band Kiss, has died aged 74.
The musician, who inspired a generation of guitarists and performed on Kiss’ first nine albums, died on Thursday in a New Jersey hospital after suffering injuries during a recent fall, his family said in a statement.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” Frehley’s family said. “In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”
His longtime bandmates, Kiss’ Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, wrote in a statement: “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of Kiss’ legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”
Born Paul Daniel Frehley in New York City in 1951, he co-founded Kiss in 1973 with singer Paul Stanley, bassist and part-time singer Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss.
Frehley invented and embodied the “Spaceman” or “Space Ace” persona, complete with his signature silver-star makeup and costume, which became a cornerstone of the band’s comic book-style characters. He designed the band’s now-iconic lightning bolt logo.
His playing style was noted for its “aggressive, atmospheric, and melodic” sound, adding a blues-rock edge to Kiss’ hard-charging rock. His distinctive solos, such as the one on “Detroit Rock City,” were a key element in the band's sound. He pioneered the use of “special effects” guitars that became synonymous with Kiss’ theatrical live shows, including his Gibson Les Paul that would emit smoke from its pickup and sometimes shoot pyrotechnics or rockets.
Frehley wrote or co-wrote several classic Kiss songs. His song “Cold Gin” (from the 1974 debut album) remains a fan favorite and a staple in the band’s setlist for decades. He played on all of the band’s classic and most commercially successful albums of the decade, including Kiss (1974), Hotter Than Hell (1974), Alive! (1975), Destroyer (1976), Rock and Roll Over (1976), Love Gun (1977), and Alive II (1977).
When all four members released solo albums on the same day in 1978, Frehley’s album, Ace Frehley, was the most commercially successful of the four, featuring the Top 20 hit single “New York Groove.” This success led to an increased songwriting role for him in the band’s later 1970s albums like Dynasty (1979).
Ace Frehley was integral to Kiss’ golden age in the 1970s, defining their look, providing their distinctive lead guitar sound, and delivering some of their most enduring songs. He had left Kiss in 1982 after feeling conflicted about the band’s direction and struggling with substance abuse. In 1984, Frehley formed a new band, Frehley’s Comet, which released two studio albums but failed to take off.
Here’s a collection of 40 amazing photos of Frehley in the 1970s:
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