Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley performing in 1975.
Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Photos
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Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Photos
Ace Frehley, a founding member of KISS who performed fiery lead guitar throughout the band’s Seventies heyday, has died. He was 74.
Frehley died Thursday surrounded by household in Morristown, N.J., following a latest fall at his house. Citing “ongoing medical points,” Frehley had not too long ago canceled all of his 2025 tour dates.
“We’re utterly devastated and heartbroken,” his household stated in a press release. “In his final moments, we had been lucky sufficient to have been capable of encompass him with loving, caring, peaceable phrases, ideas, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his most interesting recollections, his laughter, and have a good time his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others.”
Often known as the Spaceman or Area Ace, the Bronx-born musician wrote the KISS classics “Chilly Gin” and “Shock Me” and had a prime 40 hit as a solo artist with 1978’s “New York Groove.”
He grew to become recognized for virtuosic solos infused with bluesy grit and arduous rock chew, inspiring future stars resembling Slash, Tom Morello, John 5, and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready.
“My fashion is unorthodox as a result of I by no means took guitar classes,” he as soon as instructed Traditional Rock. “I play in a different way to how a schooled musician would. If it sounds good, do it. That is all the time been my motto. That is rock ‘n’ roll.”
Born in 1951 as Paul Frehley, he grew up in a musical household. Each of his mother and father and two older siblings performed piano and he sang within the church choir. Crucially, Frehley additionally picked up a guitar at age 13, modeling himself after Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Web page.
He began enjoying in native bands whereas nonetheless in highschool and was a roadie for Hendrix at age 18. Frehley credited the guitar for safeguarding him after he joined a gang as a youngster.
“On the similar time I used to be attempting to get away from the gang, I used to be enjoying in bands so I might use that as an excuse on the weekends when the gang was going out to do one thing,” he instructed Goldmine. “I stated, ‘I am unable to, I’ve a gig.'”
Frehley recorded a demo for RCA Data in 1971 with the group Molimo, however helped begin KISS in 1973 and instantly discovered his place. As a guitarist, his blues-rooted strategy complemented Paul Stanley’s glammy rhythmic boogie, creating electrical friction that propelled the band. His guitar solos on 1975’s Alive!, notably the thunderous fan-favorite “She,” helped make the album a basic.
Though he was by no means the band’s main songwriter, Frehley did have songwriting credit on the beloved information that helped KISS develop into superstars, notably 1974’s Hotter Than Hell (“Parasite”) and 1975’s Dressed to Kill (“Getaway”). Later, he took lead vocals on a 1979 cowl of the Rolling Stones’ “2000 Man” and 1980’s “Discuss To Me”; the latter was a success exterior of the U.S.
Frehley final appeared on a KISS album as a full-fledged member on 1982’s Creatures of the Evening, however rejoined the band for a well-received 1996 reunion tour and stayed with the group by a efficiency on the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Along with “New York Groove,” which appeared on his 1978 self-titled solo debut, Frehley loved loads of success exterior of KISS. After fronting the band Frehley’s Comet throughout the Nineteen Eighties, he started releasing a string of well-received solo albums all through the 2010s. Actually, he grew to become the primary member of KISS to achieve the highest 10 of the Billboard 200 as a solo artist with 2014’s Area Invader.
These albums revealed exceptional consistency: Though Frehley dabbled in stoner rock and grungier fare, bluesy arduous rock was all the time his north star.
“I am 72 years outdated and nonetheless sound like I did within the ’70s,” he instructed Guitar World in early 2024. “I get a kick out of the truth that I can do that like I did then. Some will say the truth that my enjoying hasn’t advanced is an issue, however I would say that is bulls***.”
Frehley remained an lively presence on the highway as a solo artist and was reportedly engaged on a brand new solo album on the time of his loss of life.
Over time, Frehley collaborated together with his KISS bandmates on varied solo tracks, however did not seem on the band’s last present in December 2023. In latest months, he additionally instructed Guitar World that he had declined to seem on the forthcoming Kiss Kruise: Land-Locked In Vegas occasion.
Even nonetheless, he was all the time deeply happy with his work with the band — and by no means closed the door on future KISS actions.
“I am the type of man that by no means says by no means,” he instructed the outlet. “I do not hate Paul or Gene, you understand? We’re rock and roll brothers, and Peter, too. So, something can occur.”
