Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley performing in 1975.
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Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images
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 just lately canceled all of his 2025 tour dates.
“We are fully devastated and heartbroken,” his household mentioned in an announcement. “In his final moments, we had been lucky sufficient to have been in a position to 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 fun his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others.”
Known because the Spaceman or Space Ace, the Bronx-born musician wrote the KISS classics “Cold Gin” and “Shock Me” and had a high 40 hit as a solo artist with 1978’s “New York Groove.”
He turned recognized for virtuosic solos infused with bluesy grit and onerous rock chunk, inspiring future stars similar to Slash, Tom Morello, John 5, and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready.
“My model is unorthodox as a result of I by no means took guitar classes,” he as soon as advised Classic Rock. “I play in another way to how a schooled musician would. If it sounds good, do it. That’s all the time been my motto. That’s rock ‘n’ roll.”
Born in 1951 as Paul Frehley, he grew up in a musical household. Both of his dad and mom 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 Page.
He began taking part in 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 teen.
“At the identical time I used to be attempting to get away from the gang, I used to be taking part in in bands so I may use that as an excuse on the weekends when the gang was going out to do one thing,” he advised Goldmine. “I mentioned, ‘I can not, I’ve a gig.'”
Frehley recorded a demo for RCA Records 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 traditional.
Although he was by no means the band’s main songwriter, Frehley did have songwriting credit on the beloved information that helped KISS turn 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 “Talk To Me”; the latter was successful exterior of the U.S.
Frehley final appeared on a KISS album as a full-fledged member on 1982’s Creatures of the Night, however rejoined the band for a well-received 1996 reunion tour and stayed with the group by way of a efficiency on the 2002 Winter Olympics.
In addition to “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 Eighties, he started releasing a string of well-received solo albums all through the 2010s. In reality, he turned the primary member of KISS to succeed in the highest 10 of the Billboard 200 as a solo artist with 2014’s Space Invader.
These albums revealed outstanding consistency: Although Frehley dabbled in stoner rock and grungier fare, bluesy onerous rock was all the time his north star.
“I’m 72 years previous and nonetheless sound like I did within the ’70s,” he advised 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 taking part in hasn’t advanced is an issue, however I’d say that is bulls***.”
Frehley remained an energetic presence on the street as a solo artist and was reportedly engaged on a brand new solo album on the time of his demise.
Over the years, Frehley collaborated together with his KISS bandmates on numerous solo tracks, however did not seem on the band’s closing present in December 2023. In latest months, he additionally advised Guitar World that he had declined to look 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’m the form of man that by no means says by no means,” he advised the outlet. “I do not hate Paul or Gene, you realize? We’re rock and roll brothers, and Peter, too. So, something can occur.”
