Ace Frehley: Paul Daniel ‘Ace’ Frehley (27 April 1951 – 16 October 2025) remains one of rock’s most original voices – a guitarist, provocateur, and cosmic showman whose Spaceman alter ego helped elevate KISS from garage-born rockers to larger-than-life icons.
Origins & Early Years
Born in the Bronx, New York, Frehley grew up in a musical household. He picked up the guitar at age 13 and soon immersed himself in the rock’n’roll and blues icons of the era. Before joining KISS, he played in local bands and even worked as a roadie; his destiny began to shift when he responded to an ad placed in The Village Voice alongside Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons looking for a guitarist.
In 1973, Frehley became a founding member of KISS, completing their classic lineup with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. From the outset, his ‘Spaceman’ persona – silver paint, star motifs, theatrics – became one of the band’s visual and sonic signatures.
The KISS Years & Solo Breakout
Over the course of the 1970s, Frehley’s lead playing and compositional instincts became central to KISS’s rise. He contributed unforgettable riffs, solos, and vocal work on classics such as Shock Me, Cold Gin, Detroit Rock City, and more. He also pioneered onstage guitar theatrics, combining pyrotechnics, smoke, and dramatic flair that fed the legend of KISS’s live spectacle.
In 1978, all four KISS members released solo albums concurrently – and of the quartet, Frehley’s self-titled LP proved the most commercially successful. His rendition of New York Groove became a breakout hit and a signature solo moment.
THAT Interview….
Departure & Solo Adventures
By the early 1980s, creative friction and diverging visions led Frehley to leave KISS in 1982. He then launched a solo career, forming Frehley’s Comet and releasing multiple albums, such as Frehley’s Comet (1987) and Trouble Walkin’ (1989). His style blended hard rock energy with melodic sensibility and occasional experimental touches.
Despite periods of tension, Frehley joined KISS for their high-profile reunion in 1996. He remained with them through to 2002 (including the Psycho Circus era), before fully refocusing on his solo work.
In his solo years, Frehley dropped standout records like Anomaly (2009), Space Invader (2014), and continued into the 2020s with 10,000 Volts (2024).
Final Years & Passing
In September 2025, Frehley reportedly suffered a fall in his home studio, which forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his 2025 tour.
On 16 October 2025, he was reported to have been on life support, suffering from brain bleeding linked to that fall. He passed away later that day in Morristown, New Jersey, at the age of 74.
The Music Wrap-Up
Solo / Ace Frehley – Studio Albums
(Released under his name, not including Frehley’s Comet albums)
- Ace Frehley (1978)
- Trouble Walkin’ (1989)
- Anomaly (2009)
- Space Invader (2014)
- Origins Vol. 1 (2016)
- Spaceman (2018)
- Origins Vol. 2 (2020)
- 10,000 Volts (2024)
Frehley’s Comet
These are studio albums under the band name Frehley’s Comet)
- Frehley’s Comet (1987)
- Second Sighting (1988)
Live / Performance Albums
- Live+1 (1988)
- Greatest Hits Live (2006)
Compilation Albums
- 12 Picks (1997)
- Loaded Deck (1998)
Work with KISS
Studio Albums (featuring him)
- Kiss (1974)
- Hotter than Hell (1974)
- Dressed to Kill (1975)
- Destroyer (1976)
- Rock and Roll Over (1976)
- Love Gun (1977)
- Dynasty (1979)
- Unmasked (1980)
- Music from “The Elder” (1981)
- Creatures of the Night (1982) — credited, though his actual musical contribution is minimal or absent
- Psycho Circus (1998) (his involvement on this one is limited)
KISS Live / Other Releases
- Alive! (1975)
- Alive II (1977)
- Kiss Unplugged (1996)
- You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! (1996)
- Alive! The Millennium Concert (2006)
- Off the Soundboard: Tokyo 2001 (2021)
- Off the Soundboard: Live at Donington 1996 (2022)
- Off the Soundboard: Des Moines 1977 (2022)
Legacy & Impact
Ace Frehley wasn’t just a guitarist with a striking stage image – his playing had emotional depth, combining melodic hooks with high-energy rock aggression. Many guitarists cite him as a formative influence, especially those drawn to theatrical and hard rock styles.
With KISS, he helped redefine what rock performance could be – not just music, but spectacle, identity, myth. Even beyond KISS, his solo catalog showed he was no mere supporting character; he held his own, carving a distinct path.
His passing marks the first death among KISS’s founding quartet, leaving Stanley and Simmons to carry forward the legacy – both as individuals and via the band’s evolving digital avatar future.
Ace Frehley’s story is one of cosmic ambition, raw rock energy, and a flair for the dramatic. While the Spaceman has landed, his sonic fingerprints – the smoke, the sparks, the soaring solos – will continue to echo through guitar halls and rock memoirs for generations to come.
Peace.
