Online reports say Ace just passed after suffering a brain bleed a couple weeks ago. Was a huge KISS fan back in the 70s and had his poster on my wall.

Rest In Peace.

Ace Frehley, Kiss’ original lead guitarist and founding member, dies at 74 (CNN)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-10-17 17:30 by bv.

RIP. They were huge, even here in Sweden, in the mid 70s. I was a big fan around the age 11 to 13. Even as an adult I must confess they had a number of good rock songs. 70s rock icons.

I'm in tears. RIP to a legend. Not the most technically gifted guitarist, but I'd argue one of the ones who influenced the most.

Ace was a giant. He influenced many guitar players. He answered an ad that said looking for a guitar player with flash and balls willing to do anything. Huge part of my youth. Thanks for the memories'

RIP

I’m not a huge Kiss fan but do like some stuff. I’m sorry to hear this any passing is sad. My condolences to his family & friends. RIP

Well, this is terrible news. I was hoping it was fake because it's been back and forth for a few days. I was a huge KISS fan for a few years before I finally went back to The Beatles and then The Stones came into my life. KISS was my first concert when I was 14 in 1978. I still remember the excitement that first concert caused. When they did their solo albums Ace was by far the best, actually I didn't like any of the others. Too bad he didn't get a chance to be involved in the reunion, Peter Criss too for that matter. Anyhow, thanks to Ace for the great music and memories he created. Sure there's a lot of people upset about this. R.I.P.

Never a fan of Kiss and don’t own one album, but have to admit they were huge and an icon of the 70s rock, like them or not, in the times this music genre bloated, gone commercialized by corporate hands.
Saw them three times out of curiosity. The first one was Osaka, March 24, 1977 — their Japanese debut. Always entertaining and professional, something often overlooked behind their cake faces by ‘serious’ music fans.

RIP Ace Frehley — in somewhere cooler than Hell.

This is really sad news.I managed to see the original line up back in July 1997 at Finsbury Park and a solo show a few years later.An awesome guitarist and such a legend.RIP ACE.

Whoo heavy news for Kiss fans ....

Plus this coming after Gene Simmons
crashing his Lincoln Navigator in Malibu
only about a week ago ......

RIP Ace



ROCKMAN

ACE was the king!
Regardless of his guitar skills, he was a legend!!!
RIP

Rest in Peace, Space Ace.
One of a kind.

Destroyed… Ace was part of my musical childhood. I started out listening to the Stones, and Kiss came to me by chance — someone was going to throw away a stack of records and among them was Alive II. I was 12, it was 1994. I played it, and I was captivated by the solos — Shock Me, his magnum opus. RIP.

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"I'm gonna walk... before they make me run"

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RIP to a rock legend. I love the song Deuce.

RIP, legend.

I love KISS, but when you listen to them they are just a decent rock band with talented songwriters in Paul and Gene. They know how to write a tune with a catchy chorus. But what set that band apart, always, was Ace's guitar. Without that, the songs don't soar. He really gives them the element that makes them actually stand out. They were all important: Paul and Gene for writing, Peter's tribal drumming, but Ace's guitar cannot be understated and I have always believed is the true reason they have stood the test of time. All you need to listen to is Alive to know its the guitar that keeps most coming back, when you really strip a lot of the stuff away.

When they all released their solo albums,Ace’s album received the highest critical praise.Some wonderful tracks on their:Fractured mirror,Snow blind and of course New York groove.
Let’s not forget the great cover version he did of 2000 man.
I listened to Alive 1 the day he passed away.Kind of strange cause I had not listened to Kiss for sometime.Space Ace at his best,along with Alive 2.

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RollingFreak
I love KISS, but when you listen to them they are just a decent rock band with talented songwriters in Paul and Gene. They know how to write a tune with a catchy chorus. But what set that band apart, always, was Ace's guitar. Without that, the songs don't soar. He really gives them the element that makes them actually stand out. They were all important: Paul and Gene for writing, Peter's tribal drumming, but Ace's guitar cannot be understated and I have always believed is the true reason they have stood the test of time. All you need to listen to is Alive to know its the guitar that keeps most coming back, when you really strip a lot of the stuff away.

Same; live in the 70s they were one hell of a rock'n'roll band. When I want to listen to quintessential Ace Frehley, it is 'Alive' I put on. Smokin', Ace blazing a rock trail all over it.

Space with Ace.

RIP Ace

RIP Ace

Quote
IrelandCalling4

Quote
RollingFreak
I love KISS, but when you listen to them they are just a decent rock band with talented songwriters in Paul and Gene. They know how to write a tune with a catchy chorus. But what set that band apart, always, was Ace's guitar. Without that, the songs don't soar. He really gives them the element that makes them actually stand out. They were all important: Paul and Gene for writing, Peter's tribal drumming, but Ace's guitar cannot be understated and I have always believed is the true reason they have stood the test of time. All you need to listen to is Alive to know its the guitar that keeps most coming back, when you really strip a lot of the stuff away.

Same; live in the 70s they were one hell of a rock'n'roll band. When I want to listen to quintessential Ace Frehley, it is 'Alive' I put on. Smokin', Ace blazing a rock trail all over it.

His soloing all over that album: Deuce, Cold Gin, Let It Go Rock And Roll.

His first solo album is truly excellent, though I'll give Paul and Gene credit that they were filling previous albums with their great songs, so its not a crime that theirs was a bit more lacking. Ace, like George Harrison and All Things Must Pass, had a bankload of songs that his respective bandmates had not used. Great as those albums were, its not like they ever really made an album of similar calibre afterwards.

Rest in Peace Ace!

Rip

RIP Ace

KISS 77 Cobo Hall Detroit
[mega.nz]

ROCKMAN

New York Groove - Live

I actually met him! At a Stones concert - he was directly in front of us at Giants Stadium. I can't recall if it was '97 or '99 but I remember it was pouring rain, which enabled us to move 9th row from the stage as many took for cover. I didn't recognize him without the makeup but my friend was/is a huge KISS fan and knew it was him right away. He was nice, talked to us briefly, and then rocked out during the show!