Born Paul Daniel Frehley in the Bronx, Ace helped launch KISS in 1973 alongside Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. His smoky Les Paul solos and intergalactic swagger helped define the band’s early years, turning theatre into thunder and makeup into mythology.
When KISS released their debut in 1974, critics sneered — but fans roared. From there, Frehley’s riffs became the rocket fuel for Alive! and beyond. His 1978 solo hit New York Groove proved that the Spaceman could fly solo just as high.
Though his years with KISS were turbulent — marked by clashes, addictions, and a few fiery exits — Ace remained a symbol of the loud, loose, and limitless side of rock’n’roll. “I don’t know how to read music,” he once said, “but I’m one of the most famous guitar players in the world — go figure.”
Frehley’s family said he passed surrounded by love and peace. Tributes from Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and countless musicians poured in, hailing him as an irreplaceable part of rock history.
He leaves behind his wife Jeanette, daughter Monique, and an orbit of fans who’ll never forget that spaceman grin under the strobe lights.
