RIP Ace Frehley

[HalloweenJack]

Kiss lead guitarist and band co-founder Ace Frehley has died about an hour ago (17 October 2025). He was 74.

Vale Ace.

 

[Goroyals22]

Sad loss and the fans have been saying the four originals needed to bury the hatchet and do something together, just an interview , before someone passes. Now it’s too late. .. disappointing

 

[giggler99]

R.I.P legend. The funniest and wackiest Kiss member and a hell of a guitarist

 

[brutus76]

Ace Frehley was my generation's GUITAR HERO and GUITAR GOD. He was the reason I became KISStified at the age of 4. So many guitarists of today were influenced by him not because his riffs were the fastest or heaviest, but because they were the coolest. RIP Spaceman from your Rock Soldiers. We love you man.

 

[giggler99]

Hands down the best Kiss solo album some ripping tunes in this one. Got to get my hands on the LP might have to wait a while now and pay a lot more.

 

[Norwegian Blue]

I saw Ace in concert a few years back when he was out here supporting Alice Cooper. He was still amazing even though he was pushing 70. He played mostly Kiss songs, heavily leaning on the ones he wrote/sang, and the rest either his solo stuff with the occasional cover thrown in. He definitely played Rip it Out!

He was wearing these skintight leather pants and a female friend blurted out "he's not wearing any undies!" She was right and then I couldn't un-see it.

RIP

 

[IAMDASH]

Ace Frehley was my generation's GUITAR HERO and GUITAR GOD. He was the reason I became KISStified at the age of 4. So many guitarists of today were influenced by him not because his riffs were the fastest or heaviest, but because they were the coolest. RIP Spaceman from your Rock Soldiers. We love you man.

Absolutely and brilliantly articulated. Incredibly influential. Legendary and iconic!

 

[brutus76]

I saw Ace Frehley support Alice Cooper a couple of years ago in Brisbane. 2nd best concert I've ever been too (and that's saying something)

 

[PhatBoy]

I was never a ‘Kiss Army’ guy - I was a bit too young for the whole shebang and even when I discovered classic rock as a teenager in the 90s I found the whole schtick at that time a bit daggy.

As I got a bit older into my 20s and 30s I came to appreciate them for what they were: basically a kind of Americanised, corporatised version of AC/DC: just straight down the line, flat stick rock and roll. Not a lot of nuance to it, a bit of a gimmick (the outfits and pyrotechnics in their case, the schoolboy get up of Angus and double entendre lyrics in AC/DCs) and once I started to think of them that way I loved them. I still have never really done a deep dive into them where I’ve just devoured all their songs and so forth but there’s a dozen or so that I would easily put in an all-time pure rock and roll ‘favourites’ play list just for rock-and-roll’s sake.

This might be my favourite unplugged song of all time aside from Man Who Sold The World.

RIP Ace

 

[Goroyals22]

You really just need to see the messages on line to see how popular Ace was and the impact he has had on guitarists in big bands and all over the world…

Probably goes down as the most loved member of the original 4 ( although I’m a Peter Criss guy first) and that’s one thing that Paul Stanley will never be able to beat and would be eating him alive inside

 

[TimZoo]

Maybe the best pure rock guitarist of all time

 

[ExileOnArdenStreet]

I don't usually get emotional about "celebrity" deaths, but this one hits hard. A true rock legend. I'm gutted about this. RIP Ace.

 

[Goroyals22]

Went to a record fair today and they echoed everyone’s thoughts

 

[brutus76]

The Eddie Trunk Podcast

Eddie Trunk, the most well-known name in hard rock and metal music, brings his insight, commentary, reviews, discussion, and in-depth interviews to the podcast world! Join Eddie and his famous friends in rock and entertainment every week for a rollicking good time.

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Lovely tribute here by Eddie who was very close to Ace and the family and knew ahead of time he was not in a good way hence he pre-recorded his tribute a week before he actually passed

 

[brutus76]

8 years ago today - 2nd best concert I've seen

 

[Neen]

Ace was my childhood Hero - KISS posters all over the bedroom walls when growing up. KISS have a massive influence over my musical journey, and it would not have happened without Ace and KISS. He never had a guitar lesson and could not read sheet music. He had a connection to his guitar and a unique sound that you knew was Ace as soon as he played. His solos were the complete package, with the smoking guitar and searing melodic riffs. He had that aura that drew you into his music and personality. Will be remembered as one of the most influential guitarists of all time.

Rest In Peace Spaceman.

 

[brutus76]

Rock soldiers come
And rock soldiers go
And some hear the drum
And some never know

 

[Goroyals22]

Great tribute from the pre kiss kruise event in Vegas