On October 16, founding guitarist for iconic band KISS sadly passed away after suffering blunt brain trauma from an accidental fall in his home studio.
Known for his “Spaceman” stage persona, Frehley was an adored member of the glam-rock group, performing alongside original members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons on and off for almost 3 decades.
Performing on KISS’s first 9 albums, this rocker inspired generations of guitarists with his hard-rock rhythm.
Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley grew up in the Bronx, New York, becoming music-obsessed after the gift of his first guitar at 13. Little did he know that dropping out of high school would lead to becoming a multimillionaire and later, being inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame.
Bandmates Simmons and Stanley shared kind words in a joint statement;
“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy.”
The long line of rock icons paying tribute to Ace, including Alice Cooper and Bret Michaels, just proves that his instantly recognisable sound will live on.
Featured Image Credit – Wikimedia, Aca2001.
