My Favorite Guitarist Is Gone: Ace Frehley (1951-2025)

I’m tired of typing posts like this, but sadly, my heroes keep dying.

My favorite guitarist ever is now gone.

Ace Frehley (April 27, 1951-October 16, 2025).

I became a fan of his and his band KISS when I was 15 going on 16.

I actually saw KISS that year.

The original lineup!!

December 8, 1998 (review here).

What a night it was.

I could have died happy that night.

I’ve always said that KISS is my favorite band ever.  All lineups.  All albums.  All eras.  

And that’s true.

However, the original lineup of Ace (lead guitar and sometimes vocals and songwriting), Gene Simmons (vocals/bass/songwriting), Paul Stanley (vocals/guitar/songwriting) and Peter Criss (drums/vocals/songwriting) are the most important lineup and my favorite band ever.

I’m glad I got to see them twice (other review here).

I also got to see Ace solo twice, once in 2016 (review here) and once in 2021 (review here).

The 2016 show I also got to meet Ace afterwards.

I’m so glad I got that chance.

I haven’t cried yet, but I’m sure I will.

I’ll be playing the music (KISS and Ace solo.  He made a lot of great solo albums too.), watching the concerts and interviews, and reading stories about he and KISS for awhile after I type this.  I’m actually listening as I type this and before I started.

I could say so much, but I’ll just say no other band will have the same impact on me as KISS has.  

And they/he have inspired sooooooooooooooooooooo many people all over the world.

And Ace was/is/always will be a HUGE part of KISSTORY.

I love you sooooooooooo much Ace and will miss you forever.

Rock on in Heaven and/or in Jendell!!

The one and only Space Ace/Spaceman has left us, but the music/videos/memories live forever.