Original lead guitarist of KISS, Ace Frehley passed away at the age of 74, in Morristown, New Jersey, surrounded by his family, following a recent fall and health complications. The music world has been paying respects to the guitarist, sharing good memories, praising his character and abilities, and expressing sorrow at his passing.
Ace Frehley reveals how he wished to be remembered
Journalist and author Chaunce Hayden had the chance to interview Ace Frehley before his passing. The full interview will appear in his book “Music: 30 Years of Interviews,” due out in January 2026. The journalist shared an excerpt in which Frehley pondered how he wished to be remembered. Frehley said:
“I believe I’m going to be remembered as a straight shooter and a guy who stayed true to his craft and was respected by his peers. I brought happiness to a lot of people. I was always the funny guy in KISS. That’s how I would like to be remembered.”
Frehley continued, noting that one of his biggest points of pride is the influence he’s had on younger generations, especially those who struggled with addiction. He said,
“The other thing that makes me proud is that a lot of kids come up to me and say they have been in recovery for 6 months or so, and that it’s all because of me. They say if I can do it, they can do it too. That makes me feel good.”
The guitarist severely injured himself when he fell down stairs at home two weeks ago, resulting in a brain bleed, and Frehley being unconscious and on a ventilator.
In September, Frehley postponed a single show after what his team said was a “minor fall” in his studio that resulted in a hospital visit. However, on October 6th, all remaining 2025 tour dates were canceled following advice from his medical team regarding “ongoing medical issues” which were a result of the second fall.
