Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have posted a tribute to Ace Frehley, who died today.
Rush posted, “Absolutely stunned and saddened by the news Ace Frehley has tragically passed away. Back in 1974, as the opening act for KISS, Alex, Neil and myself spent many a night hanging out together in his hotel room after shows, doing whatever nonsense we could think of, just to make him break out his inimitable and infectious laugh. He was an undeniable character and an authentic rock star. RIP Ace .. thanks for welcoming us newbies into the rock and roll world. #ripacefrehley #thebag.”
Ace Frehley’s family described the KISS icon’s last moments before he passed. Alice In Chains’ William DuVall wrote, “I had this poster on the door of my room as a 10-year-old kid back in ‘77. It was like a safety barrier force field and a window to the world I wanted to live in all at the same time.
As I’ve said in countless interviews, I started playing in the Spring of ‘76 when I was eight. Hendrix was the guy who first made me want to do this. But he’d already been gone for six years by the time I discovered him. And Hendrix’s thing was so outer limits, there was no touching that as a little kid playing a beat-up nylon string with mile-high action that made my fingers bleed for every note. All I could do was listen in awe. Ace Frehley, on the other hand, was still AWESOME – literally no-one cooler – but the music was more approachable. I could actually figure out certain parts of his solos. And when I did, that made ME feel awesome. It made me feel cool. And that’s everything when you’re a kid, especially one that didn’t have a lot of friends and spent a lot of time alone. Ace was the guy who made me feel like I could actually DO this thing.
Like so many other players, I’m in his debt forever. He will ALWAYS be among the coolest in my book. A lot of my pick attack and the way I bend notes is down to him. So many of his solos on the Stanley and Simmons songs like “100,000 Years,” “Deuce,” “Strutter,” “Black Diamond,” etc. will always be benchmarks for how to play real-deal rock-n-roll lead guitar. And the songs he wrote – “Parasite,” “Strange Ways,” “Cold Gin,” “Shock Me,” “Rocket Ride,” and that entire ‘78 solo album – will rule ‘til the end of time.
Ride on, Space Ace. And thank you.”
