KISS Co-Founder ACE FREHLEY Has Passed Away

On October 16th, 2025, the world of hard rock lost one of its true heroes in Paul “Ace” Frehley. Ace was a co-founder of the heavy metal band KISS. He designed their logo, played guitar with the group from 1974-1982 and later from 1996-2002’ish. Both times he left the band for different reasons. Ace played rhythm and lead guitar, sang lead and background vocals, and was a driving force with regard to the band’s direction. While Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons were the leaders of the band, Frehley played a decisive role in keeping things lighthearted and FUN! He was a real rock ‘n roller who lived it up. To date, Ace has been the only member of KISS to quit – twice. Vinnie Vincent, his successor, also quit, but everyone else has been fired, including the late great Eric Carr who was put on the shelf to make way for new drummer Eric Singer.

Ace Frehley sloppy Jimmy Page inspired sound gave KISS the edge they so badly needed. Many critics had trouble seeing beyond the makeup and the costumes, but Frehley’s solos broke through the doubt and hate. He was extremely musical despite not being a schooled musician. In some later interviews, guitar virtuosos like Aerosmith’s Joe Perry whined that Frehley “didn’t even know all his scales,” but that mattered little to the Bronx native who had run with gangs during his adolescence. Ace was from the streets. He admittedly was not a techy guitar player. And perhaps he couldn’t read music, but so what? His playing defined an era and inspired countless generations. And his time with KISS was classic. That is up until 1980.

Several things happened within KISS from 1979-82 that caused Ace to leave the band for the first time. In 1979, the band released Dynasty. This disco-inspired record was one of two of that genre. The other being Unmasked. Dynasty was the first record where one of the founding members was barely heard from. Peter Criss played on only one track, Dirty Living. Aside from that one track, Anton Fig played uncredited. The same thing happened for the follow-up to Dynasty, Unmasked in 1980. By this point, Gene and Paul managed to convince Ace and longtime manager Bill Aucoin to move for Peter Criss’ firing. Once Peter was out, Ace felt as if he had no voice in the band. In 1981, the band released Music From The Elder. This was a concept record that totally ruined whatever mystery and coolness was left with the KISS name. They band had long lost its hard rock roots. If two consecutive disco records didn’t ruin it, then The Elder sealed the deal. Without having Peter in the band, Ace could only protest symbolically. He was outvoted on everything. Soon after firing Criss, the band got rid of Aucoin. By 1982, Ace was miserable and when he was involved in a bad car accident, he was ready to go.

By the time KISS went into the studio to record Creatures Of The Night, Ace had decided to quit. Although Frehley participated on a promotional tour in Europe to support the record, his decision had been made. The band would then work with Vinnie Vincent, who would barely last two years before quitting the band, as well. The creative control of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley was overwhelming. Vincent’s successor Mark St. John was out fast as well to be replaced by Bruce Kulick.

Ace Frehley embarked on a solo career after leaving KISS. Frehley’s solo in 1978 was the most successful of the four and had a Top 40 track with a remake of the single “New York Groove.” The song continues to be played in sports events and commercials to this day. When Ace decided to try his hand at a follow-up project to KISS, he created Frehley’s Comet. The band inked with Megaforce/Atlantic, released a debut that nearly reached RIAA gold status, and had several videos on heavy rotation on MTV. The band toured the world and recorded a follow-up LP. After Frehley’s Comet, Ace went full-solo with 1989’s Trouble Walkin, another commercial hit. As of the mid 1990’s, Frehley reunited with Gene, Paul, and Peter to do a KISS Reunion. After well over 100 concerts from 1996-97, Ace joined KISS to record a new record, Psycho Circus, another commercial success.

Psycho Circus was another smoke and mirror situation. Both Ace and Peter got duped. They lent their name and likeness to a project that wasn’t truly a band effort. It was Gene and Paul exerting full control just like in the 70’s but worst! Because in the 90’s Gene and Paul owned the KISS name and they owned both Ace and Peter’s makeup. Ace was allowed to pen one song and Peter was allowed to sing one track. The reason for this, per Stanley and Simmons, was that Frehley’s and Criss’s contributions “weren’t good enough.” By 2002, Frehley left KISS after their so-called “Farewell Tour.” In reality, KISS didn’t actually say farewell until some 22 years later. From there Ace signed with E1 Music and released several chart-topping solo albums. He was later inducted into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame as a member of KISS. Although he would have loved to perform in full make-up with his KISS brothers, Gene and Paul opposed this, so Ace still played, but with other people.

The world of rock ‘n roll lost a tremendous star in Paul “Ace” Frehley on October 16th, 2025. RIP Spaceman.