« We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley, » they said in a joint statement.
« 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.
« Our thoughts are with [Frehley’s wife] Jeanette, [his daughter] Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world. »
Growing up in the Bronx, Ace Frehley was caught between chasing athletic dreams and diving headfirst into rock ‘n’ roll, but a few heavy hits on the football field changed everything. »This is bulls***, » he later admitted thinking. « My hands are too important. The guitar comes first. »
That moment became the start of something bigger. At just 16, Frehley saw The Who and Cream tear up the stage at the RKO Theater in Manhattan, and it completely flipped a switch.
« The Who really inspired me towards theatrical rock, » he said. « When I saw them, it totally blew me away. I’d never seen anything like it. It was a big turning point. »
From then on, it was all about the music, and he went on to spend years jumping between bands in the late 60s and early 70s, trying to make it stick.
That was until he spotted an ad that would change his life forever: « Lead guitarist wanted with Flash and Ability. Album Out Shortly. No time wasters please. »
The rest is history.
