That Eric Alper

Today, the world says goodbye to Ace Frehley — the original lead guitarist of KISS and one of the most influential figures in rock history. In honor of his 74 years, here are 74 facts celebrating the man who brought outer space to the stage.

1. Ace Frehley was born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in The Bronx, New York City.
2. He passed away on October 16, 2025, in Morristown, New Jersey, at age 74.
3. His parents were Esther Anna (Hecht) and Carl Daniel Frehley.
4. His father was of Dutch descent and his mother was of German descent.
5. Ace was the youngest of three children.
6. His family was musical — both parents played piano, and his father was a church organist.
7. Ace received his first electric guitar as a Christmas gift in 1964.
8. He began playing guitar at age 13.
9. He was self-taught and never took a formal guitar lesson.
10. His early influences included Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and B.B. King.
11. His friends nicknamed him “Ace” in high school for his success with dating.
12. He attended DeWitt Clinton and Theodore Roosevelt High Schools in The Bronx.
13. A guidance counselor once suggested he pursue graphic arts.
14. Before music, he worked as a mail carrier, cab driver, and furniture mover.
15. Ace credited playing guitar with “saving his life.”
16. His early bands included The Outrage, King Kong, and Cathedral.
17. He auditioned for KISS in late 1972 after seeing a classified ad.
18. He showed up wearing one red and one orange sneaker to the audition.
19. He was officially hired as KISS’s lead guitarist in early 1973.
20. Ace designed the original KISS lightning bolt logo.
21. He created the band’s “Spaceman” persona based on his love of science fiction.
22. He first painted silver stars around his eyes for KISS performances.
23. He worked as a cab driver while KISS was getting started.
24. In 1974, KISS released their self-titled debut album featuring Ace’s “Cold Gin.”
25. “Shock Me,” inspired by a real onstage electrocution, became his first KISS vocal in 1977.
26. His wild, smoking guitar solos became a KISS concert trademark.
27. He co-wrote “Love Theme from KISS,” the only track featuring all four original members.
28. Ace was the only KISS member to appear on all of the band’s first nine studio albums.
29. His 1978 solo album Ace Frehley went platinum.
30. The single “New York Groove” reached the Top 20 in the U.S.
31. A star was officially named after him in 1981.
32. Ace left KISS in 1982 after creative disagreements.
33. He launched his new band, Frehley’s Comet, in 1984.
34. Frehley’s Comet released its self-titled debut in 1987.
35. The single “Into the Night” hit No. 27 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.
36. The song “Rock Soldiers” was inspired by Ace’s real-life 1982 police chase.
37. His album Trouble Walkin’ (1989) featured Peter Criss on backing vocals.
38. Frehley reunited with KISS in 1996 for their original lineup reunion tour.
39. He contributed “Into the Void” to the 1998 KISS album Psycho Circus.
40. His final KISS performance was at the 2002 Winter Olympics closing ceremony.
41. He returned to solo work after leaving KISS in 2002.
42. His 2009 album Anomaly marked his first solo release in 20 years.
43. Space Invader (2014) debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200.
44. He performed with Rob Zombie, Slash, and Tommy Lee at VH1 Rock Honors in 2006.
45. Ace reunited with KISS on the 2018 KISS Kruise.
46. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 with KISS.
47. He declined invitations to appear on KISS’s farewell tour in 2019.
48. He appeared with Peter Criss and Bruce Kulick at the 2022 Creatures Fest.
49. His 2024 album 10,000 Volts debuted at No. 72 on the Billboard 200.
50. 10,000 Volts topped Billboard’s Hard Music and Rock Album charts.
51. He planned to release Origins Vol. 3 in 2025.
52. Ace’s autobiography No Regrets became a New York Times Bestseller in 2011.
53. He often used a smoking Gibson Les Paul guitar onstage.
54. He once used a Les Paul that emitted lights matching the song tempo.
55. His guitar solo on Alive! inspired countless young players.
56. He played the theremin in live shows for a sci-fi effect.
57. Ace’s “Shock Me” solo remains one of rock’s most recognizable.
58. He starred in the 1978 TV movie KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park.
59. He appeared in the 1999 movie Detroit Rock City.
60. He made guest appearances on Family Guy and VH1 Rock Honors.
61. His first band to record professionally was Molimo in 1971.
62. He was briefly credited on KISS’s Creatures of the Night though he didn’t play on it.
63. He co-wrote “2,000 Man” for Dynasty (1979), originally a Rolling Stones song.
64. He collaborated with Peter Criss again on Criss’s Cat 1 album.
65. He once performed “Black Diamond” live with Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden.
66. He played lead guitar on a 2006 “God of Thunder” supergroup performance.
67. He was featured on several tribute albums, including Smell the Fuzz: Guitars That Rule the World 2.
68. He was ranked No. 14 on Guitar World’s list of Greatest Metal Guitarists.
69. He was known for his unorthodox thumb-over-neck playing style.
70. Paul Stanley once said Ace shook his whole arm for vibrato instead of his hand.
71. Ace described himself as an “unschooled musician” who couldn’t read music.
72. He lived in both Edmonton and Montreal during his career’s later years.
73. His legacy is cemented in both hard rock and heavy metal history.
74. Even after his passing, his riffs, humor, and cosmic spirit will forever echo through rock and roll.

Rest easy, Spaceman. The stars are louder tonight because of you.