In the wake of the heartbreaking news that KISS founding guitarist Ace Frehley has died aged 74, fellow co-founder Gene Simmons has shared a touching statement reflecting on Aceโs impact, their shared legacy, and an upcoming honour that will celebrate the bandโs monumental career.
๐ โOur Hearts Are Brokenโ โ Gene Simmons Pays Tribute to the Spaceman
Gene Simmons took to social media to express his sorrow, calling Ace a โtrue rock soldierโ and highlighting the deep connection Frehley shared with fans across generations.
โOur hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Aceโs legacy. I know he loved the fans. He told me many times. Sadder still, Ace didnโt live long enough to be honored at the Kennedy Ctr Honors event in Dec. Ace was the eternal rock soldier. Long may his legacy live on!โ โ Gene Simmons
Itโs a heartfelt reflection from one of rockโs most recognisable frontmen, offering both sorrow and pride for a man who helped define one of musicโs most outrageous and influential acts.
๐๏ธ KISS To Be Honoured at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors
In a bittersweet twist of fate, KISS will be among the artists receiving recognition at this yearโs Kennedy Center Honors โ a prestigious event celebrating lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts.
The ceremony is set to tape on December 7, 2025, and will air on December 23. Itโs an occasion that would have seen Ace Frehley standing alongside Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and other icons of rock to celebrate nearly five decades of face paint, pyro, and pure rock theatre.
Now, that celebration will carry an added emotional weight, honouring not just KISS as a band but Aceโs trailblazing role in shaping their sound and image.
๐งจ A Legacy Written in Flames and Feedback
Ace Frehley wasnโt just a guitarist โ he was a cultural spark plug. From his smoking Les Paul and space-age persona to the thunderous solos that defined early KISS anthems like โShock Me,โ โCold Gin,โ and โStrange Ways,โ Ace embodied the wild heart of rock โnโ roll.
Even through the decades of turbulence, breakups, and reunions, his influence never dimmed. Every KISS fan โ old or new โ knows the rush of seeing that Spaceman logo or hearing those unmistakable licks that launched thousands of kids into air-guitar heaven.
As Simmonsโ words echo through the rock world, fans are already calling for a special Ace Frehley tribute to be included in KISSโs Kennedy Center segment โ a fitting salute to the man who helped send the band into orbit.
โก โLong May His Legacy Live Onโ
With the upcoming Kennedy Center Honors, KISS will finally take their place among rockโs most celebrated legends โ a moment thatโs sure to be both explosive and emotional.
And though Ace Frehley wonโt be there in person, his spirit โ that cosmic blend of swagger, humour, and riff-fuelled chaos โ will absolutely be front and centre.
Rest easy, Spaceman. The universe just got a little louder.
๐ฐ Source: Consequence.net, Variety.com
๐ธ Written for The Riff Report Blog
๐ฅ @theriffreportuk
