🚀By The Riff Report | October 17, 2025

The rock world has lost one of its brightest stars. 💔 Ace Frehley, founding member and lead guitarist of KISS, has died aged 74. His family confirmed the heartbreaking news earlier today, stating he “passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones” following complications from a fall at his home.

The man who brought the cosmos to the stage — complete with smoking Les Pauls, silver suits, and solos that sounded like they were fired from a rocket ship — is gone. But his riffs, swagger, and grin will echo through eternity. 🌌

🎸 The Spaceman Who Changed Rock Forever

Born Paul Daniel Frehley in The Bronx, New York, Ace became the lightning bolt that electrified KISS’s sound from the moment he plugged in. His signature “Spaceman” persona and those out-of-this-world licks on tracks like “Shock Me”, “Cold Gin”, “Parasite”, and “Rocket Ride” made him an icon.

When KISS exploded in the 1970s, it was Ace’s guitar — raw, wild, and just the right amount of chaos — that sent kids running to music shops across the globe to buy their first six-string. He wasn’t just a guitarist. He was the guitarist. ⚡

👨‍🚀 The First of the Originals to Leave Earth

Frehley’s death marks the first loss among the original four members of KISS — Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace himself. His old bandmates paid tribute within hours:

“An irreplaceable rock soldier. We shared a dream that took us to the stars,” said Gene Simmons.

“There was only one Ace Frehley — raw talent and heart. Rest easy, Spaceman,” added Paul Stanley.

It’s fitting that the man who called himself The Spaceman has finally taken his place among the stars. 🌠

🕶️ A Solo Star in His Own Right

After leaving KISS in 1982, Ace proved he didn’t need the face paint to shine. His 1978 solo album — part of the famous KISS solo set — spawned the hit “New York Groove”, still one of rock’s greatest anthems.

He continued to record albums like “Trouble Walkin’”, “Anomaly”, and “Spaceman”, proving his fire never faded. His most recent album, “10,000 Volts” (2024), was a proper return to form — full of snarling riffs, glam swagger, and that unmistakable Bronx attitude.

Tidy stuff, mun. Proper job. 🤘

🚀 From The Bronx to the Stars

Ace Frehley wasn’t the cleanest or the calmest, but he was always the coolest. A guitar hero’s guitar hero. Slash, Dimebag Darrell, and even Tom Morello have all cited Ace as a reason they picked up the instrument.

He made mistakes, sure — booze, bust-ups, and bust-outs — but he never lost the love of his fans. He didn’t just play rock ’n’ roll; he lived it. Loud, messy, and gloriously human.

Only in rock ’n’ roll, mun. Only Ace. 💥

🕯️ Rest Easy, Spaceman

As tributes pour in from across the world, one thing’s certain: Ace Frehley’s legacy will outlast every pyro blast and encore KISS ever played.

Tonight, we raise a pint (or maybe a beam of cosmic light) to the man who made space feel like home. 🌌

“Shock Me” will hit different tonight, butt.

🖤 Rest in peace, Ace Frehley — The Spaceman, 1951–2025.
Your riffs will echo forever through the stars. 🚀✨