Ace Frehley was an American rock musician whose music touched the hearts and souls of many throughout his time making music. Born by the name of Paul Daniel Frehley, Ace was a founding member of the iconic rock band Kiss, being the original lead guitarist, and 4 and a half years later, started singing for Kiss as well. Gifted the name Ace in high school after scoring his friends multiple dates, upon joining kiss it stuck to avoid confusion with Paul Stanley. This great American rock hero tragically passed on October 16th 2025 after a fall in his home studio on September 25th 2025, at the age of 74.
Frehley’s death sparked a reunion with his three other Kiss bandmates, his passing was the first among the founders of the band. KISS was known for their signature rock sound and their iconic painted faces. Their stage presence would be written into story books, enhanced with pyrotechnics, rockets, fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars and even levitating guitars. The glam rock band released an armory of infamous songs during their time such as, “I Was Made For Lovin’ You,” and ‘Rock and Roll All Nite.”
Kiss made their mark on the world in their early years of 1971-1975 with their wings, painted faces, glammed body suits and chunky boots. The glam metal band had a long run of fame and following that lasted from 1973 to 2023, a length of time that caused them to become engraved into the lives of many fans across the globe. The four founding members added to the beauty of their performances by crafting comic like personas:Paul Stanley(The Starchild), Gene Simmons(The Demon), Peter Criss (The Catman) and lastly Frehley (The Spaceman or Space-Ace). This lineup went through a series of changes during a long lifetime of music, with only Simmons and Stanley’s personas remaining constant.
By the late 1970s everyone was sure KISS was going down in history and in people’s hearts as it flourished as a rock phenomenon.
However the world of fame and rock wasn’t as it seemed. When Frehley’s career began to soar, he was met with the dark underbelly of the music industry—drugs, gossip, substances, these were all factors that had a heavy impact on Frehley’s life.. Ace Frehley, like many other famous musicians, became dependent on substances and alcohol to get through everyday life, even commenting in his memoir that they were his “constant companion”,something that soon took over his life.
Frehley’s addiction later affected his relationships, especially the bonds he had built with his fellow bandmates, it was because of this that Frehley made his initial departure from the band in 1982.
However, a blessing from a seven- year relationship with Jeanette Trerotla made it so that Frehley could overcome his addiction, Frehley’s daughter—Monique. With a deep bond, encouragement and love Monique Frehley inspired the rockstar to get his life back together for the both of them. Ace Frehley then began his long stint of sobriety, an effort that lasted till his unfortunate passing in October. The bond Frehley shared with his daughter went far beyond what the media will ever know, with Monique not only being the reason for his sobriety but also a constant source of love and affection, the pair symbolized the extent of their bond in 2023 by getting matching “Ace” tattoos on their biceps.
Frehley’s five decades of fame will be forever known, now eternalized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ace Frehley made his entrance into the Rock and Roll world with mismatched red and orange converse and a loud amp he used to cut off Bob Kulick’s audition for KISS. His antics, as frustrating as they were- and they were frustrating enough that Gene Simmons reportedly nearly “punched his lights out” – were successful in gaining the attention he needed. Frehley’s unique, flashy style and incredible talent, landed him a spot in the band.
The tales of Frehley’s antics were wide known, including his use of near-permanent commercial silver paint on his hair for the first album cover. Of course contrary to his belief, the paint did not wash out, which lead to Frehley’s short hair in the early days of the band.
With tabloids blaring, rumors circulating, and his addiction soaring it is no secret that Frehley made his fair share of mistakes, but the most heart warming part of the story of the well known Spaceman is the effort he put in, the sobriety he gained, the relationship he had with his daughter, and the music that touched the hearts and souls of his fans.
Kiss made headlines as an icon of the 1970s and onward, with flashy shows, bizarre costumes and eccentric personas the Rock and Roll sensation was one that would go down in history.
Ace Frehley was a talented guitarist that never once received classic training, the musician was entirely self taught, inspired by legends such as B.B King Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix yet still grew into a phenomenon who blessed the music industry with his talent. In 1976 the Kiss sensation was hit with a shock that would become a main point in his career. Amongst all the pyrotechnics that made their shows such sensations, Frehley was almost fully electrocuted onstage with kiss by a metal railing during thor song “Detroit Rock City.” The rock sensation took a 10 minute break from the stage before miraculously returning to the stage. In true “the show must go on” fashion. Frehley shortly after the incident wrote “Shock me,” which premiered on the Kiss album Love Gun, which would then be sung for the first time on opening night, with Frehley singing lead.
Ace gained a lot of attention and with attention comes gossip. It was often rumored that the rock and roll star was bisexual, and while his flamboyant attire on stage and his use of eccentric makeup was and is still seen as “feminine,’ these rumors were never confirmed. His relationships with women were publicised however as a star that began in the early 70’s its likely that if the star was bisexual that they would do their best to keep his relationships with men behind closed doors, due to the onslaught of homophobia that was rampant throughout the world and media. Even in current times it’s challenging to publicise queer relationships without being overly sexualized or ridiculed. The publicity that would follow the publication of a queer rock and roll superstar could have severely impacted KISS’s audience and fame. Speculation is a common occurrence with the level of fame that the rockstar had acquired too. It seems that nothing is safe, not even something as private as sexuality.
Frehley returned to the band for a reunion tour in 1996, and left once again in 2002 his final concert falling in 2001. Frehley did join the band to play at the winter olympics in 2002. However not only was the original band reunited for their addition to the Rock and Roll hall of fame in 2014, Freshly also united the line up even in his passing. Despite the trials and tribulations of his life Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley fought for his music and the things he loved. The world of rock and roll will forever be changed due to Ace’s presence.