To Ace Frehley. founding member and for many years lead guitarist of KISS.
KISS founding member Ace Frehley dead at 74
KISS founding member reportedly suffered from a brain bleed last month
Jeezum H CROW, 74?!? Can that POSSIBLY be right? He’s actually, like, 35 or so, isn’t he?
KISS founding member Ace Frehley has died after suffering injuries from a fall last month. He was 74.
Frehley’s family confirmed his death to Fox News Digital.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,” the statement from his family said.
“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”
Well, if I have anything to say about it it damned sure will. Nothing personal here, but you can keep your Bruce Kulicks and your Vinny Vincents for all me—there’ll never be any other KISS lead guitarist but ACE as far as I’m concerned.
Inline update! Notice, if you will, at several points in the above solo Ace goes to the low-E string and it’s gotten so badly out of tune (flat, I mean) that he has to start pulling it hard sharp to make it sound right. Only a seriously good player would even think of such a stratagem in the heat of a high-pressure onstage moment. Which, Ace really WAS a much better guitarist than he ever got credit for being; there are quite a few clues to this home truth for those of us who know how to spot ‘em. In fact, only a seriously good player would be irritated enough by that one out-of-tune string to even think it needed addressing by anyone other than his guitar tech, after the solo and the song were over.
Farewell, Paul “Ace” Frehley, and thanks for everything.
Update! Annnnnd straight down a KISS rabbit hole I go.
Rabbit hole update! Yep, it’s a rabbit hole awright. A fun one, at least.
It’s always annoyed the hell out of me, how, whenever Ace goes into the solo, these cameramen cut to Paul Stanley and just sit there like knots on a friggin’ log. Never have understood that one, but they do it all the time, with just about every good band.
Which reminds me: a cpl-three days ago I ran across an interview with Bon Scott, wherein the interviewer asked him about AC/DC’s upcoming tour with KISS. Bon obliged, although he forgot the hell out of Gene Simmons’ name, calling him “Clint” or “Cliff” or some such. It was funny as all hell, I’ll have to see if I can’t dig that one up and attach it to this post.
Better days update! CARL Neiher Cliff nor Clint; it was Carl, dammit.
Pretty rarified circles the Bonny boy traveled in before dying too young, I must say.
Icky update! So I switch back over to the classical stream, click on “Play,” and what do I hear firsr thing but an ad for an upcoming show extolling the unbearable cacophonist Philip Glass and his amazing infuence on orchestral music. UGH! No sale, pally, it’s back to the KISS vids for me, thanks.
Fair winds brother