KISS, Rush, Pearl Jam, Tom Morello, Maynard James Keenan, Alice Cooper & more pay tribute to Ace Frehley

Ace FrehleyBrooklynVegan Staff
KISS, Rush, Pearl Jam, Tom Morello, Maynard James Keenan, Alice Cooper & more pay tribute to Ace Frehley

Founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley passed away at the age of 74 on Thursday, following a fall at his studio earlier this month. The music world has been paying tribute to Space Ace, including his KISS bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, who shared a joint statement. “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” it reads. “He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

Paul, Gene, and Peter Criss also each shared their own tributes. Paul’s reads, “I remember 1974 being in my room at the Hyatt on Sunset in LA and I heard someone playing deep and fiery guitar in the room next door. I thought “Boy, I wish THAT guy was in the band!” I looked over the balcony… He was. It was Ace. This is my favorite photo of us…”

Gene writes, “Our hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Ace’s legacy. I know he loved the fans. He told me many times. Sadder still, Ace didn’t 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!”

“I’m shocked!!!,” Peter writes. “My friend… I love you!” He also wrote a lengthier message on his site: “With a broken heart and deep, deep sadness, my brother Ace Frehley has passed away. He died peacefully with his family around him. My wife and I were with him to the end as well. I love you my brother. My love and prayers go out to Jeanette, Monique, Charlie and Nancy and all of Ace’s extended family, bandmates, fans and friends. May the Lord comfort you at this difficult time. As a founding member of the rock group KISS and in Ace’s solo career, Ace influenced and touched the hearts of millions of people. His legacy will live on in the music industry and in the hearts of the KISS Army. At this time I ask all of you to please be respectful to Ace’s family and allow them to grieve privately. To the KISS Army and Ace’s Rock Soldiers, my heart is with you all… Broken…”

“Absolutely stunned and saddened by the news Ace Frehley has tragically passed away,” Geddy Lee of Rush writes. “Back in 1974, as the opening act for KISS, Alex, Neil and myself spent many a night hanging out together in his hotel room after shows, doing whatever nonsense we could think of, just to make him break out his inimitable and infectious laugh. He was an undeniable character and an authentic rock star. RIP Ace .. thanks for welcoming us newbies into the rock and roll world.”

Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, who inducted KISS into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, writes, “My first guitar hero, Ace Frehley, has passed away. The legendary Space Ace Frehley inspired generations to love rock n roll and love rock n roll guitar playing. His timeless riffs and solos, the billowing smoke coming from his Les Paul, the rockets shooting from his headstock, his cool spacey onstage wobble and his unforgettable crazy laugh will be missed but will never be forgotten. Thank you, Ace for a lifetime of great music and memories.”

“I heard about Ace Frehley‘s passing from Rick Friel who I played with in a band called Shadow,” Pearl Jam‘s Mike McCready writes. “Rick was also the first guy on the bus in 1977 with a KISS lunchbox to tell me about Ace…just changed my life. I got a guitar in 1978 to join Rick‘s band Warrior which turned into Shadow. We covered “C’mon and Love Me.”

McCready continues:

All my friends have spent untold hours talking about KISS and buying KISS stuff. Ace was a hero of mine and also I would consider a friend. I studied his solos endlessly over the years…

Just listen to “Alive”, I used his solo from “She” as a template. Ace jammed on “Black Diamond” with Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden…a dream come true for me.

I would not have picked up a guitar without Ace and KISS’s influence.

RIP it out Ace, you changed my life.
Thank you.

– Mike

Zakk Wylde, Bret Michaels, Yoshiki, Alice Cooper, Steve Vai, Stevie Van Zandt, Rick Springfield, Maynard James Keenan, Slash, and New York Senator Chuck Schumer are also among those who paid tribute to Ace. Read their messages below.

Tags: Ace frehley, Alice cooper, Bret michaels, Chuck schumer, Geddy lee, Gene simmons, Kiss, Maynard james keenan, Mike mccready, Music, Paul stanley, Pearl jam, Peter criss, Rick springfield, Rush, Slash, Steve vai, Stevie van zandt, Tom morello, Tributes, Yoshiki, Zakk wylde