Rest In Peace To Ace Frehley, Founding KISS Member And One Of The Most Influential Guitar Players Ever

Tim Mosenfelder. Getty Images.

Devastating news today for members of the KISS Army: Ace Frehley has passed away following injuries sustained after a fall last month. Here is a statement from Ace's family….

“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. 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!”

Ace Frehley was my first favorite guitar player ever. I think a lot of people, albeit a lot of people from the generation before mine, would probably say the same thing. Ace wasn't the most technically proficient player to ever grace the stage, but he was absolutely the flashiest, most rock n' roll, and most larger-than-life in my eyes. Whether it be the makeup, the sparks flying off the head of his Les Paul, or the smoke billowing out of his pickups as he solo'd - Ace was catching your eye whether you liked it or not. He also sang on top of playing guitar, wrote music and easily had the best solo work out of everyone else the band, and lived the rock n' roll lifestyle as hard as any. And that lifestyle eventually led to bad blood and a couple breakups, but what I'm saying is: Ace definitely walked the walk on top of talking the talk.

Frehley was a founding member of KISS who is as responsible for their massive sound and iconic legacy as Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss - and the haters will roll their eyes at this statement, but I truly believe he was one of the most influential guitar players in rock n' roll history as well. I think the amount of kids who picked up the instrument simply because they wanted to be him is immeasurable, and you'd be hard pressed to find a successful rock guitarist who had anything but love and respect for Ace's most classic riffs. I mean, c'mon - 'Deuce', 'Cold Gin', 'Shock Me', 'Parasite', 'She', 'Strutter', I could go on and on. He even made 'New York Groove' into the hit it is today with his cover of it! He never wrote the hardest riffs to play, but always found the tastiest option possible and put a little Ace Frehley stank on it.

I was fortunate enough to see Ace back in March and he put on a hell of a show….

I feel extra grateful to have gotten that opportunity now. 

It's a real shame Ace won't be there at the Kennedy Center Honors when KISS is inducted later this year. Thank god the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame finally decided to give the band their flowers a few years ago while everyone was still around….

See the artists you love while they're still here. You never know when it'll be your final oppurtunity.

Rest in peace, Ace. Thank you for everything!