RIP Ace Frehley of KISS

Brian4Liberty

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RIP Ace Frehley of KISS

KISS Cofounder Ace Frehley Dies at 74 After Suffering Fall at Home


Rocker Ace Frehley, the founding guitarist of KISS who went on to have a successful solo career of his own with hits like “New York Groove,” has died. He was 74.

Frehley's family announced his death in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Thursday. Oct. 16, saying the rocker died earlier that day in Morristown, N.J. following a recent fall at his home.

“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 read. "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!"

TMZ previously reported that the rocker was on life support due to a brain bleed caused by a fall several weeks ago.

Frehley told fans about the fall in a statement shared to Instagram on Sept. 25, writing at the time that he would need to cancel a performance scheduled for the next day in Lancaster. Calif.

The statement described the fall as “minor,” and said that the star was “fine,” but could not travel to the show, per doctor’s orders.

“Ace looks forward to continuing on his tour and finishing work on his next album, Origins Vol. 4,” the statement read.
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From March of this year...

 
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Oh hell, I wasn't a KISS fan. I thought they were posers, at least Gene and Paul. Ace was the bright spot. He was a talented guitarist, seemed like a genuinely nice guy and he didn't take himself too seriously, like the afore mentioned two, despite their clown make-up. I liked Ace. RIP Spaceman/Plumber.
 
Same as RJB, never was a big fan but Ace was talented.

The classic rockers are dropping like flies.

Sad.

RIP
 
While other guitar players did use a two hand tapping method while playing from time to time, rumor has it that Eddie Van Halen adopted the technique after watching Ace Frehley use the technique during a solo...

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“Eddie was down in the pit watching every move I made”: Ace Frehley says his early displays of tapping prowess “probably” inspired Eddie Van Halen to develop his trademark two-hand technique

By Matt Owen published 7 February 2024

“But he perfected it. There’s no way I could play some of the solos that he pulled off,” said the former Kiss guitarist.

... Ace Frehley, who recently theorized that his own displays of tapping prowess “probably” helped EVH on his way to making the technique as it is known today.

“Before Van Halen became famous, Gene discovered them,” Frehley recalled (as spotted by Ultimate Guitar). “But all I can tell you is, when I was doing my guitar solo at Madison Square Garden before they became famous, Eddie was down in the pit watching every fucking move I made.”

But, as Frehley was quick to note, tapping as he used it was different to how Eddie Van Halen himself ended up utilizing the skill, not least because of the physical technicalities of the technique.

 
While other guitar players did use a two hand tapping method while playing from time to time, rumor has it that Eddie Van Halen adopted the technique after watching Ace Frehley use the technique during a solo...

---------

“Eddie was down in the pit watching every move I made”: Ace Frehley says his early displays of tapping prowess “probably” inspired Eddie Van Halen to develop his trademark two-hand technique

By Matt Owen published 7 February 2024

“But he perfected it. There’s no way I could play some of the solos that he pulled off,” said the former Kiss guitarist.

... Ace Frehley, who recently theorized that his own displays of tapping prowess “probably” helped EVH on his way to making the technique as it is known today.

“Before Van Halen became famous, Gene discovered them,” Frehley recalled (as spotted by Ultimate Guitar). “But all I can tell you is, when I was doing my guitar solo at Madison Square Garden before they became famous, Eddie was down in the pit watching every fucking move I made.”

But, as Frehley was quick to note, tapping as he used it was different to how Eddie Van Halen himself ended up utilizing the skill, not least because of the physical technicalities of the technique.


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Not to in any way disparage Ace, but Eddie himself consistently claimed he got the idea from Jimmy Page, and further cited Clapton and Hendrix as influences.

It’s true the Gene Simmons did discover Van Halen, and it’s not completely crazy to think Eddie might have kept an eye on Ace’s technique, but it doesn’tvreally seem likely that he got the idea from Ace, based upon Eddie’s own consistent accounts.

Also, there was a LOT more to Eddie’s guitar technique and his innovations than simply tapping.
 
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Not to in any way disparage Ace, but Eddie himself consistently claimed he got the idea from Jimmy Page, and further cited Clapton and Hendrix as influences.

It’s true the Gene Simmons did discover Van Halen, and it’s not completely crazy to think Eddie might have kept an eye on Ace’s technique, but it doesn’t really seem likely that he got the idea from Ace, based upon Eddie’s own consistent accounts.

Also, there was a LOT more to Eddie’s guitar technique and his innovations than simply tapping.

Ace was pretty honest in that interview. He talked about how Eddie had a different technique and took it to a whole new level.

I never knew Ace did any tapping until I saw some old concert footage of his solo. Then I put the Gene and Van Halen connection together, and assumed that Eddie probably got some ideas from Ace.

Everyone steals from everyone. I never take a guitar player seriously when they list their influences. It's so common in the music world to not be honest, especially when taking about peers, as opposed to older or dead players. Nobody wants to admit taking from their peer competitors.

After Eddie became popular, it was funny how many other guitarists started playing like him, and claimed that they didn't know about or take it from Eddie.

I was also surprised to see old footage of Ritchie Blackmore doing some sweep picking during a solo. I don't know what Yngwie is saying these days, but I assume he saw that, and probably denies it today.
 
RIP , still young nowadays

And the sad part is that he didn't die of old age, cancer, heart disease, sclerosis of the liver or any of the other things that kill aging rockstars. He was in good health, and touring. He fell down and hit his head. He bumped his head, went to bed, and didn't get up in the morning.
 
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