Ace Frehley
Updated: Wikipedia source
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley (, FRAY-lee; April 27, 1951 – October 16, 2025) was an American musician who was the original lead guitarist, occasional vocalist, and a founding member of the rock band Kiss. He invented the persona of the Spaceman (a.k.a. Space Ace) and originally played with the group from its inception in 1973 until his departure in 1982, before later rejoining in 1996 until his final departure in 2002. After leaving Kiss in 1982, Frehley formed his own band, Frehley's Comet, and released two albums with the group. He subsequently embarked on a solo career, which was put on hold when he rejoined Kiss in 1996 for a reunion tour. Frehley's second tenure with Kiss lasted until 2002, when he left at the conclusion of what was originally intended to be the band's farewell tour. Frehley's solo releases were commercially successful, with his 1978 debut studio album achieving platinum status. His most recent solo studio album, 10,000 Volts, was released in 2024. Frehley died in October 2025 after complications from a fall at his home. Frehley was noted for his aggressive, atmospheric, and melodic guitar playing, and for the use of many "special effects" guitars, including a Gibson Les Paul guitar that emitted smoke from its neck humbucker pickup and produced spinning pyrotechnics and a custom Les Paul that emitted light based on the tempo of a song. Frehley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of Kiss. Guitar World magazine ranked him among the greatest metal guitarists of all time.