KISS Pays Tribute to Ace Frehley at First Concert Since His Death at 74
What To Know
- KISS paid tribute to late founding guitarist Ace Frehley during their first concert since his death.
- Fans and bandmates expressed heartfelt messages and gestures in memory of Frehley.
- Frehley, who joined KISS in 1973 and left in 1982, died from accidental blunt force trauma after a fall at his home studio at age 74.
KISS recently paid tribute to Ace Frehley at the band’s first concert since the guitarist died at 74 on October 16.
During the iconic rock group’s KISS Kruise: Landlocked event in Las Vegas over the weekend, lead singer Paul Stanley honored Frehley’s lasting impact on KISS.
“Obviously, before we get going, and we’re going to have an awesome time, we just wanted to take a moment to think about somebody who was at the foundation of this band, and we’re talking about Ace,’ Stanley, 73, told concert-goers at the Friday, November 14 show.
While standing next to fellow KISS members, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer, and Eric Singer, Stanley added, “We certainly had differences, but that’s what family is about.”
In the comments, fans reacted to the touching gesture, with one TikTok user writing, “Still can’t believe Ace isn’t here anymore. I’l miss him for the rest of my life ⚡💙.”
Another TikTok user shared, “Ace will always be KISS. Rest in Paradise Spaceman 😞🌹❤️.”
Someone else echoed, “My band I grew up with since I was 14. RIP Ace, you mighty legend … please stay healthy, the rest of the Kiss members.”
@kissarmyofficial KISS – Moment of silence for Ace 11-14-25 #acefrehley #paulstanley #genesimmons #KISS ♬ original sound – KISS ARMY OFFICIAL
On Saturday, November 15, KISS again briefly referenced Frehley during the show, People reported. Thayer, 65, also pointed to the sky before a guitar solo.
Frehley was a founding member of KISS in 1973 but left the band in 1982. Last week, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s cause of death was confirmed as blunt force trauma to the head after he fell at his home studio, with the manner of death classified as an accident.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” Frehley’s family said in a statement in October after his death, per Entertainment Weekly. “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.”
In the immediate aftermath of Frehley’s death, Stanley and Simmons released a joint statement, too, writing via Facebook, “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. 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.”