Gene Simmons Remembers Kiss’ Ace Frehley as the ‘Eternal Rock Soldier’

Kiss lead singer Gene Simmons shared a tribute to his bandmate, guitarist Ace Frehley, who died on Oct. 16 in Morristown, New Jersey, at the age of 74. While Simmons and Frehley were known for their complex and often fraught relationship, Frehley’s unpredictable nature and distinctive laugh counterbalanced Simmons more somber, business-minded demeanor. As Rolling Stone‘s Joseph Hudak put it, “If Simmons’ Demon was Kiss’ scowl, then Frehley’s Spaceman was its cackle.”

In Simmons’ remembrance of Frehley posted to social media, the singer began, “Our hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Ace’s legacy.” He continued, “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!”

Earlier on Thursday, Simmons and guitarist Paul Stanley shared a joint statement, writing, “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley” and describing Frehley as “an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history.” Frehley’s bandmates added, “He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy.”

Rush, who toured as an opener for Kiss in the Seventies, also paid tribute to Frehley, calling him “an undeniable character and an authentic rock star.” Looking back at their time with the spaceman on the road, the members of Rush said, “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.”