Over the previous few days, numerous tributes from followers and fellow rockers have been made for legendary KISS guitarist Ace “Spaceman” Frehley (who handed away on Oct. 16, 2025 on the age of 74 from a fall at dwelling). Probably the most heartfelt up to now certainly comes from Frehley’s preliminary substitute in KISS – Vinnie Vincent – who just lately shared an emotional tribute to Frehley that features a recollection of the pair’s first assembly.
What Vinnie Vincent Stated About Ace Frehley
Yesterday (Oct. 18), Vincent – who positioned on 1982’s Creatures of the Evening and 1983’s Lick It Up – honored Frehley on social media, starting:
ACE FREHLEY. GONE TOO SOON. THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. I WANTED TO SAY THE RIGHT WORDS THAT COULD DESCRIBE THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE however nothing I might muster would start to consolation the tens of millions of followers who idolized worshiped and adored Ace, the person and the legend, and make their ache go away.
Vincent then reminiscences about “surprisingly changing Ace in Kiss, a band who’s music [he] knew little about, apart from a number of radio singles, and had no fan curiosity in, apart from the magnitude of their huge success, but [he] needed it greater than life itself.”
After clarifying that his favourite artists as an adolescent included the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck and Mahavishnu Orchestra, he speaks in regards to the “twist of irony” in taking up for Frehley in “an ‘odd couple gone beserk sitcom’ like setting, writing songs and rehearsing with the revamped Kiss with Eric Carr on drums and being served contracts to signal as Ace’s substitute….. questioning in disbelief, how the hell on the earth did this occur?”
Later, he particulars his “one and solely encounter” with Frehley, which befell in 1982 “on the video shoot for I LOVE IT LOUD.” He continues: “In utter disbelief, the band who’s information I used to be unfamiliar with have been recording a track Gene and I wrote and right here I used to be, the brand new child watching the magical persona Ace on stage rocking out to a track I wrote??? Surreal? Well past that.”
From there, Vincent explains:
I keep in mind knocking on Aces door to his dressing room to introduce myself and say hello. I used to be nervous assembly the larger than life legend himself. I used to be inexperienced, misplaced for phrases and overwhelmed by Ace’s presence and the magnitude of fame Ace achieved in his superb profession. But in my one and solely fleeting encounter with him I learn an individual who misplaced their coronary heart. His solely phrases to me have been “hey child. good luck. you are gonna want it.” He was extra proper than he might have imagined. We shook fingers and wished one another luck and mentioned goodbye.
These are the one phrases I ever shared with Ace from 1982 till we met once more in 2022 for a memorable music efficiency weekend in Nashville. Throughout these years I by no means heard from Ace, we by no means crossed paths. Commonplace for me as I am not a social particular person. However All of the sudden all of it modified in 2022. Ace and I shared a belated second of bonding that felt good. Actual good. No pretense. We favored one another!!! We got here full circle from our starting handshake in 1982 to assembly up for a really particular Kiss legacy present in Nashville. It was a weekend I’ll eternally keep in mind fondly shared with Bruce Kulick, Ace, Peter Criss and myself as band members coming collectively for the primary time in help of our particular person legacy as we gave tribute to the band we have been traditionally intertwined: the best band on the earth, generally known as KISS. The band who’s sum was better than its components.
Reflecting additional on Frehley’s overarching legacy as a “legend,” Vincent says that Frehley was “all encompassing and all consuming, embracing the center soul and thoughts of their particular person viewers.” Past that, Vincent elaborates, Frehley was “eternal, emoting the identical fan pleasure, effectively being and heat to the particular person they’ve touched through their artistry through the passage of time.”
Lastly, Vincent concludes:
Ace’s journey right here is full. He has walked via the portal into eternity. A door all of us stroll through sooner or later. However what he leaves for all of us listed here are the photographs, the recordings, the performances, the comfortable recollections of Ace the particular person, the person, the musical works and a magic character persona that was cherished by everybody, younger and outdated alike and a stage presence that may dwell eternally. I am eternally proud and grateful to have shared the identical Kiss “eternally legacy” as Ace….we have been one fucking hell of an important band.
Cheers, my good friend. You may be sorely missed by everybody and by me. I’ll damage tomorrow and all the time as I’m hurting now. Love mild and peace, VINNIE VINCENT/
You’ll be able to see Vincent’s complete publish beneath:
READ MORE: Prime 10 Ace Frehley KISS Songs
Different Tributes to Ace Frehley
Naturally, many different rockers have paid their respects to Frehley since his passing.
For example, Software frontman Maynard James Keenan shared a photograph of himself as a child carrying Frehley’s iconic Spaceman make-up whereas captioning: “Godspeed, Ace.” Equally, Poison’s Bret Michaels tweeted a heartfelt passage: “@ace_frehley Ace, my brother, I certainly can’t thanks sufficient for the years of nice music, the various festivals we have executed collectively and your lead guitar on Nothing However A Good Time. All my love and respect, from my household and myself – could you relaxation in peace!!! #AceFrehley.”
Canadian prog rock powerhouse Rush particularly talked about how “shocked and saddened” they’re by Frehley’s demise, including:
Again in 1974, because the opening act for KISS, Alex, Neil and myself spent many an evening hanging out collectively in his resort room after reveals, doing no matter nonsense we might consider, simply to make him escape his inimitable and infectious snort. He was an simple character and an genuine rock star. RIP Ace .. thanks for welcoming us newbies into the rock and roll world.
Along with Vincent, a number of different KISS guitarists mirrored on Frehley, too.
Specifically, Bruce Kulick (who was within the band between 1984 and 1996) remarked:
The information of Ace’s passing is devastating to the world of rock. It has deeply affected me as effectively. He was certainly one of a form. And really an iconic guitar participant. His simple position within the creation and success of KISS can’t be forgotten. Not solely was he cherished by all, he influenced tens of millions of guitarists around the globe. RIP
Likewise, Tommy Thayer (who joined in 2002 and remained via the top of KISS’ 2023 tour) put it merely and eloquently: “A legend who won’t ever be forgotten. He impressed generations of guitarists, myself included, to chase greatness. It’s been an honor to stroll in his footsteps. His legacy will dwell eternally. Relaxation in peace, Ace.”
You’ll be able to see these tributes beneath:
Extra About Ace Frehley’s Dying
As Loudwire wrote when the information broke, Frehley canceled his remaining 2025 tour dates earlier in October, citing undefined “ongoing medical points” associated to the aforementioned fall at dwelling. On Oct. 16 (and shortly earlier than his demise was confirmed), it was reported that he’d suffered a mind bleed and was on life help.
His household shortly launched a press release about Frehley’s passing, too:
We’re fully devastated and heartbroken. In his final moments, we have been lucky sufficient to have been capable of encompass him with loving, caring, peaceable phrases, ideas, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his most interesting recollections, his laughter, and have fun his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and past comprehension. Reflecting on all of his unbelievable life achievements, Ace’s reminiscence will proceed to dwell on eternally!
After all, everybody at Loudwire shares our condolences with Frehley’s family and friends.
35 Images of Ace Frehley By means of The Years
Gallery Credit score: Rob Carroll
