Photo: Getty Images North America
It's been a month since KISS' Ace Frehley passed away, and in their first performance since his death, his KISS bandmates paid tribute to their late guitarist.
KISS performed at the KISS Kruise: Landlocked event in Las Vegas over the weekend, marking their first show in nearly two years, and Frehley, who passed away on October 16 at the age of 74, was remembered with a heartfelt tribute led by frontman Paul Stanley.
Before the performance, Stanley addressed the audience, saying, "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." He led the crowd in a moment of silence, during which fans held electric candles aloft in Frehley's honor. The audience then chanted "Ace! Ace! Ace!" in a show of respect and remembrance.
Frehley, known as the Spaceman, was a founding member of KISS. He initially left the band in 1982 but rejoined for a reunion tour from 1996 to 2002. His death was the result of a fall in his New Jersey studio, which led to a brain bleed and other complications. The Morris County Medical Examiner ruled his death accidental.
Stanley and Gene Simmons expressed their devastation over Frehley's passing, stating that he was "an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history." They emphasized that Frehley will always be a part of KISS's legacy.
Frehley's funeral took place in The Bronx on October 22, attended by original KISS members Stanley, Simmons, and Peter Criss. Tributes from fans and fellow musicians have poured in since his passing, highlighting his impact on the music world.