🖤 Family, Feud, and Legacy: Paul Stanley Emotionally Breaks Silence on Ace Frehley Following Passing
The rock world continues to mourn the loss of legendary guitarist Ace Frehley, and the silence surrounding his complex relationship with his former bandmates was finally broken by KISS vocalist Paul Stanley. Speaking during an impromptu Q&A session, Stanley offered a candid, emotional, and deeply respectful reflection on the man known as the Spaceman.
The session took place during the “KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas,” where the band had just completed an “unmasked” electric performance on November 15th, marking their first full show since the completion of their “End Of The Road” farewell tour in 2023.
Paul Stanley’s Candid Reflection on the Ace Frehley Feud
Addressing the long-standing tensions and public feud between the original members, Paul Stanley emphasized that despite the difficulties, the bond remains unbreakable, describing the relationships as “family.”
Stanley did not shy away from the past disagreements:
“It’s no secret — we had lots of differences with Ace, lots of differences with [original KISS drummer] Peter [Criss]. But that’s family. This whole KISS monument was built with a foundation of those guys.”
This acknowledgment is crucial, validating the foundational contributions of both Frehley and Criss. Stanley stressed the reality that while the band couldn’t have started without them, it also couldn’t continue with them—a painful but necessary separation for the band’s longevity.
The Legacy of the Spaceman
Stanley’s tribute shifted to genuine admiration, highlighting Frehley’s unique spirit and his importance to the KISS story. He noted a recent point of shared pride: Frehley’s excitement over the idea of the band being celebrated at the Kennedy Center.
Stanley shared a profound wish for his former bandmate, reflecting on Frehley’s famously wild and unapologetic life: “We miss him, and I hope he lived the kind of life he wanted to. He was one of a kind and he was wild, and he did say if his life ended tomorrow, he’d have no regrets because he lived the kind of life he wanted to.”
He concluded with a universal sentiment about life: “That’s all we can expect from any of us — when it’s over, hopefully we’ve had the kinds of lives that we wanted. That’s what I wish for all of you — just don’t go too soon.”
A Somber Goodbye
The public tribute comes a week after Ace Frehley passed away at the age of 74 in Morristown, New Jersey, surrounded by his family, following a fall and subsequent health complications. His death marked a somber end to one of rock’s most influential careers.
In a powerful demonstration that music transcends decades of disagreement, both Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley attended the intimate memorial service held in Frehley’s native Bronx borough of New York City. Their presence confirmed Stanley’s message: no matter the personal feud, the original members of KISS will always remain inextricably linked through their shared, monumental legacy.
Ace Frehley’s spirit, Stanley reminds us, will forever be the electric, wild foundation of the KISS monument.