Who Was Ace Frehley? The Spaceman From the Bronx

Ace Frehley played some of the best-loved guitar solos in rock, and he did it in silver make-up with a guitar that smoked. Here's a short guide to the man behind the Spaceman, from all of us at Ace Frehley Merch.

Where was Ace Frehley from?

Ace was born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in the Bronx, New York City.

What did he do in KISS?

Ace was the founding lead guitarist of KISS, from the band's start in 1973 until 1982, and again from 1996 to 2002. He created the Spaceman, also called Space Ace, out of his love of science fiction and space travel. His first lead vocal for the band was "Shock Me" on Love Gun in 1977, a song inspired by nearly being electrocuted on stage in Lakeland, Florida. In 2014 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of KISS.

What did he record on his own?

• Ace Frehley (1978): his first solo album went platinum, and "New York Groove" reached the US Top 20.
• Frehley's Comet (1987) to Trouble Walkin' (1989): three hard rock records in three years.
• Anomaly (2009), Space Invader (2014) and Spaceman (2018): the comeback run.
• Origins Vol. 1 (2016) and Vol. 2 (2020): songs by other artists that shaped him, with guests such as Slash and Lita Ford.
• 10,000 Volts (2024): his tenth and final studio album.

How do we remember him?

Ace Frehley died on October 16, 2025, in Morristown, New Jersey, aged 74, after a fall at his home. His solos, his smoking guitar and his Spaceman live on with everyone who plays his records loud.

Want to wear a piece of that story? Shop the Ace Frehley collection.