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EXPLAINED: Ace frehley - The Real Truth

KISS star Gene Simmons shared one regret over late bandmate Ace Frehley

KISS star Gene Simmons has confessed he wishes he'd done more to help his former bandmate Ace Frehley when he was battling addiction issues - admitting he regrets failing to stage an intervention "decades ago".

BANG Premier

“A guitar that sits at the intersection of love, collaboration and some of the most influential songwriting of the late 1960s”: The 1913 Gibson used to write Here Comes the Sun and Let It Rain – owned by Eric Clapton – is now up for auction

Alongside the Clapton/Harrison acoustic, one of Ace Frehley’s Les Pauls from Kiss’s peak popularity era is also included in the auction

Guitar World

Paul Gilbert: What I learned and taught at GIT

Paul was a student and a tutor at LA's G.I.T. (Guitar Institute of Technology). Here are the shred secrets he learned there – and taught

Guitar World

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“One of the most historically significant guitars in rock and roll”: Ace Frehley’s iconic 1975 Gibson Les Paul expected to sell for more than half a million dollars at auction

The Les Paul will be sold alongside stage-played guitars from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kirk Hammett and Billy Duffy at an upcoming auction

Guitar World

"He had to talk down agun-toting S.W.A.T. team after AceFrehley accidentally shot himself." For 40 years, Danny Francis kept rock stars out of trouble - and his stories prove it

When Danny Francis died in 2025, he left behind a lifetime of memories with Paul McCartney, Bad Company, Kiss, Bon Jovi, Cher and more

Louder

“I’m watching this sort of genius develop right in front of me, and he seems he has no physical barriers”: Joe Satriani on what it was like to teach a teenage Steve Vai

Here's this "goofy" Ace Frehley fan with big hands and he keeps coming back for more... Satch says it wasn't long before he recognised Vai's potential

MusicRadar

“Gene and Paul came back to the studio with their jaws on the floor. Gene said, ‘No-one has ever turned down Kiss’“: The glam-rock guitarist who accidentally turned down Kiss

Punky Meadows, best known as the guitarist for glam-rock outfit Angel, sets the record straight on auditioning for Kiss, being chosen on the spot, but never actually making the band…

Guitar World

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“He said, ‘I know Eddie Van Halen. I have enough money that if I wanted to have him play on this, I could. I want you to play on it’”: Pete Evick has played with Bret Michaels for 21 years. Here’s what he learned

He compares the Poison singer to Prince and Trent Reznor in terms of creativity, hails his boss for the freedom he’s given, recalls making early gear choices for the wrong reasons, and says he can only tolerate one Marshall amp – but it’s his all-time favorite

Guitar World

“I want to dedicate it to everyone in the guitar shop I grew up in and everyone in a bedroom with a dream”: Guitar at the Grammys 2026 – Slash and Andrew Watt pay tribute to Ozzy, Bruno Mars takes a solo, but Brent Hinds excluded from In Memoriam segment

Guitar acts and guitar-driven records won big at music’s biggest night, across myriad different genres

Guitar World

"He asked me 'Do you have long hair? Are you willing to wear a dress and high heels? Are you willing to wear lipstick?' Those questions fascinated me." Peter Criss recalls his first conversation with Gene Simmons and the birth of Kiss

Founding Kiss drummer Peter Criss was intrigued by a strange phone conversation that led to rock and roll greatness

Louder

“The guitar wasn't always user-friendly, and the old-school lights often became red hot, leading to burns”: The Smoker, the Rocket-Shooting Les Paul… The one with, like, a million lights – here are Ace Frehley’s 5 most iconic Kiss guitars

Because to be Spaceman in Kiss, a plain old blackguard Tele ain't gonna cut it

Guitar World

“I didn’t really think about it. I did my best guitar work there without thinking. I just emptied my head!” How Frehley’s Comet sent Ace Frehley’s post-Kiss career into orbit

In his final interview for Guitar World magazine (conducted in early 2025 and not published until now), Ace Frehley looks back on the 1987 album that brought him back into the limelight

Guitar World

“It’s heavy, cutting, psychedelic and very offthe cuff. It’s got the vibe of a madman”: Ace Frehley’s 6 greatest Kiss guitar moments

You wanted a list and you got a list but, oh boy, was it hard to whittle it down to six

Guitar World

In Memoriam: A tribute to the musicians we lost in 2025

Musicians who travelled up to the great gig in the sky in 2025 include Ozzy Osbourne, Brian Wilson, Ace Frehley, Sly Stone, Marianne Faithfull and many more

Louder

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MusicRadar

“Eddie told me, ‘Roth is driving me nuts. I can't take it. I gotta leave. I know you're looking for a lead guitar player. Do you want me in the band?’”: When Eddie Van Halen asked to join Kiss – and they turned him down!

Guitar World

“The fact that I played rhythm guitar on Cold Gin on stage alongside Ace will always seem surreal”: My time with the Spaceman – why Ace Frehley was one hero you had to meet

As artist relations for Marshall and GW journo, Nick Bowcott got to be pretty close to the late Kiss co-founder. Here he recounts some fun times on Earth with the Spaceman

Louder

“That was the one time Kiss succumbed to the critics. We wanted a critical success. And we lost our minds”: This sci-fi concept album was Kiss’s attempt to match The Beatles and Pink Floyd. Instead it became their most epic fail

Even Gene Simmons is embarrassed by it

Guitar World

“Having Tommy Bolin play on my songs was a compliment, but artistically it ruined it for me. It led to a lot of conflict”: Moxy’s Earl Johnson lost control of his band as they tracked their debut album. After decades away, he might have got it back

The Canadian hot riffer explains how he was edged out of playing solos on his own songs, how it broke down his partnership with his singer, and why he’s still chasing his Led Zeppelin-style vision

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Guitar World

“I heard someone playing deep, fiery guitar in the room next door. I thought, ‘Boy, I wish that guy was in the band!’ I looked over the balcony… It was Ace”: The otherworldly life and times of Kiss guitar icon Ace Frehley

The Spaceman leaves a legacy of millions of fans rocked, countless players inspired, and a rock guitar scene that will never be the same again

Guitar World

“There’s still a ton happening behind the scenes”: Tommy Thayer says there is still more in store for Kiss

More shows, avatars, and new music? The band still has a bright future despite retiring from touring, Thayer says

Guitar World

“I remember thinking, ‘This is like Eddie Van Halen’s death.’ He influenced so many, and he was one of a kind. His legacy is monumental”: Bruce Kulick remembers Ace Frehley, and the Frehley-era Kiss song that caused him the most trouble

The underrated guitar great recalls his 12 years trying to emulate the Spaceman while bringing something fresh to the band, all the time wondering how Frehley’s playing connected with so many guitarists around the world

Guitar World

“My hand to God, I didn’t intend to hurt Ace or his legacy”: Gene Simmons apologizes for previous comments saying Ace Frehley dying due to a series of “bad decisions”

The former Kiss guitarist passed away in October, following a fatal fall at his home studio

BANG Premier

Gene Simmons apologises for suggesting that 'bad decisions' caused KISS guitarist Ace Frehley's death

Gene Simmons has apologised for claiming that "bad decisions" contributed to the death of former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley earlier this year.

Metal Hammer

"I was wrong for using the words I used. I humbly apologise": Gene Simmons says sorry for controversial comments about the late Ace Frehley

Gene Simmons' apology came shortly after a Senate hearing in which he claimed successful musicians were treated "worse than slaves"

The Independent UK

Kiss star makes claim about reasons behind shock death of bandmate

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