KISS founding guitarist Ace Frehley dies aged 74

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Link: KISS founding guitarist Ace Frehley dies aged 74 - BBC News

 

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Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley, founding guitarist for the American rock band KISS, has died aged 74, his family announced in a statement reported in US media.

 

Frehley died surrounded by family, who said they were "completely devastated and heartbroken".

 

"We were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth," the statement said.

 

The guitarist was known for his "Spaceman" persona, from the days when KISS was founded with the original line-up of Paul Stanley on vocals and rhythm guitar, Gene Simmons on vocals and bass guitar,

 

Frehley, on lead guitar and vocals and Peter Criss on drums and vocals.

 

They applied black and white face paint to create four enduring characters - Demon, Starchild, Spaceman and Catman...

 

[Slarty66]

The first album I ever bought was KISS Alive II when I was 11. I remember listening to the song Shock Me and the extended guitar solo kicked in.

I wanted to start to learn to play the guitar then and there. 48 years later I'm still playing thanks to hearing Ace and his raw guitar style.

I've played in bands and recorded various projects over the years since,  I may not have made a career in music full time but it was his playing that made me love playing guitar.

And looking online today you can see the various guitarists that were inspired by his talent.

R.I.P. Ace