A Few Out Of This World Facts About The Late Great KISS Guitarist Ace Frehley
Gunners & Ali - Ali's Random Facts
Friday, 17 October 2025 - 2 minutes
Rock fans around the world are remembering Ace Frehley - the original KISS lead guitarist and “Spaceman” - who passed away at 74.
1. Did you know Ace Frehley actually designed the original KISS logo? Yep... those lightning bolt S’s were his idea, sketched by hand before the band’s first big photo shoot.
2. Before KISS, Ace was a delivery driver. He showed up to his audition wearing mismatched sneakers: one red, one orange.
The band loved his confidence… and the shoes became part of his trademark style.
3. Ace’s iconic “Spaceman” persona came from his love of sci-fi - but he once said he picked it because he often felt like he was “from another planet.”
4. That legendary smoking guitar trick? Ace built it himself using hidden fireworks and a small smoke bomb rig inside the body of his Les Paul.
5. Frehley actually inspired one of the world’s most famous guitars - Gibson’s “Ace Frehley Les Paul” became one of their best-selling signature models ever.
6. In 1978, when all four KISS members released solo albums on the same day, it was Ace’s album - not Gene’s or Paul’s - that scored the biggest hit, “New York Groove.”
7. He was struck by lightning once... No joke. It happened onstage in the 1970s, and he walked away with just numb fingers… and a great story.
8. Ace wasn’t just a guitarist; he also sang lead on several fan favourites like “Shock Me” and “Rocket Ride.”
9. Despite leaving KISS in the early ‘80s, he reunited for their massive 1996 world tour - complete with the makeup, fireworks, and all the nostalgia fans could handle.
10. And one of his proudest moments? Being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with KISS in 2014 - a full-circle moment for the “Spaceman” who helped launch one of rock’s most explosive legacies.
Source: YouTube/HolywoodRose7
