Everything you need to know about KISS guitarist Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley’s life is now in the spotlight following his tragic death at the age of 74.
RadarOnline.com can reveal everything you need to know about the iconic rocker as we commemorate his legacy.
Before he became a KISS legend, Frehley was an ordinary kid from The Bronx, NY, where he was born and raised along with his two siblings.
“Music was always an important part of our household and our lives. We were always a church-going family. Both mother and father were very involved in our church,” said Ace’s brother Charles. said. “A wonderful part of that experience for Nancy, Paul and me was all the beautiful music and singing we were exposed to from the moment we were born. I truly believe that very early exposure to music directly impacts an individual’s ability to understand music later in life.”
He added that it was their destiny to “pick up the guitar… and never put it down!”
Frehley embraced his love of music by performing in local bands beginning in the 1960s. One of his first groups was a cover band called Honey.
“I will say that Ace was already a super guitarist back then. Very innovative and he would hear something once and play it perfectly,” said the band’s lead singer, Rich Circell. shared. “Even then, he marched to his own drum. He showed no interest in singing at the time. He was certainly the best guitarist I ever had the pleasure of playing with. He was very fluid, clean and melodic.”
He also played with The Outrage, Cathedral and Molimo while juggling several jobs, including working as a courier, postman, liquor store delivery person and furniture delivery person.
In 1972, Frehley auditioned for KISS and successfully scored the lead guitarist position.
Together with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss, they formally formed the band and released their debut album in February 1974. In the years that followed they released more studio albums, including Dressed to kill in 1975, Destroyer in 1976, Love gun in 1977, and Dynasty in 1979.
In 1982, Frehley left KISS and formed the group Frehley’s Comet, which released two successful albums.
He rejoined KISS in 1996 for a reunion tour and continued to play with his bandmates until 2002.
When KISS became famous, the New York Groove rocker also launched his solo career. He released a self-titled album in 1978 and continued to share solo projects afterward: Trouble running‘, Anomaly, Space invader, Origin Vol. 1, Spaceman, Origin Vol. 2 And 10,000 volts.
Frehley had also been working on his most recent solo studio album, Origin Vol. 3which he wanted to release this year.
“Origin Vol. 3 will probably be released before the end of 2025,” he shared Meltdown at Detroit’s WRIF radio station in December 2024. “Normally I release a record every year, a year and a half, now two years. I have two albums left on my recording contract with MNRK Music. And everything is great.”
Frehley married his wife, Jeanette Trerotola, in a ceremony in New York City in May 1978. They welcomed their daughter Monique in 1980 before divorcing.
“A fresh start was in order and part of the process included legal separation from my wife,” he wrote of their marriage in his book. No regrets. “Jeanette had decided to move on and was in a relationship with a local man.”
The Rock soldiers hitmaker moved on with Rachael Gordon and proposed to her in 2010. However, they called it quits in 2019 after 11 years together.
After his split from Gordon, Frehley began dating teacher Lara Cove, whom he met in 2018. They were together for six years before ending their relationship.
“After much thought and heartfelt conversations, Ace and I have decided to part ways,” Cove revealed on her Facebook page. “This decision is a step we are taking as we both embark on new paths in our lives. I refuse to say one bad word about him and will not discuss our breakup any further. This statement is the only comment I will make on the matter, out of respect for him and my own integrity.”
Meanwhile, Frehley addressed the split during a concert in June 2024.
“I still care about her. Great girl, beautiful girl. We decided to go our separate ways, and she’s happy, I’m happy,” he told his fans. ‘It was just time. Things are going wrong, right? Three out of four marriages in this country end after five years, statistically speaking. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but that is the reality.’
Frehley’s family released a statement on October 16 confirming the case In the night singer died in Morristown, NJ, weeks after a fall. He was 74.
“We are devastated and heartbroken. In his final moments, we were fortunate to be able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,” the statement said. “We cherish all of his fondest memories, his smile, and celebrate his strengths and kindness he gave to others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions and incomprehensible. As we look back on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will live on forever!”
A September 25 statement about him Instagram page announced the cancellation of Frehley’s scheduled performance in Lancaster, California, due to a “minor fall”. His team canceled the remainder of his 2025 tour dates on October 6 due to “ongoing medical issues”.
According to one newscastThe fall left Frehley on life support due to a brain hemorrhage. His family also revealed that his condition had ‘not improved’ before his death.
