In a new interview with Robert Cavuoto of Myglobalmind, legendary guitarist George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB) opened up about his thoughts on Ace Frehley and whether the late KISS icon influenced his guitar playing.
No. And I feel bad saying that, that he just died, but he wasn’t,” George responded (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “The only thing that impressed me — not impressed me, but the thing that really actually transfixed me with KISS in the early days was their image and their show… The first album, I just looked at, ‘Who are these demons? What the hell? It’s so cool.’ And it influenced, I think, all of us, just like VAN HALEN influenced us, and [LED] ZEPPELIN influenced everybody. It was one of those things.”
“I was watching last night, somebody sent me a link to some old STP [STONE TEMPLE PILOTS] concert where they all painted their faces and dressed up like KISS. That was just fascinating. I love it.”
Frehley, who passed away last month at age 74, was laid to rest on October 22 following a private memorial in Yonkers, New York.
SiriusXM host Eddie Trunk, who attended both services, shared that Frehley’s final resting place honored the musician’s wishes. Frehley was laid to rest close to where he grew up and near the graves of his parents. The private gatherings included a small circle of family and friends, as well as his former KISS bandmates Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss.
Paul Daniel Frehley, known to fans worldwide as Ace Frehley, passed away on October 16 in Morristown, New Jersey, surrounded by family. His death followed complications from a second fall at his home, which led to a brain bleed and a brief period on life support before his family made the difficult decision to remove him from the ventilator.
A representative from the Morris County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed that an autopsy was not performed, though a toxicology screening and external examination are underway. The official cause of death is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Frehley played on some of KISS’s most legendary albums, including Kiss (1974), Destroyer (1976), Love Gun (1977), and Dynasty (1979), writing and performing classics like “Shock Me,” “Rocket Ride,” and “Talk to Me.” His 1978 self-titled solo album, featuring the hit single “New York Groove,” remains a fan favorite.
After leaving KISS in the early 1980s, Frehley continued a successful solo career with FREHLEY’S COMET and released a string of acclaimed albums, including Anomaly (2009) and 10,000 Volts (2024). He reunited with KISS for their 1996 reunion tour, thrilling fans worldwide and reaffirming his place as one of rock’s most influential guitarists.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.