KINGS OF THRASH paid tribute to late KISS legend Ace Frehley with a cover of “Cold Gin” during their October 24 performance at The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan. Fan-filmed video footage can be seen below.
The lineup featured David Ellefson (bass, ex-MEGADETH), Jeff Young (guitar, ex-MEGADETH), Chaz Leon (vocals, guitar), and Fred Aching (drums, DEAD GROOVE/ex-BULLETBOYS), joined by Gabriel Connor of RED DEVIL VORTEX on guest vocals for the KISS classic.
In a recent interview with WRIF’s Meltdown, Ellefson reflected on Frehley’s influence, placing him in the same pantheon as Eddie Van Halen. Ace Frehley passing is on the level of Eddie Van Halen passing,” he said. “He was that influential — a different guitar player, of course. Ace and Eddie, they not only made us wanna become musicians, they made us wanna become rock stars. And I think that’s the difference. KISS made you wanna go to the next level, and KISS, with their manager Bill Aucoin in those early days, they created something that was just unreachable, and, to some degree, still is.”
Frehley, who passed away earlier this 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.
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