‘I Love You My Brother’: Ace Frehley’s Emotional Final Message to Peter Criss Cements a Legendary, Unbreakable Rock Brotherhood

The world of rock and roll is no stranger to tragedy, drama, and legendary feuds, yet sometimes, amid the chaos of the stage and the spotlight, a brotherhood forms that transcends music, money, and makeup. The recent passing of original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, the iconic “Spaceman,” following a tragic studio accident in 2025, brought to light one of the most powerful and heartbreaking conclusions to a rock-and-roll relationship: his final, deeply emotional message to his lifelong friend and bandmate, Peter Criss, the “Catman.”

In a moment of profound personal connection that overshadowed their tumultuous professional lives, Ace and Peter demonstrated a spiritual bond that had survived decades of tension, professional betrayal, and the internal politics of one of the world’s biggest bands. This final communication—a simple, deeply felt message of forgiveness and gratitude—was a moment of truth, witnessed by Peter in Ace’s final hours, leaving an enduring legacy of loyalty for fans around the globe.

The Unbreakable Bond in the Final Hour

The curtain closed on Ace Frehley’s eventful journey following a devastating incident in 2025. While working on new material in the studio, Ace suffered an accident resulting in a brain hemorrhage, leading to the immediate cancellation of his planned tour and ultimately marking the end of his life.

The reaction from the music world was immediate, but the most poignant tribute came from Peter Criss. Having maintained a close relationship with Ace through frequent, private conversations in their final years, Peter traveled to be by his side. The drummer and his wife remained in the hospital with Ace and his family, providing comfort and witnessing the final, peaceful moments of the “Spaceman’s” life.

Peter confirmed the heartbreaking news on his personal page, offering a raw, emotional statement that resonated with the depth of their connection: “With a broken heart and deep deep sadness my brother Ace Freilley has passed away. He died peacefully with his family around him. My wife and I were with him until the end. I love you my brother.”

These words, confirming a physical presence and an enduring connection right up to the final breath, speak volumes. They highlight that their relationship was never just about the music or the band’s identity; it was about a profound, almost familial attachment that faced down life-and-death challenges. Ace’s final communication to Peter, full of forgiveness and gratitude, was not a planned rock star farewell, but an intimate, final acknowledgement of a brotherhood that only they truly understood.

The Stance of Self-Respect: A Unified Defiance

To fully grasp the significance of this final message, one must understand the complicated professional backdrop against which their friendship thrived. For years, Ace and Peter had navigated the political minefield of KISS, often feeling marginalized by founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. This shared tension culminated in a powerful, unified statement of self-respect in 2023.

When KISS prepared for their “Final Show,” both Ace Frehley and Peter Criss famously refused to participate. This was no casual snub; it was a clear declaration of their stance and an insistence on honoring their own careers and legacies. Ace, in particular, was vocal about his refusal to be diminished, criticizing Paul and Gene for attempting to rewrite history and change their original promise. Ace stated pointedly, “I am Spaceman. I am not in it to be the third wheel on stage.”

This shared defiance cemented their connection. While they may have kept their public interactions limited, Ace emphasized in those final years that “Peter was closest to me.” Peter understood the power dynamics and the struggle for creative control better than anyone, providing a trusted, non-judgmental confidant for Ace. Their mutual refusal to participate in the final act, demanding respect for their original roles, was a testament to the values of authenticity and artistic control they shared.

The Spiritual Pillar: A Balance of Power

The depth of their bond extended beyond shared resentment; it was rooted in mutual support during the band’s golden age. Ace often spoke about how Peter’s presence in KISS provided him with a crucial balance of power. His telling quote—“Once Peter left the band I realized I had lost all my power in the band”—reflects the immediate and direct impact Peter’s departure had on Ace’s career decisions and his sense of autonomy. With Peter, Ace felt he had a partner who understood his style, his rhythm, and his need for individuality.

Their friendship served as a bedrock as they both navigated immense personal struggles. Ace had spent years battling alcohol and drug addiction, achieving commendable sobriety in 2006 with the staunch support of his daughter, Monnique. Peter, meanwhile, maintained a stable life after successfully overcoming male breast cancer in 2008. These shared experiences of fighting for their health and maintaining personal balance outside the glare of the rock-and-roll circus forged a connection that was about life, not just music.

The reunion in the mid-1990s, which led to the Psycho Circus tour and album, was more than a professional venture; it was an opportunity to strengthen their friendship after years apart. Ace emphasized that being back with Peter helped him “regain balance in a stressful musical environment.” Peter became a spiritual pillar, helping Ace maintain faith in his creative abilities and personal values amidst the constant work pressures and internal disagreements. Their steadfast professional decisions, often taking a shared stand on how to perform and control their music, highlighted their profound professional brotherhood.

The Legacy of the Spaceman: Independence and Artistic Control

Ace Frehley’s life was a testament to creative independence, honesty, and loyalty to his own artistic vision. Born Paul Daniel Frehley in the Bronx, New York, in 1951, he developed a passion for the guitar from the age of 13, influenced by legends like Jimi Hendrix. After his formative years in local bands, he joined KISS in 1972, instantly developing the iconic “Spaceman” style that became a foundational image in rock history.

Ace’s enduring legacy is not merely in his masterful guitar technique, but in his relentless pursuit of artistic control. Even during his solo career, with signature songs like “New York Groove,” he cemented his reputation outside the band, but always on his own terms. His core values were clear: the importance of maintaining his personal style, ensuring that every creative and performance decision reflected his personal vision, and maintaining a steadfast spirit.

This value system—of honesty, personal integrity, and asserting one’s own voice in a pressured environment—is what defined his final actions. His decision to maintain his distance from the final KISS tour, and yet embrace Peter Criss as his closest confidant, speaks to a deeply held belief in authenticity over commercial compromise.

In the end, Ace Frehley’s life was a mirror reflecting the perseverance and emotional depth of rock and roll’s most complicated bonds. The emotional final message to Peter Criss was a closing chord—a moment that settled decades of drama and affirmed that, in the private battle against life’s final curtain, loyalty and shared history mean more than any amount of fame or fortune. Ace Frehley’s legacy will not only endure in his music but in the timeless testament to brotherhood that defined his final goodbye. This spiritual connection, witnessed and confirmed by Peter Criss, ensures that the Spaceman and the Catman will forever be remembered, not as just two members of KISS, but as brothers who shared a legacy of love, respect, and enduring loyalty until the very end.