The legendary rock pantheon paused on a somber October afternoon in Morristown, New Jersey, to bid farewell to one of its most electrifying and independent spirits: Ace Frehley. The founding guitarist of KISS, the original ‘Spaceman,’ passed away at the age of 74 following a devastating cerebral hemorrhage, ending a career that spanned more than fifty years of blistering riffs, unapologetic independence, and music that transcended generations. It was a funeral that brought together family, lifelong friends, and figures from a career marked by both glorious success and fiery conflict. Yet, in a moment that brought the entire rock community to a stunned silence, one guest’s unannounced arrival became the defining, and most emotional, moment of the day.

Amidst the throng of mourners, relatives, and close associates, including his daughter Monnique Frehley and longtime collaborator Peter Criss, stood a man whose presence was both a crushing contradiction and a profound gesture: Gene Simmons.

For decades, the relationship between Ace Frehley and Gene Simmons—the Spaceman and the Demon—had been a tumultuous saga of bitter public feuds. Their history was a roadmap of disputes over everything from financial benefits and contracts to artistic direction and control of the iconic KISS image. The decades of bad blood and mutual public criticism made Simmons’ sole, unexpected appearance the climax of the funeral. His presence was a stark reminder of the complicated, deeply rooted emotional knots that had bound and broken their musical partnership. The tense atmosphere, heavy with the weight of shared history and unresolved conflict, underscored the profound impact Ace had on every life he touched, particularly those who had fought alongside—and against—him.

The Unpredictable Tribute

Stepping up to deliver a brief, unexpected eulogy, Gene Simmons chose to bypass the sanitizing language often heard at such events and instead offered an intensely honest and raw tribute to his former bandmate. His words, quickly picked up by reporters, revealed a grudging respect that had persisted beneath the years of conflict.

“Ace was always an unpredictable person, but his talent and honesty overcame everything,” Simmons stated, his voice carrying the gravity of the moment. He continued, offering a window into the difficult, but ultimately fruitful, working dynamic of their youth: “We argued, we got angry, but Ace always kept the music at the center of everything. I learned a lot from how he stuck to himself.”

This tribute—acknowledging the conflict while elevating Frehley’s uncompromising artistic integrity—served as a stunning, final chapter in one of rock’s most volatile rivalries. Simmons’ public sentiment, echoing a previous quote where he respected Ace for never compromising his music or himself, affirmed the founding guitarist’s defining, irreplaceable role in the KISS saga. It was a moment of reconciliation, not of friendship renewed, but of professional and artistic respect finally given its due, a recognition that Ace Frehley’s genius was inseparable from his often-challenging nature.

A Life Defined by Autonomy and Conflict

The conflicts that dominated Frehley’s career were born from a deeply ingrained need for independence. From the early days of KISS, his relationship with Simmons and Paul Stanley was a constant tug-of-war over artistic decisions, album rights, and the financial structure of the band. Ace’s outspoken, assertive style, while driving the band’s creative fire, inevitably led to public tensions. As Simmons himself once admitted, Ace’s decision to always do things his own way created both “strength and tension” within all their projects.

This drive for autonomy propelled him toward a hugely successful solo career, a necessary step for an artist unwilling to be constrained by a collective structure. He formed Frehley’s Comet in the mid-1980s, releasing albums that highlighted his distinctive rock style and established his reputation as an independent songwriter and performer. His early solo hit, “New York Groove,” alongside later celebrated works like Origins Vol. 1, Spaceman, and the critically lauded 2024 album 10,000 Volts, showcased a guitar virtuosity and personal touch that simply could not be contained within the corporate demands of KISS.

The desire for complete creative control often meant rejecting KISS tours and events, a choice that solidified his identity as an independent artist but exacerbated the existing tensions. Peter Criss, the original KISS drummer and a longtime ally of Frehley, echoed this sentiment at the funeral, affirming that Ace “always did things his way. He was independent and outspoken… but it was the most important part of his career.” This fierce independence, celebrated by his closest confidants, was the very engine of his success and the source of his career-long controversies.

The Family and The Final Fight

The personal dimension of Ace’s life, including his marriage to Jeannette Territolah and his close bond with his daughter Monnique, ran parallel to the chaotic trajectory of his professional life. Ace faced profound personal struggles, including a public battle with alcohol and drug addiction, which he successfully overcame, establishing a stable, sober lifestyle that supported his later musical endeavors.

However, his final years were marked by a battle against declining health that mirrored the resilience he displayed in his recovery. In September 2025, a studio accident resulted in a severe brain hemorrhage, forcing the cancellation of all scheduled tours. Despite the devastating setback and the need for intensive medical care, his resolve to create remained unbroken. During his recovery, he worked tirelessly with collaborators to ensure his projects were completed, reflecting the determination that manager Larry Libman praised, noting that Ace “always put music first.”

His final album, 10,000 Volts, released in 2024, stands as a testament to this indomitable spirit. Ace actively participated in interviews, emphasizing that his personal music was his lifeblood. “Music is what gets me through everything,” he once said of the project. “Each record is the last of me.” This final, passionate burst of creativity underscores the principle that defined his entire existence: his art and his life were inextricably linked, each fueled by a stubborn refusal to yield.

Monnique Frehley’s emotional speech beautifully encapsulated this legacy, reminding attendees, “My father lived and worked his own way… music was his life and what he left behind for all of us.”

The Meaning of The Demon’s Presence

The funeral, while a mournful occasion, ultimately became a powerful synthesis of Ace Frehley’s complicated life. The unexpected presence of Gene Simmons—the man who personified the very collective structure and corporate ambition Ace spent decades fighting against—was the final, powerful acknowledgment of a talent that defied all personal and professional animosity. It was a moment that transcended the contracts, the arguments, and the headlines of the past fifty years, crystallizing a shared history that began in the Bronx and ended on the world stage.

Ace Frehley, the boy born Paul Daniel Frehley, rose from humble roots to become an architect of the rock world, carrying a vision so unique it required him to break away from the very machine he helped build. His career will forever be remembered for the iconic “Spaceman” persona, the searing guitar solos, and, perhaps most importantly, the unwavering commitment to his own style.

The final gesture by Gene Simmons, fraught with years of emotional weight, finally offered a public bookend to the KISS dynasty. It affirmed that even the most bitter rivals in the business recognized the profound, undeniable genius of the man who chose the hardest path: the path of creative independence. Ace Frehley’s legacy is not just the music; it is the powerful, inspirational narrative of a man who played rock and roll by his own rules, right up until the final chord faded to silence.