OPETH's MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT Pays Tribute To ACE FREHLEY: He 'Was The Coolest Dude Out Of The Original Four' KISS Members

OPETH leader Mikael Åkerfeldt has paid tribute to original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, who died on Thursday (October 16) at the age of 74. The news of his passing came just hours after TMZ reported that Ace was hospitalized on life support after he suffered a brain bleed when he took a fall in his studio a couple of weeks ago.

Mikael took to his band's social media to write: "It is with great sadness and shock that we say goodbye and 'thank you' to Paul 'Ace' Frehley. A rocking beacon of light for guitar players worldwide. A massive influence for many, let alone for myself and Fredrik [Åkesson, OPETH guitarist].

"As far as I'm concerned Ace was the coolest dude out of the original four. He had some type of swagger that almost defined the term itself. A hard rocking Keith Richards of sorts, albeit in silver makeup and platform heels.

"KISS was very much an introduction to my 'school of rock'. All my childhood friends were fans of KISS, and many of them regarded Ace as the ultimate rock-star.

"Ace Frehley was awesome. Plain and simple. I think of him now, not only as the great 'left-to-right' swaying guitarist with the smoking Gibson Les Paul, but also as that jovial dude that contradicted/challenged the generic (and sometimes silly) rock-star mannerism of 'bosses', Gene and Paul. The 'spaceman' was human, after all.

"If you haven't seen Ace Frehley go off on a joking/laughing rant during the KISS interview with Tom Snyder in 1979, I strongly advise for you to do so. His laugh was equally contagious to that of Elvis Presley's classic and heart-warming live rendition of 'Are You Lonesome Tonight' from 1969. Priceless!

"It's likely there will be a sit down with my KISS collection tonight. With that said, I do that all the time anyways. Regardless of any tragic events like the one we find ourselves in at present.

"Ace Frehley will be missed by millions. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and fans.

"Lots of love, from OPETH."

Frehley, whose real name was Paul Daniel Frehley, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey.

TMZ reported earlier on Thursday that Frehley was on life support. He had to cancel his tour dates and his condition had not improved after suffering from a brain bleed from the fall.

Frehley's family confirmed his death, writing in a statement: "We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth.

"We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace's memory will continue to live on forever!"

Ace co-founded KISS with guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley, bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss in New York City in 1973. Frehley appeared on KISS's first nine albums, and returned for the band's 1998 reunion album, "Psycho Circus", only to leave again. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with the rest of KISS's original lineup in 2014.

Frehley first left KISS in 1982. He rejoined in 1996 and parted ways with the band once again in 2002 after the conclusion of KISS's first "farewell tour." Since his departure, guitarist Tommy Thayer had assumed the role of the Spaceman.

Earlier this month, Frehley scrapped the remainder of his previously announced 2025 tour dates due to unspecified "medical issues".

The legendary rocker announced the cancelation two weeks after he pulled out of the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, California after sustaining minor injuries in a fall at his home.

When Ace's Antelope Valley Fair cancelation was first announced, it was revealed that Frehley had had "a minor fall in his studio, resulting in a trip to the hospital." He was later advised by his doctor to refrain from travel in order to fully recover from his injuries.

At the time of his passing, Frehley was working on "Origins Vol. 3", the sequel to Ace's 2016 and 2020 collections of cover songs that inspired the former KISS guitarist.

Ace's latest solo collection of original material, "10,000 Volts", came out in February 2024 via MNRK Music Group (formerly eOne Music). It was the follow-up to "Spaceman", which was released in October 2018 via eOne.

Frehley has had a rocky relationship with Simmons and Stanley whom he blamed for exacerbating his abuse of drugs and alcohol because they allegedly minimized his contributions to KISS.

In 2019, Simmons told Guitar World that Frehley and Criss had exited KISS three times, in part because they "weren't carrying their load" and weren't dependable onstage. In response, Frehley called Simmons and Stanley "control freaks, untrustworthy and… too difficult to work with."

Ace said in a 2024 interview that he got sober in 2006 after "10 car accidents" and credited his daughter Monique with inspiring him to give up drinking in 2006.

"My daughter calls me up and goes, 'Dad, I'm not hearing good things about you.' I looked in the mirror and just said, 'Shit — she's right,'" he said. "That evening, I called my sponsor and he took me to an AA meeting, and I've been sober ever since."

Frehley married Jeanette Trerotola in 1978 before they legally separated seven years later but remained married. She survives him, along with their daughter Monique, brother Charles, sister Nancy Salvner, and a number of nieces, nephews and extended family members.