KISS guitarist Ace Frehley passed away at the age of 74 on October 16. Frehley was able to reunite with his former bandmates for one last time at the 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. However, it didn’t go smoothly at the ceremony as tension and resentment still festered between the group (via RadarOnline).
Frehley, aka the Spaceman, and his bandmate Peter Criss were kicked out of the group in the early ’80s. They remained estranged for years and even publicly dissed each other. Paul Stanley claimed in his memoir that both his bandmates were booted due to serious issues like allegations of substance abuse and antisemitism.
When they appeared at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, Frehley made a unique demand that caused an alleged rift between the former band members. Stanley and Gene Simmons wanted their former friends to perform on stage, but Frehley and Criss were adamant about one thing.
They wanted to don the black leather attire and the black and white paint on their faces just like the old times. However, Stanley didn’t want to bring back their controversial costume choice during this reunion. He allegedly told Frehley, “That’s not going to happen. That band is gone.” Frehley and Criss threatened to back out of the show.
KISS Reunion: Did Ace Frehley’s Wish Come True?
Ace Frehley and Peter Criss refused to back down from their unique request for their costumes. They shared that they would be no-shows at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Peter Criss allegedly said, “I won’t be disrespected. How can you put me in the Hall of Fame and then tell me to sit in the corner while another guy puts on my makeup and plays?” (via RadarOnline).
Interestingly, the four former band members appeared at the ceremony, and they did not wear the infamous costume. It appeared that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were able to convince their bandmates not to stick to their unique demand.
However, none of these KISS members took the stage during the ceremony. During their appearance at the ceremony, Stanley and Criss embraced each other, showing that there was no bad blood between them. Simmons even poked fun at their feud, sharing:
I’m here to say a few words about the four knuckleheads who, 40 years ago, got together and decided to put together the kind of band we never saw onstage, critics be damned.
After exiting KISS in 1982, Frehley started his own band called Frehley’s Comet. He released two albums with the band before embarking on a solo career. He rejoined KISS in 1996 and even went on a reunion tour with his former bandmates. This tenure of Frehley lasted until 2002.
Ace Frehley’s Medical Issues Led to His Death
Ace Frehley cancelled his remaining tour dates in September due to ongoing medical issues. TMZ reported on Thursday that the guitarist took a fall in his home studio on September 25, 2025, and was taken to the hospital. It was reported that he was on life support and a ventilator due to a brain bleed caused by his fall.
The outlet also reported that the family considered removing him from life support. Hours after the report, news emerged that Frehley passed away in Morristown, New Jersey, at the age of 74. His family released a statement after his death (via PEOPLE):
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.
Following his death, his former KISS band members paid tribute to the musician. In a joint statement, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons shared that Frehley was “an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history” (via USA Today).
Peter Criss released a separate statement, where he shared that Frehley “influenced and touched the hearts of millions of people.”
What do you think of this alleged feud between the KISS band members? Let us know in the comments below!
