Ace Frehley was known for his wicked guitar skills, but the late Kiss Legend wanted to be remembered for something else, too. Not long before his death at age 74, the legendary guitarist was interviewed for author Chaunce Hayden’s upcoming book, Music: 30 Years of Interviews.
Following Frehley’s death on Oct. 16, Hayden shared an excerpt from his book on X in which Frehley reflected on his life and the legacy he hoped to leave behind.
“I believe I’m going to be remembered as a straight shooter and a guy who stayed true to his craft and was respected by his peers,” Frehley said in the interview. “I brought happiness to a lot of people. I was always the funny guy in Kiss. That’s how I would like to be remembered.”
The musician also said he was “proud” of the influence he had on fans who struggled with addiction and were able to get sober. “They say if I can do it, they can do it too. That makes me feel good,” Frehley told Hayden.
Frehley, known for his hard-partying ways when he was the original Kiss Spaceman, got sober in 2006 and followed a 12-step program for the rest of his life, per Blabbermouth.net.
As for his claim to be the band’s “funny guy,” there was no disputing that fact after Frehley’s 1979 appearance on Tom Snyder’s Tomorrow Show. Space Ace cracked jokes and let out his high-pitched laugh multiple times throughout the 30-minute sit-down, stealing the spotlight from his bandmates Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss.
Frehley never planned to retire. In one of his final interviews, he told Guitar Worldin late 2025 that he was “probably gonna go until the wheels come off.” While he didn’t live long after that interview, Frehley was confident he created a lasting legacy in the music world.
“I think it’s going to live on for hundreds of years,” the music legend told The Aquarian earlier this year. “I do what I do very well, and I have the respect of my peers.”
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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