‘I Saw the Writing on the Wall’

Fans of the legendary 80s rock band Kiss were absolutely shocked when founding guitarist Ace Frehleydied unexpectedly on Thursday, October 16 after being on life support as a result of a fall at his home studio. The musician, who passed away at age 74, was an absolutely key part of the iconic group — but he once reflected on the moment he knew he had to leave the band.

“I used to get frustrated when I’d read the paper the following day and read the review of our show. A lot of times, it talked about the pyrotechnics, the elaborate costumes and makeup,” he explained to Ultimate Classic Rock in a February 2024 interview. “And a lot of times, it didn’t really talk much about the music. That used to bother me, because for me, it was always the music first and the show second.”

Frehley also noted that he realized not long before his 1982 departure from the band that he was going down a different path. “With the success of my solo album with ‘New York Groove,’ having the only hit [from the Kiss solo albums], I kind of saw the writing on the wall,” he told the outlet. “I realized I was more creative away from Paul [Stanley], Gene [Simmons] and Peter [Criss] than when I was with them. I knew eventually that I was going to end up forming my own band and leaving the group. That’s what happened.”

Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS in London, 1976Chris Walter/WireImage

That said, it wasn’t an easy choice — but it was a necessary one. “I mean, I lost millions of dollars by doing that. But what I gained was sanity,” Frehley told UCR at the time. “To me, that’s more important. I mean, if you don’t have your health and sanity, it doesn’t matter if you have a hundred million dollars in the bank. You’ve got to be happy. I’ve met so many rich people that are really unhappy people.”

Kiss was formed in New York City in 1973 by Frehley, Stanley, 73, Simmons, 76, and Criss, 79. They became known for their outlandish on-stage style, with painted faces and crazy outfits, as well as their “shock rock” approach to the music. That consisted of smoking guitars, pyrotechnics, fire breathing, blood spitting, and levitating drum kits. In line with their makeup, the group even took on stage personas: Simmons was the Demon, Stanley was the Starchild, Criss was the Catman, and Frehley took on the role of the Spaceman (or Space Ace, as he was affectionately called).

Needless to say, every Kiss show was an experience.

The band went through several lineup changes over the years, with Simmons and Stanley as the only founding members to stick with the group until they retired in 2023 after their final show in New York City. The final lineup for the group consisted of Simmons, Stanley, Tommy Thayer, and Eric Singer.

Frehley went on to form his own band, Frehley’s Comet, after his 1982 departure from Kiss — but he rejoined his original band in 1996 after releasing two albums with the second group and trying out a solo career. His second stint with Kiss lasted until 2002.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.