Biography for
Ace Frehley More at IMDb Pro »

Date of Birth

27 April 1951, The Bronx, New York, USA

Birth Name

Paul Daniel Frehley

Height

6' 1" (1.85 m)

Mini Biography

Former lead guitarist for hard rock super group "KISS", best known for his "space ace" character, on stage stagger, cackling laugh and smoking guitar effects. Frehley was born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27th, 1951 in The Bronx, New York City and received his first electric guitar at age 14. A creative and gifted teenager, he counts the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin as early influences on his musical tastes.

Frehley answered a newspaper ad in early 1973 for a then unnamed group seeking a lead guitarist with "flash and balls", and successfully auditioned in front of bassist Gene Simmons and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley to become the fourth member of what would become "KISS". Soon after the group was joined by drummer Peter Criss and the four set about launching themselves . After mediocre success from their first three albums, Kiss Alive (a double live album) was released in 1974, and the rocket ride had begun! KISS were the most successful US group from 1975 to 1980 with platinum selling albums and sold out stadium tours. However, cracks appeared in the band and Peter Criss left the group in 1980, followed by Frehley in 1983.

Frehley put together his own band ("Frehleys Comet") and they regularly toured the New York City club circuit and released several albums, predominantly purchased by KISS fans still loyal to Ace! However, after several years of icy relations between ex-members Frehley / Criss and band founders Simmons / Stanley, all four original members reunited for a 1995 MTV Unplugged Special that was met with huge interest. This prompted a full blown reunion tour (Kiss - Alive Worldwide) that was the biggest grossing tour of 1996/97!! Met with such keen enthusiasm from fans, the band toured relentlessly into the new century, however Peter Criss was experiencing inflammation of his forearms, and was replaced by drummer, Eric Singer, in 2001. Frehley stuck around another year or so, however the old issues of Ace's unreliability cropped up once again, and he once more exited the band to be replaced by Tommy Thayer.

Most recently, Ace had a small part in the gangster film Remedy (2005).

IMDb Mini Biography By: firehouse44@hotmail.com

Spouse

Jeanette Trerotola

(10 May 1976 - ?) (divorced) 1 daughter

Trivia

Daughter: Monique

A member of the Rock band, Kiss.

Parents: Karl and Esther.

Father Karl was an electrical engineer, mother Esther a homemaker.

Is the youngest of 3 children. Has a brother, Charles, and a sister,

Lead guitarist for Kiss 1973-1983 and 1995-2002. Is divorced from wife Jeanette.

When Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley heard Ace's audition for KISS and decided to make him the lead guitarist, they asked him what his name was. When he said his name was Paul Frehley, they told him that the band couldn't have two Paul's. Frehley then told them to call him "Ace Frehley." The nickname "Ace" comes from his school days, when he displayed an uncanny ability to get his friends dates.

Is 'Space Ace' In The Hard Rock Band, KISS

Daughter, Monique, was born July 9, 1980.

Is a self-taught guitarist, started playing at age 13.

Older sister's name is Nancy.

According to Gene Simmons' autobiography "Kiss and Make-Up", the lightning bolt guitar strap that's used by so many in the music design is actually Frehley's design. He is considered to be a very gifted graphic designer.

Previous bands: Molimo, the Muff Drivers and Frehley's Comet.

Has an IQ of 164.

His face is on the cover of the KISS album "creatures of the night" even though Vinnie Vincent played all the songs on the album. KISS begged Ace to put his face on the cover because he wasn't officially gone and they weren't sure about Vinnie being a permanent replacement.

Is the designer of the famous KISS logo.

Was opposed to recording the KISS album Music From The Elder. However, he was outvoted by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons on the subject, and subsequently was obligate to participate.

Early on when learning to play guitar, he experimented with guitars that had whammy bars. Eventually, he discarded them when he found that whammy bars weren't his style.

Said in a 2008 interview that he is now clean and sober and has finally learned, that he is actually a better musician when not drunk and on drugs and that he regrets not learning this sooner.

Personal Quotes

"I remember taking the cassette and smashing it against a wall." - to Guitar World magazine in 1993, describing his negative response to the 1981 Kiss album "Music From the Elder."

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