A KISS Fan Remembers ACE Frehley’s Area Appearances.
by Alex Lloyd Gross
Ace Frehley, one of the founding members of KISS died today, weeks after suffering a fall in a studio. He was 74 years young. The Spaceman as he was referred to by KISS fans too on the persona of someone from another planet. He liked to drink and that fact led to contention with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, two founding members of KISS.
ACE was the only original member to consistently put out original music . He still toured, having just played Rivers Casino in June .
When KISS formed, they were not an overnight success. When they played the Spectrum 12/21/76 and again on 12/22/77 I was too young to go. 1/30/78 I could not go to that show either. Those that did get to go to the 1976 spectacle were in awe the next day in school that this new band, KISS blew up the stage. I was determined to see them.
In November 1978 they put out solo albums and ACE was on WIFI 92. By a miracle, I got through on the phone and was on the radio with ACE. The next day in school my classmates would come up tome and tell me they heard me on the radio with him. I would see him almost a year later September 7 1979. During that show my 15 year old self was in a daze at what I saw. I managed to snag a guitar pick from ACE, when he tossed it to me, and it landed in my hand. I shot snapshots with a 110 camera and one photo of ACE came out decent. That band, that night gave me a career.
Alex Lloyd Gross File Photo September 2015 Havana New Hope.
In 1988 He played the Spectrum,opening for Iron Maiden. By then he left the band and was solo. I managed to bump into him backstage and got a photo with him, That show saw he with Frehley’s Comet and in addition to KISS songs, he would play Rock Soldiers and material from his first solo record.
In 1990 I was in Daytona For Spring Break. He was in a club shooting pool and he was feeling no pain. He got onstage with a cover band and played You Really Got Me, with them from the Kinks. That was fresh off his show at the Trocadero a few months before. When he was shooting pool, no one really knew who he was except for a few of the cooler people in that club.
Alex Lloyd Gross File Photo Delaware Valley News.com March 1990 Trouble Walkin’ tour Trocadero.
Ace would play locally at the Chestnut Cabaret and at the Cellblock on Bensalem. I did an interview with him in anticipation for his show. The next night two feet of snow fell where the Spaceman lived and he called me back after the interview that night to let me know he canceled that show.
In 1996 everyone’s dream came true and KISS reunited and played here at the Corestates Arena for three shows in October. I would be there for all three nights, the final night in the front row. That reunion lasted five years and I would see ACE with KISS in 1998 and in 2000. That year they played what is now the Cure Arena in Trenton. During that show I secured a spot in the front row in front of ACE, in between two beautiful girls. I held up a sign asking for a guitar pick. During that show I wound up with several. So did the girls.
Alex Lloyd Gross File Photo- Delaware Valley News.com Ace clowns on stage with Gene 1998 Phila.
In September 2015 ACE brought his solo show to Havana, which was a club in New Hope. Having just covered the Pope that day I was exhausted , but still snagged a spot in the front. More guitar picks and hand shakes from ACE. I would meet so many people and became friends, because of ACE or KISS. The spaceman played local clubs and appeared at autograph shows. I always reacted as if I was 12-15 years old, and ACE would always greet me with a handshake and a hello. I was never jaded with seeing ACE or meeting him.
He probably did not know my name but he knew I was a fan and he recognized me. “Good to see you again”, he would say. One night in December 2000 Eddie Trunk was hosting ACE on his New York Radio show. My car radio managed to pick that station up in New York, when I went to visit my friend Dawn. I kept trying to dial the New York Studio to chat with ACE. Busy. Busy Busy. I was not getting through. I was getting frustrated and Dawn took the phone from me and hit redial. It went through , first try. I was on hold for about 90 minutes and then I got to chat with the Spaceman. When it was done I was in awe. I could not believe she got me through to chat with ACE and even more grateful for her patience in putting up with my crap while I was on hold, not wanting to move for fear of losing the connection.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo Ace takes the stage in Philly for his final show June 2025 Rivers Casino.
There were many times I was fortunate enough to see ACE or meet him. The last time was in June of this year at Rivers. I managed to snag a front row seat, directly in front of ACE. He gave me three fist bumps, several guitar picks and two bottles of sparking water. I was ecstatic leaving the venue. For about two hours I was 15 again.
If you have ever seen or met ACE, please leave a comment. I am sure everyone would love to read it. Here are a few show reviews from Ace that appeared here.
https://delawarevalleynews.com/2022/05/14/ace-frehley-takes-care-of-business-in-glenside/