'Rage' To Air Ace Frehley Tribute Episode This Weekend

Less than a week after original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley passed away, rage has announced that it will host a packed tribute to the iconic guitarist this weekend.

Frehley passed away at the age of 74 last Thursday (16 October). He died after sustaining injuries in a fall last month, his family confirmed. News of Frehley’s passing came shortly after it was revealed that the rocker had been put on life support following a fall at his studio last month.

“So long Spaceman. This week on rage we’ll be sending off the incomparable Paul Daniel ‘Ace’ Frehley of KISS, and Frehley’s Comet,” a post from the rage account reads on social media.

Describing Frehley as “hugely influential,” rage rounded up a short history of the musician’s career, including co-founding KISS in 1972 alongside his bandmates Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. He left the band ten years later.

The post continued, “Claiming to have never taken a music lesson in his life, Ace inspired a generation with his expressive solos, bluesy shredding, and guitar-shaking vibrato.”

As part of its tribute to Frehley, rage will air KISS’s Countdown episode from 1980, which was filmed atop the World Trade Centre in New York. In addition to the trip down memory lane with Countdown, rage will play interviews and “mischief from Ace in particular.”

Of course, numerous KISS music videos are on the schedule, including Shout It Out Loud, I Was Made For Loving You, I Want You, Shandi, Sure Know Something, Talk To Me, and his last official music video appearance with the band, Psycho Circus. Rage will also play some solo material from Ace (as well as Frehley’s Comet songs), such as Into The Night, Insane, and Do Ya.

The rage tribute to Ace Frehley will air this Friday night—actually, Saturday morning at “real rock and roll hours”—from 12:18 am on ABC TV.

Sharing a tribute to Frehley last week, his KISS bandmates Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons said, “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley.

“He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

In a statement of his own, Peter Criss wrote, “With a broken heart and deep, deep sadness, my brother Ace Frehley has passed away. He died peacefully with his family around him. My wife and I were with him to the end as well. I love you, my brother.

“My love and prayers go out to Jeanette, Monique, Charlie and Nancy and all of Ace’s extended family, bandmates, fans and friends. May the Lord comfort you at this difficult time.”

He continued, “As a founding member of the rock group KISS and in Ace’s solo career, Ace influenced and touched the hearts of millions of people. His legacy will live on in the music industry and in the hearts of the KISS Army.

“At this time, I ask all of you to please be respectful to Ace’s family and allow them to grieve privately. To the KISS Army and Ace’s Rock Soldiers, my heart is with you all... Broken...”