Ace Frehley Tribute: On Why There Will Only Be One Space Ace

Ace Frehley was more than the Spaceman of KISS — he was the soul of the sound, the spark behind the mask. His legacy isn’t just in riffs or records; it’s in the cosmic joy of being unapologetically real. There will only ever be one Space Ace.

KISS Ace Frehley ClassicA star has faded from the skies—or as Ace Frehley might have said, “I’m one with them now.” The legendary guitarist has passed away, his soul joining the great cosmic harmony he always seemed to channel. After suffering a serious fall and being hospitalised, reports remain vague about the timeline, but the damage was deeper than anyone realised. The fact that he was still playing right to the end says everything about who he was.

Surrounded by family, he took his final bow the same way he lived—on his own terms. Although they made the call to pull the plug, he probably was conscious enough to approve. Back when KISS were in their prime, Frehley was the band’s lead guitarist—the cosmic spark that gave their spectacle its soul. That customised Les Paul didn’t just smoke; it howled. Others could wear the makeup, mimic the riffs, even reproduce his solos, but none could replicate the electricity that made him the Spaceman. And his influence resonates with today’s guitarists on stage. He earned the moniker both on and off the stage—a mix of cosmic dreamer and Bronx charm that no one else could quite pull off.

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Zoiks! It’s a Scooby-Doo and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery Review

Scooby-Doo!_and_Kiss-_Rock_and_Roll_Mystery
Available on Amazon USA

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Gene Simmons is definitely one shrewd businessman. He knows how to market KISS and keep the band’s brand alive for more than 40 years. In that time, he’s made attempts into getting into acting (more so for himself) and for the group, comic books and various paraphernalia. Eventually that will lead into crossovers with popular characters for a particular era. Very few will remember their appearance in Marvel ComicsHoward the Duck. They made their own series with Image Comics and in some ways, they’ve returned to this realm of crossovers in their own animated special Scooby-Doo! & KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery.

This direct to DVD product is more about the band of musicians than the mystery solving gang. The in-jokes with supporting characters and objects that reference their songs are everywhere. The product placements to even fictional items are downright ridiculous. It’s hardly hilarious, but at least this one-off film does to KISS what the original 2012-13 Mystery Incorporated did to create an encompassing mythology that explains who this group is. They’re from a realm called Kissteria and they guard a mysterious Black Diamond that they carry with them on their tours. Although it doesn’t grant them powers, it is a key to a prison that must never be unlocked. The Scooby gang get involved in a mystery of a frantic Crimson Witch who looks like she should belong in a Power Rangers product. She’s looking for the gemstone so an evil Destroyer can be awakened. When Shaggy and Scooby meet her, the usual antics take place, and eventually the team will find answers to why she must have it.

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