Mike McCready Celebrates Ace Frehley: ‘You Transformed My Journey’
Mike McCready Reflects on Ace Frehley’s Influence
Mike McCready is in mourning following the passing of KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, who died on Thursday, October 16. In heartfelt social media posts shared by both Pearl Jam and McCready, he expressed how Frehley significantly influenced his journey in music and inspired him to pick up the guitar.
A Lifelong Impact
McCready recounted learning about Frehley’s death from Rick Friel of Shadow. He shared a memory from 1977 when Friel brought a KISS lunchbox on the tour bus and introduced him to Ace’s music, describing the moment as life-changing.
“I picked up a guitar in 1978 to join Rick’s band Warrior, which later became Shadow. We covered ‘C’mon and Love Me,’” McCready reminisced. He noted that he and his friends spent countless hours discussing KISS and collecting memorabilia. To him, Ace was not just an idol but also a friend whose solos he studied meticulously over the years.
Honoring a Legend
McCready encouraged fans to listen to Pearl Jam’s "Alive" to hear the clear influence of Frehley, as he utilized the solo from KISS’s “She” as a foundational element in his own work.
He also cherished memories of performing with Frehley, recalling, “Ace jammed on ‘Black Diamond’ with Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden… a dream come true for me. Without Ace and KISS’s influence, I may never have picked up a guitar.”
A Nation in Grief
Frehley passed away in Morristown, New Jersey, at the age of 74. His representative, Lori Lousararian, indicated that a recent fall at his home contributed to his passing, though specific details on the cause were not immediately made available.
In a collective statement, KISS bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley shared their sorrow, saying, “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 will always be a part of KISS’s legacy.”
How has Ace Frehley influenced your love for music?
