Ace Frehley Laid To Rest in Private Funeral Attended By Kiss Bandmates Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss
SiriusXM host Eddie Trunk shared scenes from Wednesday's (Oct. 22) intimate ceremony in the Bronx.
American rock group Kiss perform live on stage at Cobo Hall in Detroit during the concert recording of Alive! on 16th May 1975. Left to right: Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley.
Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was laid to rest in an intimate, private ceremony in the Bronx on Wednesday (Oct. 22) attended by family, friends and the three other founding members of the greasepaint rock band, singer/guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist/singer Gene Simmons and original drummer Peter Criss.
SiriusXM host and Frehley friend Eddie Trunk posted about the event on Instagram, including the program for the memorial service honoring the beloved guitarist who died last Thursday at age 74 featuring a quote from John 14 1-3, 27 which concludes with: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
In the accompanying note, Trunk wrote, “It has been an emotional couple of days to say the least saying farewell to a rock icon and long time friend. All of the services went as well as they could and were attended by a small group of family and close friends, including the 3 surviving original members of @kissonline.”
Trunk said it was an honor to be invited, see old friends and make a few new ones while celebrating the rock icon who co-founded KISS in New York in 1973 along with Stanley, Simmons and Criss. He also noted that there will also be a public event in the future to pay tribute to the musician known for his Spaceman persona, fiery guitar solos and irreverent sense of humor.
“His family did give me the okay to pursue a tribute show / fan celebration at some point,” said Trunk. “That’s something I feel , and many others feel, is deserved and should happen. There is nothing at all to share yet on this, but when there is you will for sure know about it. I think it’s important for Ace’s legacy, his fans, and the countless guitar players he influenced. Again when there is real news and a real plan on this I’ll let you know. For now crank up the music and remember and celebrate Ace for all he gave us and left us with.”
In another post, Trunk added that Frehley was buried in a cemetery in the Bronx, where he grew up and close to where his parents are buried, per his request. In addition to the KISS trio, Trunk said some of Frehley’s solo bandmates were on hand as well, though no fans attended the “very small, private” memorial or burial. That’s why Trunk re-iterated that he’s trying to pull together a public fan memorial, something he said Ace would have “loved… I think he deserves that.”
Trunk said he spoke to Ace’s wife, daughter and niece after the service to discuss the idea and they “fully endorsed” the effort, which he stressed is in its very early stages of planning. “I do have a close team of very, very heavy influential musicians who I’m talking to about it right now and when we have anything more concrete to tell you of course I’ll let you guys all know and get the word out,” the radio veteran said.
Frehley died on Oct. 16 at his New Jersey home of undisclosed causes, with his spokesperson attributing his passing to a “recent fall at his home.” TMZ reported on Thursday that the Morris County, New Jersey medical examiner’s office is conducting a series of exams to determine the musician’s cause of death, including a toxicological screening and external body exam, with results due in several weeks.
Frehley’s family announced his death last week in a statement, writing, “We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”
The band also released a statement honoring Frehley, which read, “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.”
