When Legendary Childhood Idols Leave Us: Remembering Ace Frehley

It’s a strange thing when someone who shaped your childhood, whose music was the soundtrack to countless memories, suddenly isn’t with us anymore. Over the past few days, there’s been a quiet sadness rippling through the community of Ace Frehley’s fans. While his health concerns were known to many, the specifics remained private. There were whispers of a stroke or a heart attack, but the definitive issue was unclear – just that our beloved "Spaceman" wasn't doing well. Then, the news came yesterday, though I didn’t get it until I woke up this morning and it hit hard.

For so many of us, growing up meant growing up with KISS. My sister had those iconic 8-tracks of Destroyer and Love Gun and that shiny silver Double Platinum album. But for us kids, Ace was the guy. His Spaceman persona wasn't just cool; it felt like it jumped right out of a cartoon, perfectly matching his laid-back personality and incredible stage presence. He was the one who made us all want to pick up a guitar.

Ace, born Paul Daniel Frehley in the Bronx, New York, in 1951, was immersed in music from a young age. His father was a church organist, and both his older brother, Charles, and sister, Nancy, were musically trained. Ace himself taught rudimentary guitar chords by playing along with his siblings' records. He had a fascination with both art and mechanics, which, along with his growing love for the guitar, helped keep him out of trouble in school and on the streets. Though he was popular for his ability to find dates for friends – earning him the nickname "Ace" – he was kicked out of several high schools before eventually earning his diploma. He got his first guitar at 14, learning from his brother and, true to his mechanical interests, tinkering with its inner workings. He picked up the guitar at 13, inspired by legends like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page and even worked as a roadie for Hendrix at 18.

In 1973, Ace co-founded KISS with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss. He became known for his distinctive, bluesy, hard-rock guitar solos, which he once described as "unorthodox" because he never took formal lessons. He penned KISS classics like "Cold Gin" and "Shock Me," and contributed to beloved tracks such as "Parasite" from Hotter Than Hell (1974) and "Getaway" from Dressed to Kill (1975).

As I got older, I somehow stumbled upon Ace’s Trouble Walkin’ album and added it to my cassette collection and played it until it practically wore out. His version of “Hide Your Heart” is still my absolute favorite, even over the KISS version!

I honestly never thought I’d see Ace play live with the band. But then, during KISS’s Farewell Tour, my friend Karen invited me to go to Knoxville with her. It was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. Seeing all four original members of KISS on stage, together, was pure magic. On a side note, Karen and I would hang out at the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead during the band’s Southeast leg of that tour, just hoping for a glimpse of them. Gene, Paul, Peter and Ace were all incredibly kind. Doc, their manager, would even give us a heads-up if the guys had a rough night, which was our cue to respectfully leave before they came in. Karen even baked Gene cookies (which Ace claimed for himself!) and a cake for Ace. It was such a cool experience and a reminder that these "rock gods" were just as human as us. Walking away with those incredible memories is something I’ll never forget.

After his initial departure from KISS, Ace embarked on a successful solo career. His 1978 self-titled solo album, released while still a member of KISS, featured the top 40 hit "New York Groove". He continued to release solo albums, including Frehley's Comet (1987), Second Sighting (1988), Trouble Walkin' (1989), and Anomaly (2009), which reached No. 27 on the Billboard 200 chart. His later works include Space Invader (2014), Origins Vol. 1 (2016), Spaceman (2018), Origins Vol. 2 (2020), and 10,000 Volts (2024). He also made guest appearances on albums by other artists, showcasing his versatile guitar skills.

Ace briefly ventured into acting with the low-budget crime thriller Remedy (2005). In 2014, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a co-founder and original lead guitarist of KISS. Guitar World recognized him in the Top 15 of its "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time".

I’ve kept up with Ace over the years, collecting his solo albums and even an album by his touring band, Rock City Music Co., which featured my friend Jeanne’s boyfriend, Ryan Spencer Cook.

Hearing the news of Ace’s passing this morning left me with a profound sadness. It’s not just for the loss of a person whose music was such a huge part of my childhood and who gave me incredible memories in my adult life, but also for his family, friends and bandmates. My heart truly goes out to everyone whose lives he touched and who are now feeling this immense loss. He was a true original, a "Spaceman" who left an indelible mark on rock and roll, inspiring countless musicians like Slash, Tom Morello, John 5 and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam.

Ace Frehley also shared his story in his New York Times bestselling memoir, No Regrets. For fans looking to dive deeper into his world and the history of KISS, other great books include KISS and Sell: The Starchild, the Demon, an American Icon and a Story of Loving Too Much by C.K. Lendt, and Kiss: Behind the Mask – The Official Authorized Biography by David Leaf and Ken Sharp.

It’s hard to say goodbye to our childhood idols, but their music and the memories they created live on forever.

Pac-Man Fever: A Nostalgic Dive into the Classic Game's Legacy

Today, I want to share a nostalgic trip down memory lane, celebrating one of the most iconic video games of all time—Pac-Man. Whether you were an arcade aficionado or a casual player, Pac-Man has left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. So, let’s dive into this fun and engaging story about Pac-Man fever!

I was too young to fully appreciate the release of Pac-Man, but my sister was all about it. She had Pac-Man fever for years, playing the game on consoles in front of TG&Y, at Pizza Hut, and at her friend Laura Moon’s house. When we finally got our own Atari 2600, she would play Pac-Man all night long during weekends and holidays. While I appreciate the game, it moves a bit too fast for me. I’d be lying if I said I made it past the 5th board. Ms. Pac-Man, while I love her, has only seen me reach the 4th board. I’m more of a Tetris fan, but Pac-Man still holds a special place in my heart.

Decades after its debut, the sights and sounds of game designer Toru Iwatani's legendary creation, Pac-Man, still represent the golden age of video games for many. But Pac-Man has been embraced by subsequent generations, too, and it remains one of the few arcade games from that era you might still run into at arcades, bars, pizza places, amusement parks, skating rinks, and bowling alleys. Pac-Man didn’t become an immediate hit when Namco launched it as Puckman in Japan on May 22, 1980. But once Midway Games started distributing it in North America on October 10, 1980, the craze took off. Within its first year, the game grossed more than $1 billion in quarters. Throughout 1981-82, millions of people caught Pac-Man fever—so much so that Buckner & Garcia's novelty song "Pac-Man Fever" became a gold record, spending three weeks on Billboard's Top 10 in early '82.

As one of the first identifiable and marketable characters in video game history, the lovably cute Pac-Man appeared in many other pop-culture arenas. He graced apparel, had his own breakfast cereal, starred in a Saturday morning animated series from 1982-83, and even had a brief cameo in Disney's original Tron film. By 1982, Pac-Man also had a sequel—Ms. Pac-Man, which many consider even better than the original. Ms. Pac-Man introduced a new ghost, Sue, alongside the familiar ghosts Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. Each ghost had unique behaviors that added depth to the gameplay. Blinky, the red ghost, is the most aggressive and speeds up as more dots are eaten. Pinky, the pink ghost, tries to ambush Pac-Man by moving to a position in front of him. Inky, the cyan ghost, has unpredictable behavior that combines elements of Blinky's and Pinky's strategies. Clyde, the orange ghost, moves randomly, making him less dangerous but more confusing.

Pac-Man's influence on the video game industry cannot be overstated. It launched the maze chase game genre, was the first video game with power-ups, and was among the earliest games to feature cutscenes. The game's other beloved characters—Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde, the ghosts who relentlessly pursue or are pursued by Pac-Man—were designed with early artificial intelligence.

By the time the Atari 2600 version of Pac-Man was hurriedly released to poor reviews in 1982, Pac-Man fever—and the golden age of video games—was nearing its end. The video game market would crash the following year. However, in 1981, Pac-Man was first bundled with the Atari 2600 console. This move significantly boosted the sales of the Atari 2600, attracting more buyers despite the game's mixed reviews due to its poor adaptation. But 40 years later, Pac-Man remains not only an indelible symbol of that era but also one of its few enduring survivors. For Pac-Man, it will never be "Game Over." Pac-Man wasn't just an arcade phenomenon; it also made its way onto various consoles, computers, and handheld devices. The Atari 2600 version might have received poor reviews, but it was just the beginning. Pac-Man has since appeared on countless platforms, bringing its iconic gameplay to new generations.

Some notable versions and spinoffs include Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness, a 3D platformer released in 2000 for multiple platforms, including the Nintendo 64. In this game, Ms. Pac-Man navigates through various mazes, collecting items and avoiding ghosts. The game features a mix of classic Pac-Man gameplay with new elements, such as power-ups and mini-games. Terry and I spent countless hours playing Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness on our PlayStation. It was a blast navigating through the mazes and chasing those pesky ghosts.

There were various handheld versions of Pac-Man. The MGA Handheld Series, launched in 1992 by Micro Games of America (later MGA Entertainment), includes numerous models of handheld LCD games based on the original Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man arcade games. The gameplay varies slightly across models, with some featuring nonlinear maze layouts and unique "Energy Fruits" that act like Power Pellets. The Nelsonic Pac-Man Watches, released in the early 1980s, were essentially miniature handheld games that could be worn on the wrist. Coleco also released a series of table-top versions of Pac-Man, which were essentially handheld games with a larger screen and more robust controls.

The console versions of Pac-Man varied in quality and gameplay. The Atari 2600 was one of the earliest home console versions, released in 1981. Despite its popularity, it's often criticized for its poor adaptation of the arcade game. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) version, released in 1984, is more faithful to the original arcade game, with improved graphics and gameplay. Game Boy and Game Boy Color versions brought Pac-Man to the portable gaming scene, with the Game Boy Color version featuring enhanced graphics and additional features. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) version, released in 1993, includes updated graphics and additional gameplay elements. The Nintendo 64 version, released in 2000, includes Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness, a 3D platformer that features Ms. Pac-Man as the main character.

Here are some interesting facts about Pac-Man. Thought to be the highest-grossing video game of all time, Pac-Man's inflation-adjusted intake is estimated at about $12 billion in total revenue. The release dates for Pac-Man are May 22, 1980, in Japan, and October 10, 1980, in North America. There are 256 boards in Pac-Man, and the highest possible score is 3,333,360, known to have been achieved by eight people.

Pac-Man's success spawned numerous spinoffs for consoles, computers, and handheld devices, but the notable arcade spinoffs include Ms. Pac-Man (1982), Pac-Man Plus (1982), Super Pac-Man (1982), Baby Pac-Man (1982, video game/pinball hybrid), Professor Pac-Man (1983), Jr. Pac & Pal (1983), Jr. Pac-Man (1983), Pac-Land (1984), and Pac-Mania (1987).

I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane and reminiscing about the iconic Pac-Man. If you have similar stories or memories of your own, please share them in the comments below. Your feedback and shared experiences help build a wonderful community. If you'd like to support this effort, your contributions are greatly appreciated. Even small gestures of support mean a lot as we continue this journey of storytelling and connection. Thank you! ❤️

You can also find me on the following social media platforms:
https://www.facebook.com/adrianduarte
https://bsky.app/profile/adriansknitwits.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/adriansknitwits
https://www.threads.net/adriansknitwits