TOMMY THAYER recently honored the late ACE FREHLEY with a touching tribute shared on Instagram. This heartfelt message came even though the two KISS guitarists had a well-known altercation years earlier.
In his statement, THAYER praised FREHLEY’s lasting impact on rock music and the personal influence he had on him. He described ACE FREHLEY as:
“A legend who will never be forgotten. He inspired generations of guitarists, myself included, to chase greatness. It’s been an honor to walk in his footsteps. His legacy will live forever. Rest in peace, Ace.”
This tribute is particularly meaningful given the past tension between the guitarists. Back in 2018, FREHLEY openly recounted an incident where he punched THAYER during a live conversation at Hollywood’s Musicians Institute. This event stemmed from a band rule regarding women’s presence in the dressing room on tour.
Transcribed by YouTube:
“What happened was, we had an ongoing rule on tour that there’s no women allowed in the dressing room. I had a girlfriend with me — a model from Canada, and, of course, she always had to wait outside. When Shannon and Paul’s wife came on tour, they just pranced into the dressing room. I let it go — I didn’t make a big deal out of it.”
The story unfolded further on their Australian tour’s last day:
“This is the last day of the tour in Australia. Everybody has left the dressing room. They had all split, so my girlfriend was standing outside, and I said, ‘Hey, honey, come on in. Nobody’s here.’ Five minutes later, Tommy Thayer comes walking in and goes, ‘Ace, you know the rule — no women in the dressing room.’ I go, ‘There’s nobody here. It’s the end of the tour.’ He started being authoritative with me, so I gave him a shot. I got aggravated. I guess the Bronx boy in me came out.”
Despite this rocky past, THAYER’s recent message underscores the respect he held for FREHLEY. It reflects the recognition of the legendary guitarist’s enormous contributions to rock music and his ongoing legacy.
The tribute also highlights how personal and professional relationships in rock can be complex yet enduring. THAYER’s words celebrate FREHLEY’s influence on generations of musicians, including himself.
Ultimately, the message serves as a poignant farewell to a trailblazer who shaped the sound and spirit of KISS and the wider rock community.
