Late KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s iconic “smoker” guitar from his final tour with the band is headed to auction – see all the details below.
The guitarist and founding member of the group died in Morristown, New Jersey, on October 16. He was 74 years old. A statement shared at the time revealed that Ace – also known as Spaceman – died “peacefully surrounded by family” following “a recent fall at his home”. An investigation was then launched into Frehley’s death, and the results of a medical examination have since been shared, ruling his death an accident.
Now, it has been announced that the late guitarist’s iconic custom Gibson Les Paul – which was modified to include a smoke bomb in the neck pickup – is now being auctioned off by Gotta Have Rock And Roll’s official website, per Rolling Stone.
The auction will go live today (November 19), and will run until December 5, with the winning bid taking home the authenticated guitar, as well as photographs of Frehley with the custom axe.
While Frehley used various versions of the “smoker” guitar during his lengthy career – the first iteration debuted around 1975 – this specific guitar going on auction was used extensively during his final run of shows with the band between 1999 and 2001, and comes in a sunburst paint job.
Last weekend (November 15), the surviving members of KISS paid homage to Frehley during their first “unmasked” show since retiring from touring. Ahead of the show, electric candles were handed out to the audience, and upon taking the stage, Paul Stanley asked the crowd to lift them in the air and take a moment to “think about somebody who is at the foundation of this band”.
“We’re talking about Ace,” he said. “We certainly had differences, but that’s what family is about. Why don’t we take a moment [and] think about him looking down on us” from the fictional planet “Jendell, probably”, which Ace often referred to as his home. “Let’s have a moment for Ace.”
Among the names names who have paid tribute to Frehley include Tool’s Maynard James Keenan, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Nile Rodgers, Steve Vai, John 5, Rush, Alice Cooper, and more.
Following Frehley’s passing, a Change.org petition was launched in an effort to convince NASA to award the guitarist with honorary astronaut status. The petition – started by a fan named Kathryn – has since received over 3,000 signatures and counting.