Mike McCready remembers Ace Frehley: “I studied his solos over the years…”

Pearl Jam’s guitarist paid tribute to his childhood idol, Ace Frehley — founding member of KISS — who passed away at 74. “Ace is the reason I ever picked up a guitar.”

The rock world is mourning the loss of Ace Frehley, legendary KISS guitarist and co-founder, who died on October 16, 2025, at the age of 74. A larger-than-life figure, a pioneer, and a hero to generations of musicians, Frehley leaves behind an incredible legacy of timeless riffs, killer solos, and a sound that shaped rock history.

Among the many tributes, one of the most heartfelt came from Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready. The Seattle guitarist posted a photo by Danny Clinch — showing him with Frehley and Eddie Vedder — along with a message filled with love and gratitude: “I heard about Ace Frehley‘s passing from Rick Friel who I played with in a band called Shadow. Rick was also the first guy on the bus in 1977 with a KISS lunchbox to tell me about Ace…just changed my life. I got a guitar in 1978 to join Rick‘s band Warrior which turned into Shadow. We covered C’mon and Love Me. All my friends have spent untold hours talking about KISS and buying KISS stuff. Ace was a hero of mine and also I would consider a friend. I studied his solos endlessly over the years…”

As a kid, McCready collected KISS records and memorabilia, and has often talked about how Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley’s band shaped his imagination and passion for playing. In the Shred With Shifty podcast, he recalled with pure excitement:“KISS were the reason I started playing guitar, hands down. I was a Cub Scout trying to earn merit badges… then I saw Ace Frehley — and everything changed.”

And more: “The first time I heard Ace play guitar, I thought, ‘That’s how a guitar should sound.’ His solos were melodic, exciting, and dangerous all at once. He made me wanna grab a guitar and try to play like him.” Words that perfectly capture the deep bond between them.

Over the years, McCready even got to jam with his hero. In 2005 and again in 2008, Ace Frehley joined Pearl Jam on stage, giving fans unforgettable moments. Their connection later made it to the studio too — in 2016, Ace released a new version of Cold Gin featuring McCready on guitar. Two generations of rockers, united by the same fire.

Pearl Jam’s love for KISS has surfaced many times over the years: in 2007 at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, the following year at Madison Square Garden (with Ace himself on stage), in 2018 at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, and again four years later in Amsterdam — with a powerful cover of Black Diamond, sung by McCready and Matt Cameron.

For McCready, Frehley’s death isn’t just the loss of a rock icon — it’s saying goodbye to the man who literally changed his life.“Just listen to Alive, I used his solo from Sh” as a template. Ace jammed on Black Diamond with Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden…a dream come true for me. I would not have picked up a guitar without Ace and KISS’s influence. RIP it out Ace, you changed my life. Thank you.“

A simple, honest, and deeply moving tribute — from a student who never stopped learning from his master.

Update: Jeff Ament also paid tribute to Ace Frehley with a message shared on his Instagram:

“Thanks, Ace, for realizing a group of 12-year-old kids’ wildest dreams and ripping the lead to Black Diamond while we slid right into KISS circa ’76, choreography and all, on your home court at MSG.
The best songs of the band never left the turntable even during the hardcore days when Deranged Diction played Ace’s groovy Parasite and Green River played at least a couple versions of his very underrated Strange Ways.”