Tonight, the sky feels a little emptier. The music world mourns the loss of a true original — Ace Frehley (1951–2025) — the founding guitarist of KISS, whose passing from a cerebral hemorrhage has left an entire generation of rock fans in tears. And among those grieving most deeply are Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, two sisters who shared the same era, the same spirit, and the same unshakable love for raw, unapologetic rock ‘n’ roll.

In a deeply moving open letter, the Wilson sisters expressed their heartbreak and admiration for the man they called “a cosmic brother and a fearless pioneer.”

“Our hearts are broken tonight,” Ann and Nancy began. “Ace Frehley wasn’t just a legend — he was an energy, a spark, a universe all his own. His guitar didn’t just make music — it made fire. He changed the way the world felt rock.”

The Wilsons, who rose to fame alongside KISS during the explosive rise of 1970s rock, recalled countless memories of Ace — both on and off the stage. They remembered his laughter, his mischief, and the light that followed him everywhere he went.

“When we first played shows near KISS in the early days, Ace would come find us backstage,” Nancy wrote. “He’d be smiling that spacey smile, joking about soundchecks and strings breaking. Then he’d walk on stage and set the whole night on fire. He had that rare power — he could make a guitar laugh.”

Ann added that Ace’s presence was unforgettable — both larger-than-life and completely human at the same time.

“Behind the makeup and pyrotechnics, there was a man who loved music more than anything. He played like every note was his last — not for fame, not for show, but for the sheer joy of it. That’s what made Ace so real.”

As trailblazing women in a male-dominated rock world, Ann and Nancy found a kindred spirit in Ace — someone who lived beyond rules and labels, someone who believed music was about freedom.

“Ace made it okay to be wild,” Ann continued. “He made it okay to be weird. He made it okay to be yourself, even if you came from another planet. And that’s what all of us in Heart loved about him — he was fearless. He didn’t follow the map; he was the map.”

The sisters revealed that upon hearing the news of his passing, they sat together in silence, surrounded by guitars, candles, and old vinyl records.

“We played ‘Shock Me’ and ‘New York Groove’ and just cried,” Nancy said softly. “Somewhere between those riffs and those echoes, we could still feel him. The Spaceman never really leaves. He just goes higher.”

Their tribute then turned deeply personal — a message not only to Ace’s family, but to the legions of fans around the world who make up the KISS Army.

“To Jeanette, Monique, Charlie, Nancy, and everyone in the KISS family — our hearts are with you,” the Wilson sisters wrote. “And to every fan who ever raised their hands in the air and shouted his name — keep doing it. That’s what he would want. Keep the amps loud. Keep the lights bright. Keep believing in the magic.”

They went on to describe Ace as “a spirit of eternal youth,” a man whose sound will never fade from the soul of rock.

“Every great guitarist who picks up a six-string tonight will owe a little something to Ace,” Ann said. “He was lightning. He was rebellion. He was laughter and thunder in one human being. And the world was better for it.”

As they closed their tribute, Ann and Nancy’s words read like a song — tender, poetic, and full of gratitude:

“Rock and roll was never meant to be perfect. It was meant to be alive. Ace Frehley was alive in every sense of the word. He didn’t just play rock — he was rock. He gave us permission to dream bigger, play louder, and believe that music could connect heaven and earth.”

“Now, the Spaceman has gone home to the stars. But his fire burns forever in our hearts.”

The letter spread quickly across social media, with fans describing it as “pure emotion,” “beautifully Heart,” and “a love letter from legends to a legend.”

For two sisters who have built their own empire in rock — battling expectations, rewriting history, and inspiring generations — their tribute to Ace feels like the passing of a sacred torch. The Spaceman may have left the stage, but the lights he ignited will never fade.

In every screaming guitar solo, in every flicker of stage fire, and in every young artist daring to be different, Ace Frehley lives on.

🕊️ Rest in peace, Ace Frehley (1951–2025).

Your spirit will forever shine in the galaxy of rock.