Sharon Osbourne’s Poignant Tribute: “Now My Husband Has a Friend” – Mourning Ace Frehley’s Legacy

October 17, 2025—In the wake of a devastating loss that has sent ripples through the rock ‘n’ roll pantheon, Sharon Osbourne has emerged as a voice of raw, heartfelt solace amid the grief. At 73, the indomitable matriarch of the Osbourne dynasty—known for her unfiltered candor on The Osbournes and as the steadfast guardian of husband Ozzy’s tumultuous career—shared a deeply personal message following the death of KISS guitarist Ace Frehley at age 74. “Now my husband has a friend,” Sharon wrote in a poignant Instagram post late Thursday, her words a tender bridge between two rock legends whose bond outlasted the chaos of fame, addiction, and the relentless spotlight. Frehley’s passing, announced by his family after a tragic fall in his New Jersey home led to a brain bleed and life support withdrawal, marks the end of an era for hard rock’s wild pioneers. For Sharon, it’s a bittersweet reunion in the afterlife, as Ozzy, 76 and battling Parkinson’s since his 2019 diagnosis, has long mourned the isolation of his own health struggles. “Ace was more than a rocker—he was family, a loyal soul who understood Ozzy’s battles like no one else,” Sharon added, her voice cracking in a follow-up Story, tears glistening under the soft glow of their Los Angeles home.

Ace Frehley, forever etched in fans’ minds as the “Spaceman” with his silver-starred makeup and pyrotechnic guitar wizardry, was a founding pillar of KISS, co-creating the band’s explosive mystique from 1973 to 1982 and reuniting for the 1990s revival. Born Paul Daniel Frehley in the Bronx on April 27, 1951, he was the quintessential rock ‘n’ roller: a self-taught prodigy inspired by Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones, who auditioned for KISS after spotting a Village Voice ad at 21. His riffs on anthems like Cold Gin, Parasite, and Shock Me fueled the band’s ascent to arena gods, grossing millions with fire-breathing spectacles that predated MTV’s visual revolution. Yet Frehley’s life was a tempest: substance abuse battles that led to his 1982 exit, a solo stint with Frehley’s Comet yielding hits like New York Groove, and sporadic KISS returns until 2002. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, he released Origins Vol. 3 in 2025, a covers album blending blues roots with his signature flair. His final days were marred by tragedy: a September fall in his recording studio caused a brain bleed, hospitalization, and tour cancellations announced October 7 due to “ongoing medical issues.” Placed on life support in Morristown, New Jersey, Frehley passed peacefully Thursday, surrounded by his daughter Monique, ex-wife Jeanette Trerotola, and siblings Charles and Nancy.

Sharon’s tribute, posted at 10:32 p.m. PT amid a deluge of celebrity eulogies, strikes a chord of intimate kinship. Ozzy and Ace’s friendship, forged in the 1970s rock maelstrom, was a lifeline through shared demons. Both men grappled with addiction—Ozzy’s infamous 1980s excesses mirrored Ace’s cocaine-fueled exits from KISS—and they bonded over sobriety milestones, with Ace guesting on Ozzy’s 1991 No More Tears and joining him for jam sessions during Ozzy’s Black Sabbath reunions. “Ace was Ozzy’s rock in the storm—loyal, funny, unpretentious,” Sharon elaborated in a People exclusive at 11:15 p.m., her voice thick with emotion. “They’d laugh about the ’70s madness, share stories no one else got. Now, up there, they’ll jam without the pain.” Ozzy, wheelchair-bound and voice-strained from Parkinson’s, managed a shaky nod via Sharon: “Ace was a brother—wild, but true. Rest easy, mate.” The Osbournes’ connection to KISS ran deep: Sharon managed early Sabbath tours overlapping KISS’s rise, and Ace once quipped in a 2015 Rolling Stone interview, “Ozzy’s the only guy who’d out-crazy me on stage—and off.”

The rock world reeled with tributes pouring in like a deluge. KISS co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, in a joint statement to Variety at 8:26 p.m. PT: “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history.” Stanley added in a personal tweet: “Ace’s riffs lit the fire—his spirit soars now.” Gene Simmons, ever the showman, posted a throwback photo of the four original members in full makeup: “Space Ace, you jammed the universe—love you forever.” Frehley’s daughter Monique, 48, shared on Instagram at 9:20 p.m.: “Dad was my hero—his music lives in us all. Thank you for the love.” Peers echoed: Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) tweeted, “Ace’s Spaceman made rock cosmic—RIP to a riff god,” while Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang posted, “Your solos inspired mine—gone too soon.” Even non-rock icons chimed in: Elton John wrote, “Ace’s energy was electric—condolences to all.”

Frehley’s legacy, a comet trail of innovation and indulgence, endures. From KISS’s 1974 self-titled debut to his 1987 solo smash Frehley’s Comet, he sold 100 million records, pioneered pyrotechnic guitars, and influenced shredders from Slash to Zakk Wylde. Struggles marked his path—multiple rehabs, a 2006 arson scare at his home—but triumphs shone: 2014 Rock Hall induction, 2025’s Origins Vol. 3 charting Top 10 on Billboard, and a 2023 autobiography No Regrets that candidly chronicled his Bronx roots and “ace” nickname from high school date prowess. “I was the Spaceman—lost in space, but always landin’ on my feet,” he joked in a 2024 Guitar World chat. His final tour cancellation October 7 masked the fall’s severity, but fans rallied with #AceForever, streaming Rock and Roll All Nite up 450% on Spotify by midnight.

Sharon’s words, simple yet searing, capture the void. “Ace was wonderful—a loyal friend to Ozzy through the darkest days,” she continued, extending condolences to the Frehley family: “You’ve lost a light—may his music comfort you.” Though Ace is gone, his riffs and spirit persist in timeless tunes like Strutter and New York Groove, echoing in arenas and hearts. As Sharon poignantly noted, in the great jam session upstairs, Ozzy’s no longer alone. Rock ‘n’ roll loses a spaceman, but gains an eternal star. Fans, pour one out—Ace would approve.