How a guitar player from the Bronx used art and imagination to become the Spaceman
When Paul Frehley joined Kiss in the early 1970s, he wasn’t just another skilled guitarist trying to make it in New York’s competitive music scene. He was a visionary who understood that musical talent alone wouldn’t catapult him to rock stardom. His secret weapon? The same hands that played guitar could also wield a makeup brush, transforming himself from a Bronx native into the interstellar superhero known as Space Ace.
From the Bronx to the Cosmos
Before the pyrotechnics and platform boots, before the smoking guitars and sold-out arena tours, Paul “Ace” Frehley was a halfhearted high school student with a passion for art and music. He began playing guitar at age 13 and, like countless others, dreamed of rock stardom .
But Frehley faced the same challenge as many talented musicians: standing out in a crowded field. He played with various bands that went nowhere until the opportunity with Kiss emerged. It was here that his artistic background would prove invaluable, first in designing the band’s iconic lightning-bolt logo, then in creating what would become his legendary persona .
The Birth of the Spaceman
When Kiss decided to adopt makeup for their stage debut in January 1973, Frehley didn’t just go along with it—he embraced it with creative enthusiasm .
“The first night, I painted my face silver,” Frehley recalled in an interview for “Kiss: Behind the Mask.” “The second night, I thought, ‘That’s boring. I’ll have to think up something more imaginative.’ I started painting stars on my eyes” .
This simple act of creativity marked the transformation of Paul Frehley into “The Spaceman” or “Space Ace”—an alien from the planet Jendell in the Klaatu solar system. While his bandmates developed their own personas (Gene Simmons as The Demon, Paul Stanley as Starchild, and Peter Criss as Catman), Frehley’s Spaceman stood out for its cosmic inspiration and graphic simplicity .
More Than Makeup: The Kiss Transformation
Kiss’s approach to makeup differed significantly from other artists using face paint at the time. While Alice Cooper used makeup for shock value and emerging black metal acts would later adopt “corpse paint” to appear inhuman or demonic, Kiss’s makeup was about creating comic book-style superheroes .
Gene Simmons explained their philosophy: “At the same time that we were forming in New York, there was a very big glitter scene, where boys were basically acting like girls and putting on makeup. Well, we were more like football players—all of us were over 6 feet tall—and it just wasn’t convincing!”
The band developed their looks organically in a downtown New York loft. “I just remember being in a loft in downtown New York and looking in the mirror and just starting to draw,” Simmons remembered. “It was very stream-of-consciousness. What you see is really what just happened. … Nobody else was involved” .
The Face Behind the Paint
In a move that shocked fans, Kiss appeared on MTV in 1983 and revealed their faces without makeup for the first time. The clean-faced look lasted over a decade before the band eventually returned to their iconic makeup in the mid-1990s .
For Frehley, the makeup had always been a means to an end—a way to fully embody the rock star he aspired to be. He once reflected on his transformation: “I was the loser, the black sheep of the family, until I joined Kiss. Now, I’m the big winner” .
This sentiment captures the essential truth about Frehley’s relationship with his Spaceman persona: unlike some performers who feel trapped by their stage characters, Frehley thrived within his. The makeup and costume didn’t conceal his true self—they revealed the superhero he wanted to become.
Beyond the Makeup: A Lasting Legacy
Ace Frehley’s death on October 17, 2025, at age 74 marked the passing of not just a talented guitarist, but a rock visionary . His approach to performance and persona left an indelible mark on music history.
While Kiss sold over 100 million albums worldwide and earned a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, perhaps Frehley’s greatest achievement was demonstrating how artistic vision and musical talent could combine to create something truly iconic .
His Spaceman persona proved that in an era of increasingly authentic rock expression, there was still room for fantasy, theater, and pure entertainment. As music writer Sylvie Simmons noted, Kiss was “metal bubblegum more than scary stud-rock,” producing “punch-along anthems with just the right pauses for the fireworks, bombs and solos” .
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kiss originally start wearing makeup?
Kiss developed their iconic makeup as a way to create distinctive stage personas that set them apart from other bands. Gene Simmons explained that while New York’s glitter scene had “boys acting like girls,” Kiss wanted something different. The makeup developed organically as each member created their own character: Simmons as The Demon, Paul Stanley as Starchild, Peter Criss as Catman, and Ace Frehley as The Spaceman .
When did Kiss reveal their faces without makeup?
Kiss famously revealed their faces without makeup during an MTV interview on September 18, 1983, promoting their new album “Lick It Up.” The reveal was a major moment in rock history, though fan reaction was mixed. Gene Simmons later recalled, “Everybody hated it. People didn’t want the paint to come off” .
What was the difference between Kiss’s makeup and corpse paint in black metal?
While both use dramatic black and white face paint, they serve different purposes. Kiss’s makeup created comic book-style superhero personas and was part of their theatrical stage show. Corpse paint, used by black metal bands like Mayhem, aimed to create a corpse-like, inhuman appearance often associated with darker themes of death and nihilism .
How did Ace Frehley feel about wearing the makeup?
Unlike some performers who might feel constrained by their stage persona, Frehley embraced his Spaceman character. He noted, “It didn’t bother me at all. I was always into wild things” . He seemed to enjoy the creative process and the transformation into his Spaceman persona.
The Man Behind the Stars
Ace Frehley’s story reminds us that in an industry often obsessed with “authenticity,” there’s profound power in imagination and theater. He wasn’t just applying makeup; he was creating an identity that would inspire generations of musicians and fans.
The next time you see a performer with a dramatic stage persona, remember Frehley’s journey from the Bronx to the cosmos. Sometimes, becoming a rock god requires more than musical talent—it takes the vision to see beyond what you are and create what you might become.
What’s your favorite memory of Ace Frehley and his Spaceman persona? Share your thoughts with us on social media and keep the rock ‘n’ roll legacy alive.
