The world of rock stood still today as hundreds gathered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to say their final goodbye to Ace Frehley, the original “Spaceman” of KISS. Among the crowd of friends, musicians, and lifelong fans were familiar faces — Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley sitting quietly in the front row, Tommy Thayer, Bruce Kulick, and Eric Singer standing in solemn silence. The air was thick with grief, nostalgia, and the faint echo of electric riffs that once defined an era.
As the ceremony began, the crowd rose to their feet when Peter Criss slowly approached the altar. Dressed in a black suit with a single silver rose pinned to his lapel, he looked out at the sea of mourning fans and began his eulogy:
“We started as brothers — four kids chasing the loudest dream in New York. We played, we fought, we laughed, we fell apart… but Ace? He never stopped being the heartbeat of that dream.”
Tears shimmered under the cathedral lights as Peter took his seat at the piano. With trembling hands, he played “Beth (Farewell Version)”, rewritten just for this moment — soft, raw, and beautiful. Photos of Ace flashed behind him: the silver makeup, the cosmic stage lights, the smile that lit up millions of hearts. The melody drifted through the hall, and even Gene Simmons was seen wiping away a tear.
As the final notes faded, Peter whispered into the microphone:
“Goodnight, Spaceman. I’ll play one more song for you — until I hear your guitar again, somewhere among the stars.”