Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5 has confirmed a heartbreaking detail regarding the final musical plans of the late Ace Frehley. In a candid new conversation with Guitar World, the guitarist revealed that he was officially scheduled to record on Frehley‘s upcoming covers album, Origins Vol. 3, a project the KISS legend was actively developing at the time of his death.
John 5, a lifelong fan and close friend of the “Space Ace,” had previously contributed his fretwork to both Origins Vol. 1 (2016) and Origins Vol. 2 (2020). According to him, the tradition was set to continue.
“No one has asked me that yet, but yes, [Ace wanted me to appear on Origins Vol. 3],” John 5 confirmed. “It kills me, man. It kills me, because he did ask me, and I am so sad. So, yeah… I was gonna do it with him. I don’t know what song I was gonna do, but he wanted me to play on the record because I did his others. I cherish those times.”
The collaboration was cut short by Frehley‘s tragic passing on October 16 at the age of 74. The musician died from blunt force trauma injuries sustained during a fall at his home. A report from the Morris County Medical Examiner indicated that Frehley suffered a skull fracture and a subdural hematoma—a severe brain bleed—along with a stroke. Following a second fall that necessitated life support, his family made the difficult decision to remove him from the ventilator.
For John 5, the suddenness of the accident is difficult to reconcile, particularly because Frehley appeared revitalized in his final days.
“It’s still hard to talk about,” John 5 admitted. “He was happy and healthy. He was excited about the Kennedy Center [Honors]. He was excited about doing shows. He was in such a good place, and he literally had an accident.”
The guitarist noted that Frehley had long managed physical stability issues, referencing a specific solo album title to illustrate the point. “After the first [fall], that’s when he went to the doctor, and got checked out, and they said, ‘Yeah, you’re good. You’re healthy.’ And Ace always had trouble walking… he even had a record called Trouble Walkin’. So, he always had balance issues, and you can even see old videos of him onstage in the ’70s, you know — it’s just how he was. It’s just so sad.”
Beyond the music, John 5 mourns the loss of a genuine friend. He reflected earlier on their time together, which involved mundane but magical activities like going to movies and visiting pawn shops. He also shared a touching memory from one of their final conversations, centered on Frehley‘s selection for the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors.
“He was just so over the moon about this,” John 5 recalled. “And what he told me is he was so excited that the president said his name and said it correctly. At this point of his life, he was over the moon. He was so happy. And that’s, I think, something really, really important.”
Frehley, born Paul Daniel Frehley, was laid to rest late last month. Following a private memorial service on October 21 in Yonkers, New York, the guitar icon was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx on October 22. The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony celebrating his legacy is scheduled to air on CBS on December 23.
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