How did Ace Frehley’s near-electrocution onstage inspire KISS’s hit ‘Shock Me’? Details explored as guitarist dies at 74

Ace Frehley, co-founder and lead guitarist of the legendary rock band Kiss, has passed away at the age of 74.

The musician, who became an inspiration for the artists, died at a hospital in Morristown, New Jersey, on October 16, 2025, after suffering injuries from a fall in late September at his home studio, as reported by The Guardian.

He suffered a brain bleed after hitting his head. The guitarist was hospitalized for several weeks and was put on life support. His family wrote in a statement that they are, “completely devastated and heartbroken.”

He co-founded Kiss in 1973 in New York City alongside Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. Ace Frehley suffered near-electrocution on stage during a concert in 1976 in Florida. He was almost electrocuted when he grabbed the railing of a metal staircase while holding his guitar. This inspired him to write, Shock Me, which became a hit.

Continue to read more about the incident.

What happened to Ace Frehley at 1976 Florida concert?

On December 12, 1976, during a Kiss concert in Lakeland, Florida, Ace Frehley was nearly electrocuted.

The incident happened when the guitarist was descending a poorly grounded metal staircase. At that time, he grabbed the railing while holding his electric guitar. This completed an electrical circuit, which locked his hand to the railing, sending a dangerous electric shock through his body. He was instantly knocked to the ground and took a while to recover.

Describing his near-death experience to Music Radar, Frehley said:

“I should have been dead that night. The fact that I got electrocuted and didn’t fall forward was a godsend. There must have been angels pushing me back. I was standing on top of four Marshall cabinets on a staircase [and] I had a heavy Les Paul around my neck. … If I fell forward, I would have broken my f**king neck.”

Frehley then explained how it inspired him to write his famous track, Shock Me. He added:

“But I fell back, and the road crew dragged me back off of the staircase. I had no feeling in my hands for five to ten minutes. I went on to finish the show. … It was crazy shit, man, but I did get 'Shock Me' out of it. So, I guess it wasn’t all for nothing.”

Despite receiving an electric shock and losing sensation in his hands, Ace Frehley returned to the stage to complete his performance. Frehley told Morton Report that he had blacked out and woke behind the amplifiers. He further explained how fans cheered him up to complete his set on stage, and said:

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“I said, ‘I can’t play.’ Then the fans started chanting my name and I finished the show. But I had no feeling in my hands. I don’t know how I even did it. I guess it was all adrenaline.”

His electrocution became an inspiration for the song, Shock Me which was released in 1977. It was part of Kiss’ album, Love Gun. It went on to become a fan favorite.

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