A Rock Idol Who Became a Friend
PORTLAND, Ore. — The death of Ace Frehley, KISS’s original lead guitarist, at 74 has rippled through generations of fans. In St. Johns, it hit especially close to home for Steven Cook, owner of Vinyl Resting Place, who spent more than three decades knowing the rock icon not just as a hero, but as a friend.
“I wouldn’t be here owning a record store today if it wasn’t for KISS and Ace Frehley,” Cook said.
From Fan in the Crowd to Running the Spotlight
Cook first met Frehley as a teenager, hanging around before a show when the production team suddenly needed a spotlight operator. Frehley looked over, pointed to Cook, and said, “What about this kid?” Cook jumped in—and the night changed his life.
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Soon he was a regular at Frehley’s gigs, sometimes chatting in hotel rooms before the band hit the stage. “I couldn’t believe I was sitting there with Ace Frehley in his room,” he said, still amused by the memory.
On the Road with KISS
When KISS reunited in 1996, the tour stopped in Portland—and Cook was there. He even holds a tangible piece of that history: “I have one of his actual amps from that tour,” he said. He later worked production on the band’s 2000 farewell tour, experiences that deepened both his fandom and his connection to the group’s backstage world.
Building a Sanctuary for Fans
During the pandemic, Cook took over Vinyl Resting Place, shaping it into a haven for collectors and KISS devotees. “A lot of KISS fans come here because they know I’m a huge KISS fan,” he said. He estimates he owns about 5,000 KISS records, many proudly displayed. The walls, bins, and conversation all testify to the band’s enduring pull—and to Frehley’s singular sound.
Lasting Memories Amid Declining Health
Cook stayed in touch with Frehley over the years and saw him perform just a few months ago. The guitar legend’s health struggles were visible. “He was having a hard time walking, and people had to help him walk up the stairs and put his guitar on,” Cook said. Even so, the memory he keeps is one of joy. “When I think about him and our time together, I smile because he brought me so much joy.”
A Community Farewell
To honor that joy, Cook is hosting a remembrance for Ace Frehley at Vinyl Resting Place on Friday at 7 p.m. Fans are invited to share stories, spin records, and celebrate the riffs that launched a thousand garage bands.
For Cook, the night is about gratitude—for the unexpected chance that pulled a kid into the spotlight and the friendship that followed. “Ace didn’t just change rock,” he said. “He changed people’s lives. He changed mine.”
