Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider recently made his stance clear about KISS’s Spaceman persona in a recent birthday message on X (formerly Twitter).
“Happy birthday to the one, the only, the original, the REAL Spaceman, Ace Frehley!” Snider wrote in his message.
The statement dismissed Tommy Thayer, the current wearer of the Spaceman makeup and costume in KISS. Snider’s declaration reinforced Frehley’s position as the only legitimate bearer of the Spaceman persona.
The Spaceman character controversy has been a long-standing issue within the KISS community. It has been noted that Research from KISS in UK revealed that Frehley created the iconic Spaceman character during KISS’s early years. He developed the persona while the band played clubs and experimented with their signature makeup designs.
Frehley’s legacy as the original Spaceman gained additional recognition in 2018. Norselands Rock highlighted his solo album titled ‘Spaceman,’ which included a special collaboration with former KISS bandmate Gene Simmons.
Al Madina Houston said that the Spaceman character transcended its initial costume concept. It became a defining element of KISS’s visual identity and solidified Frehley’s legendary status in rock history.
The debate over character ownership in KISS continues to spark discussion among fans and musicians. A handful of individuals, including Snider, maintain their view of Frehley as the only authentic Spaceman.
