Tributes are pouring in for rock legend Ace Frehley from all over, including Fairfield County, where he used to live.

Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the band KISS, passed away Thursday at the age of 74, following a recent fall, according to his family.

Frehley became known for his “Spaceman” persona and smoking guitar before launching a successful solo career.

He was living in New Jersey at the time of his death but called Wilton home in the late 70s and early 80s, during the height of the band’s success. In his autobiography he wrote, "When KISS wasn't on the road or recording an album, I liked to retreat to Wilton and just hang with my friends."

Work on the KISS album "Music from ‘the Elder’" was recorded by Frehley in his Wilton home. The album came out in November 1981 and ended up being his last with KISS during his initial run with the band.

“Ace came along during the real shredder period,” said musician and friend Nile Rodgers. “He had a great sound and a great look and vibe, but he could play. Ace could definitely play.”

Rodgers, who’s a producer, composer, guitarist and co-founder of the band CHIC, used to live in Westport and was friends with Frehley.

“He had a hell of an impact on his audience and fans. People really vibed on him. And I could just tell he was doing the right thing every time I saw KISS. He was doing the right thing at the right time, and the results were amazing,” Rodgers told News 12.

Rodgers recalled the dichotomy between who Frehley was while performing and who he was in everyday life.

“When you have a relationship with a person, even though on stage they're bigger than life, but off stage, they're just cool and normal. Off stage he really showed me what I wanted to be—just regular and normal off stage and on stage, put the best show on that I could,” Rodgers explained.

Frehley recently returned to Western Connecticut in July, playing at Jam at the Dam in Monroe. It was his last performance in the state.

“He's an icon. He's a rock icon, and he was here in Monroe, Connecticut—a small town—and Monroe couldn't believe it,” said George Zwally Sr., owner of Z-Topia Entertainment, which has put on the annual music festival for the past three years. “He was humble. He wasn't like, ‘Look at me. I'm the king here.’”

Zwally said he grew up with KISS and continued to listen to their music as he got older, routinely playing the band in the car for his kids.

Zwally’s son worked the event’s bars, which he said were crazy all night, except during Frehley’s set.

“It was the only time I actually got to relax and watch the show because everybody else was so intrigued, so it was really amazing to see him up there and see it live here,” George Zwally Jr. told News 12.