Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Rock music history is repeating itself.
The unexpected death of former KISS guitar player Ace Frehley back on Oct. 16 is driving music fans into local stores to snap up anything related to either KISS or Frehley's solo career.
It is the same retailing pattern seen before, says Joe Iglienski, owner of Hi-Fi Hits in Williamsville and a former Record Theater manager.
"People are coming in," Iglienski said.
The death-driven record buying pattern first came to the forefront after Elvis Presley died in 1977 and then, after John Lennon was murdered in 1980.
Death, one critic wrote after Presley died, is a "good career move."
The Los Angeles Times reported after Prince died in 2016, his record sales increased by 40,000 percent.
For retailers, it can create a sales spike, but, it also forces them to be nimble.
In Iglienski's case, he immediately got in touch with his distributor and ordered more KISS and Frehley releases. He also used memorabilia already in stock in his store to create a Frehley display.
"I'm not surprised as just how popular he and KISS are," Iglienski said.
And, depending on the artist, the buying spike may last weeks, or even months.
Iglienski said Beach Boy records have been selling steadily since Brian Wilson's death earlier this year.
The same is true for Sly Stone and Kris Kristofferson releases.
"People have an attachment," Iglienski said.