Ace Frehley, founding member of rock band KISS, dead at 74
The legendary rock guitarist and founding member of KISS has died aged 74 after being hospitalised with a brain bleed, as is fellow bandmates paid tribute.
Ace Frehley, original lead guitarist and founding member of the rock band KISS, has died. He was 74.
The musician’s family confirmed the sad news in a statement released to Variety on Thursday.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,” the statement reads.
“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”
Frehley had been hospitalised on life support, TMZ reported Thursday, after falling in his studio and suffering a brain bleed just a few weeks before his death.
Bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley said they were heartbroken over Frehley’s passing.
“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history,” they told Page Six in a statement Thursday.
“He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy,” they added, concluding that their thoughts are with Frehley’s estranged wife, Jeanette, his daughter, Monique, and “all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”
A statement was posted via his official Instagram on September 25, confirming the Cold Gin rocker “had a minor fall” in his studio that resulted in a trip to the hospital.
“He is fine, but against his wishes, his doctor insists that he refrain from travel at this time,” the message read in part. “Ace looks forward to continuing on his tour and finishing work on his next album, ‘Origins Vol. 4.‘”
Another Instagram post, shared on October 6, revealed that Frehley “made the difficult decision” to cancel the remainder of his 2025 tour dates due to “some ongoing medical issues.”
Frehley (real name: Paul Daniel Frehley) grew up in the Bronx, New York, where he was introduced to music at an early age by his family. He taught himself guitar after being influenced by bands and artists like B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix.
“I’m always flattered when people tell me I influenced them. If I knew I was gonna influence thousands of guitar players, I woulda practised more. I laugh, but that’s the truth,” he told Guitar World in 2024, noting that he’s “never taken a lesson”.
“I didn’t know I would become this iconic guitar player that so many people would listen to. I’ve had so many players come up to me and say, ‘You are the reason I play guitar,’ and I’m always like, ‘Wow…’”
In 1973, Frehley got his big break as one of the four founding members of KISS, alongside Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss. He served as the lead guitarist and occasionally contributed as a lead vocalist in songs like Shock Me, Into the Void and 2,000 Man.
The musician — known for his “smoking guitar” and stage effects — invented the persona of The Spaceman (aka “Space Ace”), which included his now-iconic silver metallic face makeup.
He departed KISS in 1982 and later created his own band, Frehley’s Comet, before going solo.
His most recent solo album, titled 10,000 Volts, was released in February 2023.
While Frehley had a rocky relationship with the band after his exit, he rejoined KISS in 1996 for a reunion tour that lasted until 2002.
He’s only teamed up with Simmons a few times since then, including The Children Matter benefit for victims of Hurricane Harvey in St Paul, Minnesota, in 2017. At the time, Simmons was performing with his solo band and asked Frehley to take part in the charity concert.
Frehley surprised fans in January 2018 by joining Simmons at his intimate “Vault experience” at Capitol Records in Los Angeles. The two gave an impromptu performance together during the intimate event.
“I’d like to invite Ace on stage. Nothing is planned, he just happened to come by,” Simmons said at the time, with Frehley adding, “It’s going to be a great day … thank you for coming,” as the crowd erupted into cheers over the reunion.
KISS took their final bow as a band with two back-to-back shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City in December 2024.
The performances were part of the group’s End of the Road World Tour, which featured OG members Simmons and Stanley, along with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer on lead guitar and drums, respectively.
“We’re thrilled to be doing our final shows at MSG since the band originated in New York City over 50 years ago,” they shared in a statement at the time. “We are thankful for our long legacy of fans, the KISS Army, and excited to be celebrating through these activations.”
While Simmons and Stanley personally invited Frehley and Criss to join their final farewell tour in some capacity, both declined.
This story originally appeared on Page Six and was reproduced with permission
Originally published as Ace Frehley, founding member of rock band KISS, dead at 74
