Ace Frehley, the founding member and original lead guitarist of legendary rock band KISS has passed away aged 74.
His family confirmed the devastating news in a statement 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 read.
“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!”
The musician was hospitalised and on life support for a few weeks before his death, after falling in his studio and suffering a brain bleed, according to TMZ.
The guitarist had to cancel the remainder of his announced 2025 tour dates due to “medical issues” that were unspecified at the time.
Tributes have poured in from fellow bandmates, with KISS guitarist Paul Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons writing a joint statement.
“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” they said.
“He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history.
“He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy.”
Our hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Ace’s legacy. I know he loved the fans. He told me many times. Sadder still, Ace didn’t live long enough to be honored at the Kennedy Ctr Honors event in Dec. Ace was the eternal rock soldier. Long may his legacy live on!
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) October 16, 2025
Born Paul Daniel Frehley, the guitarist played in various bands in New York before he joined the band and in 1973 KISS got their big break.
Over the following two years, the band released three albums KISS, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed to Kill and built a cult following of fans known as Kiss Army.
Frehley, known for his “smoking guitar” and stage effects, invented the persona of The Spaceman or Space Ace, which included the iconic silver metallic face makeup.
In 1982, Frehley departed the band and created his own band, Frehley’s Comet.
He rejoined KISS in 1996 and his last performance with the band was at the closing ceremony for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Last year, Frehley released his solo album 10,000 Volts, which topped Billboard’s hard music and rock album charts.
Image: Daniel L. Locke / Shutterstock.com
