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Former KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley plays the national anthem before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 4, 2009. L.G. Patterson/AP Photo
Lead guitarist and founding member of the rock band KISS, Ace Frehley, has died at 74 years old, after suffering medical complications from a fall last month.
Frehley died peacefully on Oct. 16 in Morristown, New Jersey, surrounded by loved ones, said his agent.
In a statement, family members expressed their sorrow, saying they are “completely devastated and heartbroken” but will cherish his laughter and celebrate the kindness he bestowed on 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!” they wrote.
Prior to his passing, TMZ reported the musician was hospitalized and put on life support, after suffering health problems from a brain bleed after a fall he sustained last month while at his studio.
The outlet reported Frehley had been placed on a ventilator after having trouble breathing on his own “for some time.”
Earlier this month, Frehley canceled performances for the remainder of his 2025 tour dates, citing “ongoing medical issues.”
At the time of his fall, a statement posted to his official social media accounts said that despite the injury, he was in good condition.
“Ace had a minor fall in his studio, resulting in a trip to the hospital,” read the Instagram post. “He is fine, but against his wishes, his doctor insists that he refrain from travel at this time.”
Tributes quickly began pouring in after his death, including from fellow founding bandmates, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons, who shared a joint statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
“I am devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” they told the outlet. “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. My thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”
Formed in 1973, the band included Frehley, Stanley, Simmons, and drummer Peter Criss, who were known for their powerful glam rock performances, makeup, and costumes.
With his signature “Spaceman” persona, Frehley, a Bronx, New York native, was named by Guitar World in the Top 15 of its “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time.”
He performed with the band up until 1982 as he embarked on a solo career, before later rejoining in 1996 for a reunion tour, where he remained until 2002.
In 2014, Frehley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside his bandmates.
“A crucial part of a band that inspired a generation of hard rockers to pick up instruments, ‘Space Ace’ will be remembered as one of the most recognizable and influential guitarists of all time,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame wrote on X.
Last year, Frehley saw chart-topping and commercial success with his eighth solo studio album “10,000 Volts,” and was currently working on his upcoming album “Origins Vol. 3.”
Elma Aksalic is a freelance entertainment reporter for The Epoch Times and an experienced TV news anchor and journalist covering original content for Newsmax magazine.
