Founding KISS Guitarist Ace Frehley Passes Away, Aged 74

Ace Frehley, the founding guitarist of iconic Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers KISS has passed away at the age of 74.

Frehley’s passing comes shortly after news that the rocker had been put on life support following a fall at his studio last month.

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” Frehley’s family said in a statement, as per Rolling Stone. “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.

“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!”

In late September, Frehley was confirmed to have suffered “a minor fall in his studio, resulting in a trip to the hospital,” and resulting in a single show being cancelled. However, despite assurance that the rocker “was fine,” another post in early October saw the rest of his 2025 touring plans axed due to “some ongoing medical issues.”

Reports from various publications on October 17th stated that Frehley had suffered a brain bleed, and had been placed on life support, with premature rumours of his passing having spread throughout social media.

Frehley was born in New York City in 1951, performing in numerous bands throughout high school and his early adulthood. In late 1972, Frehley responded to an ad searching for a guitarist, ultimately auditioning before his future KISS bandmates, guitarist and vocalist Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons, and drummer Peter Criss.

Together, they formed the first line-up of KISS, with Frehley adopting his famed persona of The Spaceman (or Space Ace).

Alongside his role as guitarist, Frehley occasionally took on lead vocals for the band, with Shock Me, from the band’s sixth album Love Gun serving as his debut.

Frehley would depart KISS in 1982, two years after Criss. In the wake of his departure, he would form the band Frehley's Comet and also embark upon a solo career.

In 1996, he and Criss would both rejoin KISS as part of their successful reunion tour. Frehley would again depart the group in 2002, but would appear alongside his former bandmates (and his successor, Bruce Kulick) in 2018 as part of the KISS Kruise.

In 2014, Frehley was inducted into the Rock And Hall Of Fame as a member of KISS.

While KISS would announce their End Of The Road World Tour in 2019, the four-year trek was rumoured to serve as something of a final reunion for the band and its former members.

Ultimately Frehley did not appear with the band, however, with Simmons claiming he and Criss had both turned down offers to perform as part of show encores instead of the ostensibly more desirable main event.

Frehley's most recent solo album, 10,000 Volts, was released in 2024, with a third volume of his Origins cover albums series previously planned to arrive late this year. At the time of his fall last month, Frehley was reportedly working on a fourth volume of the series as well.