Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the rock band Kiss, has died at the age of 74 after suffering complications from a recent fall. His family announced that in his final moments he was surrounded by love and cared for by those closest to him. His passing marks the first time one of the original four members of Kiss has died.
The Accident and Final Days
In September 2025, Frehley reportedly fell in his home studio and sustained head injuries. This incident led to medical complications, including a brain bleed, and landing him on life support. He was hospitalized in New Jersey, where his health declined over several weeks until his death on October 16.
His family shared a heartfelt message stating they were “devastated and heartbroken,” and expressed gratitude for having been able to be with him in his final moments, cherishing his laughter, kindness, and many achievements.
From Bronx Roots to Rock Stardom
Born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in the Bronx, New York, he developed his passion for music early on. As a teenager, he played in local bands and honed a distinct, self-taught guitar style. In 1973, he answered an advertisement placed by Paul Stanley while the band sought a lead guitarist. He was invited to audition and was soon brought into the fold alongside Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. Frehley quickly emerged as an essential force behind Kiss’s sound and visual identity. Adopting the persona of “The Spaceman” (also known as Space Ace), he sported silver star makeup and played guitars enhanced with smoke, lights, and pyrotechnics. His stagecraft became a cornerstone of Kiss’s theatrical image.
Hits, Solo Success, and Departures
The band’s first breakthrough came with their live album Alive!, which spurred their rise to stadium-rock fame. In 1978, each member released a simultaneous solo album; Frehley’s was the most commercially successful, featuring a hit cover of “New York Groove.” That success led to higher billing and influence within the group. Nonetheless, creative tensions and a growing disconnect with the band’s evolving musical direction led Frehley to leave Kiss in 1982. He launched his solo career, forming the band Frehley’s Comet and releasing albums under his own name. Over time, he also struggled with personal issues, including substance abuse, but later overcame those challenges and returned to making music with renewed commitment.
Reunions and Later Years
Frehley rejoined Kiss in the mid-1990s, participating in reunion tours and the Psycho Circus album. His involvement, however, varied across projects. Eventually, he parted ways with the band again following their farewell tour in the early 2000s, choosing to focus on his solo work. In 2024, he released 10,000 Volts, his most recent full-length solo effort. He continued performing and engaging with fans up until his health declined. Late in 2025, he withdrew from his remaining tour dates citing “ongoing medical issues” connected to the fall and its aftermath.
A Legacy That Resonates
His former bandmates, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, issued a joint statement mourning his loss, calling him an “essential and irreplaceable rock soldier” who helped shape the early chapters of the band. Fellow musicians and fans alike have paid tribute to his influence — both in sound and in spectacle. Frehley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Kiss in 2014. Over the decades, his distinctive playing style, imaginative stage persona, and bold showmanship inspired generations of guitarists. Even in death, his legacy lives on in the riffs he penned, the performances he gave, and the cultural footprint of the band he helped build.
