Ace Frehley, who co-founded Kiss and served as the band’s original guitarist for years, has passed away. He was 74.
The musician’s family announced the devastating news in an emotional statement on Thursday, Oct. 16.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” they began, per Variety. “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,” Frehley’s loved ones continued. “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 concluded.
Hours before the news of Frehley’s passing, it was revealed that the former Kiss rocker had been placed on life support with a brain bleed following a scary fall he suffered in his studio last month.
Frehley, dubbed the Spaceman and Space Ace, co-founded Kiss alongside Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss in 1973. He remained with the band until his departure in 1982.
After forming his own band, Frehley’s Comet, and then embarking on a solo career, the Bronx native rejoined the hard rockers for a successful reunion tour in 1996 and remained until 2002.
The “Rock and Roll All Nite” guitarist first caused concern last month after announcing that he couldn’t make a performance in California scheduled for Sept. 26 because he suffered “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,” read a message on the “Cold Gin” writer’s Instagram page.
Frehley then canceled the remaining dates of his 2025 tour because of “ongoing medical issues” following the fall that left him hospitalized.
“Due to some ongoing medical issues, Ace has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of his 2025 dates,” the musician announced in an Instagram post on Oct. 6.
Born Paul Daniel Frehley in the Bronx, the beloved guitarist was introduced to music at an early age.
He taught himself the instrument after being influenced by legends like B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix, and had opened up about his own influence on the music world during a candid interview with Guitar World last year.
“I’d probably have practiced a little more if I knew I was going to affect that many people’s lives,” he joked at the time. “It does make me proud and very happy, though, that I influenced a lot of great guitar players. And with so many of them, I can’t even begin to name, I have become friends with too.”
But despite rocking out for years, it wasn’t until 1973 that Frehley got his big break and became one of the four founding members of Kiss alongside Simmons, 76, Stanley, 73, and Criss, 79.
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