KISS guitarist Ace Frehley dies at 74
Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist of KISS and the legendary “Spaceman”, has passed away. He was 74 years old.
Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist of KISS and the legendary “Spaceman”, has passed away.
Fraley passed away on October 16th after a recent fall at his home and reportedly on life support. He was 74 years old.
The rocker’s family said in a statement to USA TODAY that the musician passed away peacefully in Morristown, New Jersey, surrounded by his family.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his final moments, we were fortunate to be able to surround him with loving, caring and peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this world. We will cherish all of his fondest memories, his laughter, and honor the strength and kindness he gave to others. The magnitude of his death is epic and beyond comprehension. We reflect on his incredible life.” Because of Ace’s accomplishments, Ace’s memory will live on forever! ” read the statement.
On October 7, one week before his death, Frehley canceled his remaining 2025 tour dates, citing “ongoing medical issues.” The announcement came shortly after he was hospitalized after what was described as a “minor fall” in the studio.
Frehley joined KISS at the start of the band’s career in 1973, after auditioning with singer Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons, and drummer Peter Criss in his hometown of New York. His initial tenure with the band ended in 1982, and Frehley began a solo career as Frehley’s Comet.
Frehley’s onstage antics were as notable as Simmons’ fire-breathing or Stanley ziplining above the crowd. Wearing silver platform boots, Frehley stood with his trademark Gibson Les Paul tilted upwards, sending fireworks and smoke from the neck of his guitar, displaying a rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza never before seen live.
After Frehley’s departure in the early ’80s, Frehley’s relationship with the remaining members of KISS was often strained, but Frehley rejoined the band in 1996 for a major reunion tour. He remained with KISS until 2001, appearing on what was then billed as the band’s farewell tour.
Frehley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with the other members of KISS in 2014.
The guitarist is the first original member of KISS to die. Drummer Eric Carr, who replaced Chris in 1980, died of heart cancer in 1991.
Ace Frehley’s “Cold Gin” launched KISS’ career
Born Paul Daniel Frehley in 1951 in the Bronx, New York, the musician began playing the guitar at the age of 13 after receiving one as a Christmas present, and fell in love with the music of Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Buddy Guy.
It was in high school that he earned his lifelong nickname, when his friends called him “a real ace” when it came to asking people out on dates.
After years of playing in local bands and earning a steady paycheck as a taxi driver and mailman, Frehley was named KISS’ guitarist after showing up to an audition wearing red and orange sneakers.
When KISS decided to enhance the theatrical element of their musical presentation with elaborate face paint, Frehley adopted an alien persona and adorned his eyes with silver stars. In his 2011 memoir No Regrets, Frehley revealed that his stage identity was tied to his interests in science fiction and space travel.
In addition to captivating generations of guitarists with his combination of cool showmanship and Jimmy Page-inspired playing, Frehley contributed numerous songs to the KISS canon, starting with the band’s 1974 self-titled debut, “Cold Gin.”
Frehley’s dynamic playing is also integral to KISS classics such as “Deuce,” “Detroit Rock City,” and “Love Gun.”
Although his guitar playing was praised, Frehley lacked confidence in his singing ability and was unable to provide lead vocals until 1977’s “Shock Me” from KISS’ album Love Gun.
One of his most memorable songs is a cover of “New York Groove,” originally released by the band Hello in 1976. Frehley recorded the song for his eponymous KISS solo album in 1978 (all band members recorded it that year). Its polished sound and pop-leaning chorus ushered in one of KISS’ most polarizing songs, the disco-flavored “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” released the following year and a No. 11 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Ace Frehley’s solo career and the KISS reunion that never happened
For Frehley’s Comet, Frehley released two albums in 1987 (Frehley’s Comet) and 1988 (Second Sighting) with a band that included famed session drummer Anton Figg, a member of Paul Shaffer’s World’s Most Dangerous Band, and bassist John Regan, known for his work with Peter Frampton.
Frehley had minor chart success with the rock songs “Into the Night” and “Rock Soldiers”, but soon decided to drop the Frehley’s Comet name and record under his own name.
Frehley released another solo album, Trouble Walkin’, in 1989 before reuniting with KISS. In the late 2000s, he returned to recording and released six albums, including Origins Vol. 2. 1 2016, Origins Vol. Reached 2nd place in 2020, and will release his final album “10,000 Volts” in 2024.
Frehley, Simmons, and Stanley’s complicated relationship was highlighted during the band’s End of the Road farewell tour.
Before the band’s final show at Madison Square Garden in December 2023, Simmons told USA TODAY that it’s unlikely fans will see Frehley (and Criss) take a final bow with the storied rockers.
“Ace and Peter were in and out of the band three times. We love and cherish them and they will always be part of the KISS family,” Simmons said. “We’ve had many disagreements over unprofessional behavior. KISS has always been a machine. We arrived on time and tried to get them back into the band three times over 30 years, but the result was always the same.”
He added, “I know that without Ace and Peter, KISS wouldn’t have happened. There’s no question about their chemistry. But I don’t think KISS would have survived without Ace and Peter.”
Frehley revisited this disdain in an August 2025 interview with Guitar World, saying that Simmons and Stanley had reneged on their original proposal to reunite the original band one last time.
“A few months before the concert, we both changed our minds and said, ‘Ace and Peter[Chris]can’t do it.'” In fact, Paul went on to say, “If Ace and Peter were on stage with us, the band might be called Piss.” So I got into an argument with him,” Fraley said, adding that reunification remains a possibility.
“I’m a never-say-never type of person,” he said. “I don’t hate Paul or Gene, right? We’re rock’n’roll brothers, and so is Peter, so anything can happen.”
