Ace Frehley, Kiss' original lead guitarist and founding member, dies at 74

Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and legendary “Spaceman” of KISS, has died.

Frehley died Thursday, Oct. 16, after reportedly being on life support following a recent fall at his home. He was 74.

The rocker’s family said the musician passed away peacefully, surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, in a statement to USA Today.

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken. 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,” the statement read.

“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others,” Frehley’s family said. “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!”

A week before his death, on Oct. 7, Frehley canceled his remaining tour dates for 2025, citing “ongoing medical issues.” The announcement came shortly after he was hospitalized for what was characterized as a “minor fall” in his studio.

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Frehley joined KISS at the start of the band’s career in 1973 after auditioning for singer Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss in their New York hometown. His initial tenure in the band ended in 1982, when Frehley embarked on a solo career with Frehley’s Comet.

Frehley’s onstage antics were as notable as Simmons’ fire breathing and Stanley zip lining over crowds. In his silver platform boots, Frehley would stand with his trademark Gibson Les Paul tilted upward, fireworks and smoke shooting from the guitar neck in a display of rock ‘n’ roll flamboyance previously unseen in live shows.

Though relations between Frehley and the remaining members of KISS were often fraught following his early ’80s departure, he rejoined the band in 1996 for a massive reunion tour. He remained in the band until 2001, when he performed on what was then billed as KISS’ farewell tour.

Frehley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the other members of KISS in 2014.

The guitarist is the first original member of KISS to pass away. In 1991, drummer Eric Carr, who replaced Criss in 1980, died of heart cancer.

Ace Frehley’s ‘Cold Gin’ sparked KISS’ career

The musician, born Paul Daniel Frehley in the New York borough of the Bronx in 1951, started playing guitar at 13 after receiving the instrument as a Christmas present and immersing himself in the music of Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy.

He earned his career-long moniker in high school, when friends dubbed him a “real ace” at getting dates.

After years playing in local bands and earning a steady paycheck from jobs as a taxi driver and mail carrier, Frehley was christened as KISS’ guitarist after famously showing up for his audition wearing one red and one orange sneaker.

When KISS decided to enhance the theatrical elements of their musical presentation with elaborate face paint, Frehley adopted the persona of The Spaceman and decorated his eyes with silver stars. In his 2011 memoir “No Regrets,” Frehley revealed his stage identity was tied to his interest in science fiction and space travel.

In addition to stirring generations of guitarists based on a combination of cool showmanship and playing inspired by Jimmy Page, Frehley contributed numerous songs to the KISS canon, beginning with “Cold Gin” on the band’s 1974 self-titled debut.

Frehley’s kinetic playing is also integral to KISS staples including “Deuce,” “Detroit Rock City” and “Love Gun.”

Though his guitar playing was celebrated, his lack of confidence in his vocals inhibited Frehley from singing any lead vocals until “Shock Me,” from KISS’ 1977 “Love Gun” album.

One of his most memorable songs remains a cover of “New York Groove,” originally released in 1976 by the band Hello. Frehley recorded the song for his 1978 eponymous KISS solo album (as all of the band members did that year). Its slick sound and pop-leaning chorus was a precursor to one of KISS’ most polarizing songs, the disco-fied “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” released the following year and a No. 11 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

With Frehley’s Comet, Frehley released a pair of albums in 1987 (“Frehley’s Comet”) and 1988 (“Second Sighting”) with a band that included renowned session drummer Anton Fig, part of Paul Shaffer’s World’s Most Dangerous Band, and bassist John Regan, known for his work with Peter Frampton.

Frehley achieved minor chart success with the rock songs “Into the Night” and “Rock Soldiers,” but soon nixed the Frehley’s Comet name in favor of recording under his own name.

Frehley released one more solo album, “Trouble Walkin’,” in 1989 before his reunions with KISS. In the late 2000s, he returned to recording and released six albums, including Origins Vol. 1 in 2016, Origins Vol. 2 in 2020 and his final album, “10,000 Volts” in 2024.

The complicated relationship among Frehley, Simmons and Stanley was underscored 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 was unlikely that fans would see Frehley (and Criss) take a final bow with the storied rockers.

”Ace and Peter had been in and out of band three times. We love and cherish them and they will always be part of the KISS family,” Simmons said. “We’ve had many differences about unprofessional behavior. KISS has always been a machine. We show up on time and we tried on three occasions over three decades to bring them back into the band and it always wound up the same.”

He added, “I do know, KISS would not have happened without Ace and Peter. There’s no question of the chemistry. But I don’t think KISS would have survived with Ace and Peter.”

Frehley revisited the snub in an August 2025 interview with Guitar World, saying Simmons and Stanley reneged on their original proposal to bring the original band together one final time.

“A few months before the concert, they both changed their tune and said, ‘Ace and Peter (Criss) aren’t going to do it.’ In fact, Paul went on to say, ‘If Ace and Peter got on stage with us, the band could be called Piss.’ So, I kind of got into an argument with him,” Frehley said, before adding that a reunification remained a possibility.

“I’m the kind of guy that never says never,” he said. “I don’t hate Paul or Gene, you know? We’re rock and roll brothers, and Peter, too. So, anything can happen.”